Defensive parents - iPads

[Imbarb]

Why do other parents get get defensive whenever I say I don't give my 2 year old an iPad? 🧐

I think you're getting an unnecessarily hard time here OP but I am not surprised. This topic is always divisive and people naturally defend their own position and feel affronted when people choose the opposite path.

We are a no screen family - little one is now fifteen months and has never watched TV or used an iPad. Why? Because a) she doesn't need to and b) it's not a big part of our family life before having children so hasn't suddenly become one afterwards.

We are not a smug, judgmental family or any of the negative characteristics implied throughout the posts above. I have no interest what others choose to do, we all have the ability to create a family life that suits our own circumstances.

Sorry you're getting such a tough time, but to be honest it's a topic I'd just steer clear of in conversation!

The comments the OP has had haven’t been due to her choice not to let her baby use an iPad though. They have been due to her attitude and the superiority she demonstrates when talking about it.

I couldn’t give a flying monkeys if someone else uses screens or not. But if someone says the reason for their baby speaking well is because they have never been on an iPad or the other things she said then of course people will think of her as smug and arrogant

No one is criticising op for not using an ipad. Op can't work out why people are responding completely reasonably to her barbed comments and people are explaining why.

Oh and no one gave babies ipads when mine were little as it was ages ago, so I'm certainly not being defensive, but I can still recognise barbed comments when I see them

I have no interest what others choose to do
Well therein lies the difference, Botanica. You presumably don't shoehorn references to iPad useage into every conversation, no matter how random, in the way op appears to?

Certainly not, and as with anything to do with parenting, it's always wise to speak with some sensitivity and tact...

I think you're getting an unnecessarily hard time here OP but I am not surprised. This topic is always divisive and people naturally defend their own position and feel affronted when people choose the opposite path.

No, it's because what the OP said was smug and judgemental.

What you said about not having "screen time" wasn't.

I think every parent who gives their kid an iPad knows deep down that it's generally not good for them overall and they find out it's the start of an almighty war on the time they spend on it. I am one of these parents. If another parent says their kids don't have one, I just think good on you.

@Botanica

Certainly not, and as with anything to do with parenting, it's always wise to speak with some sensitivity and tact...

Which is why you wouldn't have had the hard time OP has.

I have been referred to as a sugar Nazi by my dad! DD had no non-'natural' sugars before one and very limited in the few years after. Her best friend at 10 yo chugs sports drinks for breakfast and her dad repeatedly says things like, 'yuk vegetables'. I don't talk about it because I'm not a twat.

Lol, my first child had not even a grain of sugar before a bite of cake on his first birthday. He certainly didn't touch an iPad or mobile phone or even watch TV at age 2!

You should meet my 4th child. It's all very easy when you've one😂

You should meet my 4th child. It's all very easy when you've one

Absolutely! I wouldn't live through 4!

@Botanica

I think you're getting an unnecessarily hard time here OP but I am not surprised. This topic is always divisive and people naturally defend their own position and feel affronted when people choose the opposite path.

We are a no screen family - little one is now fifteen months and has never watched TV or used an iPad. Why? Because a) she doesn't need to and b) it's not a big part of our family life before having children so hasn't suddenly become one afterwards.

We are not a smug, judgmental family or any of the negative characteristics implied throughout the posts above. I have no interest what others choose to do, we all have the ability to create a family life that suits our own circumstances.

Sorry you're getting such a tough time, but to be honest it's a topic I'd just steer clear of in conversation!

That’s not true, my kids never had iPads either, I object to the OPs tone and her patronising comments about ‘Defensive mummies’ 🤢