Family Tech & Screen Safety

For under-2s, pediatric guidance is to avoid screen media other than video chatting with family. Audio is a great alternative: songs and stories without a screen.

Baby monitors are for convenience, not safety. No monitor replaces safe sleep: baby on their back, in their own crib, with nothing else in it.

If you use a sound machine, keep it across the room and at a low volume, not next to baby's head.

Choose shows and apps together, watch with them when you can, and keep screens out of bedrooms and meals.

Protect young ears: pick headphones that limit volume to 85 decibels, and keep sessions under an hour.

Coding toys and building kits turn screen curiosity into problem-solving.

A first device can be a stepping stone: a kid-safe phone or smartwatch for calls, texts and location, without open internet or social media.

Parental controls help, but talking works best. Agree on rules before the device arrives, and revisit them as trust grows.

Most social media platforms require users to be 13 or older.

Teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep. Parking phones outside the bedroom at night is one of the most effective habits a family can adopt.

Talk openly about privacy, sharing photos, online strangers and what to do if something online goes wrong. Make sure they know they can come to you without losing the phone.

Noise-canceling headphones can help focus. Remind teens to keep the volume moderate.