The AAP recommends that children over the age of two have no more than two hours a day of screen time. But some parents wonder if there are exceptions to this rule. Here is a list of frequently asked questions to help you navigate the rules.

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I just had a baby and my toddler has been on a screen for approximately 80% of his waking hours. Does this screen time count?

Nope. You are allowed unlimited screen time for any existing kids for six months after a baby arrives. 1-2 years for multiples.

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I’m on my iPhone, one kid is on an iPad, and the other is watching TV. Do all these screens cancel each other out?

No. Still counts.

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My parenting partner is on a business trip and we use video chats for the kids to keep in touch. Does this count as screen time?

No, but if you are worried about it try a call from a rotary telephone. There shouldn’t be any screens on that.

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My daughter is playing on her iPad outdoors. Does this count?

Yes, that is still screen time. She is supposed to interact with something in the outdoors. Maybe look for a bug or snowflake?

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My toddler likes to press his face into the screen door for a while. Does that count?

No. Different kind of screen.

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One of my kids is watching TV while I do something amazingly educational and hands on with the other kid.

This counts as 50% screen time.

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My kid is sick and wants to watch Frozen over and over again. Does that count?

You can claim a sickness exemption. But try to slip some Sesame Street in there too.

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When does my child outgrow the two-hour per day rule?

When they go to college. Don’t be surprised if they binge play video games for their entire first semester.

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What am I supposed to do with this intricate log of screen time hours I have been keeping for my kids?

Just have your kids enter the info into an app on your phone. Don’t worry, that won’t count as screen time.