Trusting Your Intuition: Why Limiting Screen Time Helps You Tune Into Your Baby
As new parents, we’re flooded with advice. It may come from books, blogs, family, social media, no matter where it comes from, it seems like everyone has the “right” answer about how your baby should sleep, feed, or play. But here’s the bottom line: the most powerful tool you have is your own intuition.
Intuition is that inner knowing that helps you recognize your baby’s cues before anyone else does. It’s what makes you pause when something feels “off” and lean in when your baby needs comfort. And like any muscle, intuition gets stronger the more we use it.
One of the biggest challenges to tuning into our intuition today? Screens.
How Screens Distract Us From Our Kids’ Cues
Phones and devices connect us, educate us, and even give us a break when we need one. But they also pull our attention away in subtle ways. When we’re half-scrolling, half-watching, we might miss the tiny signals our babies send:
The shift from fussy to overtired.
The rooting reflex that says “feed me.”
The way your toddler’s play turns from curious to overwhelmed.
These cues are quiet, fleeting, and easy to miss if we’re not fully present.
Why Limiting Screen Time Helps
When we intentionally set boundaries with screens, we give ourselves the mental space to notice and respond. Fewer distractions mean:
More confidence in reading your baby’s needs.
A stronger sense of connection and responsiveness.
Less second-guessing because you’re attuned to your child.
It’s not about ditching screens altogether (although more power to you if you can do that!). It’s about making sure they don’t get in the way of your relationship with your child or your relationship with yourself.
Gentle Ways to Start
Choose “phone-free windows”: like during the 1st hour of the day, during feeding, naptime/bedtime routines, or playtime.
Create a charging spot outside the nursery or play area.
Replace scroll time with pause time: when you feel the urge to grab your phone, take a deep breath, watch your baby’s body language, and notice what you see.
Check out different blocking apps that can circumvent your habit to pick up your phone without thinking.
These small shifts help retrain your focus.
Trust Your Intuition
The truth is, you already know your baby better than anyone else. Limiting screen distractions simply clears space for that mother’s wisdom to shine. When you trust your intuition and lean into connection, you’re building the foundation your baby needs for secure attachment and healthy development.
So next time you catch yourself reaching for your phone, pause and ask: What might my baby be telling me right now? What might my body be telling me?
Want more gentle, attachment-centered sleep and parenting support? Work with me to feel confident, connected, and in tune with your little one.
