The screen time debate is everywhere. Is it rotting their brains? Is it fine in moderation? Is educational content different from cartoons? We're not here to settle that argument.
We're here to talk about something that gets overlooked: the physical safety implications of screens, tablets, and phones around young children.
The Distraction Factor
Here's the biggest risk, and it's not about your kid — it's about you. When you're on your phone, you're not watching your child as closely. That's just reality.
Research from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that caregiver distraction, primarily from smartphones, was a contributing factor in a meaningful percentage of childhood injuries at playgrounds and in homes. You don't need a study to know this is true. We've all had that moment where we glanced at our phone and looked up to find our toddler somewhere they shouldn't be.
This isn't a judgment call. Everyone uses their phone. The point is awareness: when your child is mobile and in an area that isn't fully baby-proofed, your phone should be in your pocket.
Device Placement and Falls
Tablets and phones on tables, counters, and couch arms are pull-down hazards. A toddler grabbing at a tablet on the edge of a table can pull it — and whatever else is near it — down on themselves. An iPad weighs about a pound, which doesn't sound like much until it hits a toddler in the face from counter height.
Use tablet stands with suction cups or weighted bases. Mount screens at kid height when possible. And never put a device on the edge of anything — push it back or better yet, hand it directly to the child while seated.
Cords and Charging Cables
A phone on a charger is a device attached to a cord. Babies grab cords and pull. This can pull the phone onto their head, or they can mouth the cord itself. Lightning and USB-C connectors are small enough to be a choking hazard if the cord is damaged and the connector comes loose.
Charge devices up high, out of reach. Use short charging cables when possible. And inspect your cables regularly — frayed or damaged cables are both an electrical risk and a choking risk if pieces break off.
The tv Mounting Issue
Flat-screen TVs on stands are tip-over hazards. A 55-inch TV weighs 30-40 pounds and sits on a narrow base. A toddler pulling on it, climbing the stand, or even bumping into it can bring it down.
Wall-mounting is the safest option. If you can't wall-mount (renters, concrete walls, etc.), use a furniture strap to anchor the TV to the stand and the stand to the wall. TV tip-over injuries sent roughly 17,000 kids to the ER per year before wall-mounting became common.
When Screens are the Babysitter
We're not going to pretend this doesn't happen. Sometimes you need 20 minutes to cook dinner and the tablet buys you that time. That's fine. But when you do it, make sure the environment is safe first.
Put the child in a baby-proofed room or play area. Check that nothing dangerous is within reach. Then hand them the screen. The screen keeps them occupied; the safe environment keeps them protected.
Don't let the screen create a false sense of security. "They're watching a show, they're fine" works until they get bored, put the tablet down, and go exploring while you assume they're still engaged.
Blue Light and Sleep Safety
This connects to physical safety indirectly. Blue light from screens before bedtime disrupts melatonin production and can affect sleep quality. Overtired toddlers are clumsier, more impulsive, and more prone to accidents.
The AAP recommends no screens in the hour before bedtime. Whether or not you follow this strictly, dimming screens and using night mode in the evening is an easy win.
Screen time is part of modern life. We're not going to eliminate it, and honestly we shouldn't try. But treating devices as physical objects that pose physical risks — just like anything else in your home — keeps things in perspective.
Manage the device like you'd manage any other item your toddler interacts with: be aware of cords, placement, weight, and what happens when your attention shifts.