Screen Time Restrictions Disappear Before 9 AM: Our Journey to Morning Sanity

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In a particularly challenging phase of our lives, my partner and I faced the exhausting reality of our toddler waking up at the crack of dawn—often as early as 4:30 AM. According to sleep experts, that’s considered the middle of the night. But in our household, it felt like the start of a chaotic day. Our little one would wake up full of energy, calling out to us to rescue her from her crib before the sun had even risen. Groggy and irritable, I would stumble into her room, questioning why she felt the need to torture us like this. She would just greet me with a bright smile and laughter. It was brutal.

As those early morning wake-ups became a daily occurrence, we tried everything imaginable to get a few more hours of sleep. We experimented with letting her figure it out in her crib, using a “wake to rise” clock, installing blackout curtains, and employing white noise machines. We adjusted her bedtime, played with nap lengths, and followed every tip I received from mom friends and online resources, yet nothing worked to keep her asleep past 5 AM.

Once she was awake, she was ready to seize the day. She wanted to go on adventures, engage in crafts, or play dress-up with me—all at 5 AM! After attempting to explain that nothing fun opens that early and that I needed my coffee first, I was desperate for a solution to maintain my sanity and avoid starting our mornings feeling frazzled and resentful.

Before these early wake-ups became routine, we had enforced strict screen time limits, allowing only one hour a day and being selective about what she watched. However, when we found ourselves repeatedly jolted awake by her cries, we decided to relax the rules entirely. I mean, why not?

Now, screen time limits are non-existent before 9 AM. If she wakes up at dawn, she can enjoy hours of television, which allows me to sip my coffee in peace, respond to emails, and even fit in a workout when I’m up for it—all while she happily sings along with her favorite shows. Once the world wakes up, libraries open, and I’m feeling refreshed, we can switch off the TV and dive into other activities together.

Letting go of strict screen time limits has transformed our mornings. Why punish myself further by keeping her from watching TV before breakfast? Initially, I carried guilt about this shift. Social media and societal norms constantly remind us that excessive screen time is detrimental to children’s development. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against screen time for children under 18 months, except for video chatting, and suggests limiting kids ages 2 to 5 to an hour or less per day.

However, let’s be honest here: why do we all feel so ashamed? I grew up watching television, often with it on in the background during meals. I turned out just fine, right?

I want to clarify that I’m not advocating for unlimited screen time every day. If children neglect physical activity or social interaction in favor of screens, it can be harmful. But such scenarios are rare.

Interestingly, once we discarded strict screen time limits, our daughter became less fixated on the TV. When it was seen as a precious resource, she fought harder for her screen time. Now, with the TV no longer a big deal, she often watches a bit before moving on to play with her toys or engage in other activities.

Does this mean I’ll let her watch inappropriate content? Absolutely not! But relinquishing control and providing us both with a relaxing morning routine has positively impacted our days. While this approach may not work for every family, it has certainly worked for us.

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In conclusion, adjusting our screen time rules has made our mornings smoother and more enjoyable, allowing us to start the day on a better note.