this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2025
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Parenting
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We showed our kid a 5-8 minute cartoon in the morning and in the evening at under 2. It was the only way to brush her teeth. Was I proud of it? No. Was it educational? No. Is it the best way to brush teeth? No. Did she have the shiniest teeth on the block? Absolutely yes.
I prefer the little harm of letting her watch The Little Mole on Youtube twice a day at 18 months old over having cavities or using force to brush her teeth. For months and months we tried every other method there is and eventually gave up and tried the TV.
Oh my God this is the only way I can clip my son's nails. He's the same age. Solidarity!
Yeah only time my 2 year old son watches a YouTube video is when brushing his teeth.
I think there's nothing wrong with that at all. Screentime is fine in limited, intentional doses with clear boundaries (and shows that are not complete dogshit, like Paw Patrol). Because we limit screen time, he's very excited to brush his teeth because he gets to watch a short cartoon video. I think it's much more problematic when it becomes a regular thing during the day, especially at mealtime. I see parents at restaurants with their kid glued to an iPad for an hour and it's depressing.
Try "Bluey" and "Blaze and the monster wheels"
It's more a consequence of parents not.having someone to watch the kid so they can go to a restaurant. It's awfully boring for a kid to sit through
Being bored is very important for children's development. It teaches them to use their imagination and emotional regulation.
Some suggestions for bored kids at the bottom of this article. https://theconversation.com/parents-you-dont-always-need-to-entertain-your-kids-boredom-is-good-for-them-136383