Understanding the iPad Baby & What It Means for Gen Alpha

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Plus, experts weigh in on how to limit screen time
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People in their late teens and twenties (AKA Generation Z) are calling younger teens, kids, and even toddlers "iPad babies" on TikTok. What exactly does this term mean, and should Generation Alpha (and their parents) be offended by it? And what are the impacts on kids who are given iPads before they can even walk? Take a deep dive with us into the world of iPad babies and learn what they are , how screen time impacts kids , how much screen time is safe , and how to set healthy boundaries around tablets and other electronics (with tips from parenting expert and CEO of No Guilt Mom JoAnn Crohn and licensed clinical psychologist Chloe Carmichael, PhD.

What are iPad babies?

"iPad babies" is a rude term that describes kids who are dependent on screens to entertain them. Parents of these kids start giving them access to iPads and other screens when they're infants or under 5 years old. Some studies suggest that excessive screen time can cause kids to develop emotional and behavioral issues.

Section 1 of 5:

What is an iPad baby?

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  1. Since at least 2010, when Apple released the first iPad, some parents have been giving their babies and young children tablets and smartphones. This means that Generation Alpha kids, who were born starting in 2010, have had more screen time than any other generation. [1] Studies show that while having unrestricted screen time can enhance education and learning, "iPad babies" also have more emotional and behavioral problems and a lack of social skills. They also tend to have difficulties performing well in school. [2]
    • What generation is the iPad baby? People usually refer to Generation Alpha as iPad babies. These kids were born from 2010-2024.
    • Parents are often blamed for iPad babies' unhealthy screen habits. Some Gen Z-ers think that the parents of "iPad babies" are most at fault for their addiction to tablets. They think they're lazy and just want an easy way to keep their kids quiet.
    • Some parents might be unaware of the potentially harmful effects of excessive screen time. Others might know about them, but are so busy working that they feel they have no choice but to let their children entertain themselves with screens.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    JoAnn Crohn is a parenting expert and the CEO of No Guilt Mom, with 11 years of experience and a passion for helping exhausted moms release their guilt and stress.

    Chloe Carmichael, PhD , is a licensed clinical psychologist with 12 years of experience. She specializes in relationship stress, stress management, self-esteem, and career coaching.

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Section 2 of 5:

How Screen Time Impacts Children

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  1. 1
    They could become more educated and knowledgeable. Exposing kids to educational shows from a young age can help them learn useful language and social skills. When they're old enough to read, they can get information about safe subjects from blogs and other internet resources. [3]
    • It's important to note that the type of content kids watch matters. It must be educational to have a real benefit. In addition, parents should also set healthy boundaries around screen time and interact more with their kids face-to-face.
  2. 2
    They may have more emotional and behavioral problems. A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) showed that the more screen time children have, the more they struggle to cope with difficult emotions in social settings. Children aged 6-10 tend to have depression and anxiety and display aggression and hyperactivity. The kids in the study were also more likely to rely even more on screens to distract them from these problems instead of facing them. [4]
    • Stress may also play a big role in how "iPad kids" behave and regulate their emotions. If they're lacking emotional support from their parents, for example, they may cling to their iPad or the TV to soothe themselves. Then, when their coping mechanism is taken away, they may lash out or become hyperactive because they don't know what else to do.
  3. 3
    Too much screen time may lead kids to perform poorly in school. Some studies suggest that kids (especially teens) who watch TV, play video games, or surf the internet a lot may not perform as well academically. This can lead to lower grades in school and make it harder for them to excel in college. [5]
  4. 4
    Excessive screen time may lead to some children becoming obese. Studies show that lots of screen time—especially TV and video games—is associated with obesity in children. However, if children exercise at least 60 minutes per day, they may be at a lower risk of becoming overweight. [6]
    • Screen time alone doesn't determine if a child will become obese. Parents should also consider the overall quality of their kids' lifestyle, their stress levels, and their eating habits.
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Section 3 of 5:

How much screen time is safe for kids?

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  1. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), infants and toddlers under 2 years old shouldn't have access to screens. The exception is if a parent or another adult is nearby to view it with them and interact with them. [7]
    • Then, from 2-5 years old, their total daily screen time should be limited to 1 hour. Ideally, parents should only expose their kids to educational and pro-social programs, and they should also watch them with them.
    • Finally, for children over 5 years of age, parents should make sure their kids' media use isn't replacing important activities, such as sleeping and exercising.
Section 4 of 5:

How to Set Healthy Boundaries on Screen Time

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  1. 1
    Use screen time for education, recreation, or relaxation only. For many children and adults, playing video games or watching videos on an iPad is a way to relax and decompress from the day. It's also a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. But it becomes an issue when you use screens to avoid problems or distract yourself from your emotions. Make it a point to only use screen time for positive reasons, like looking up information, having fun, or unwinding. Discuss those reasons with your child, so they understand when to use (or not use) electronics. [8]
    EXPERT TIP

    Chloe Carmichael, PhD

    Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Chloe Carmichael, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who runs a private practice in New York City. With over 12 years of psychological consulting experience, Dr. Chloe specializes in relationship issues, stress management, self-esteem, and career coaching. She has also instructed undergraduate courses at Long Island University and has served as adjunct faculty at the City University of New York. Dr. Chloe completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, and her clinical training at Lenox Hill Hospital and Kings County Hospital. She is accredited by the American Psychological Association and is the author of “Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety” and “Dr. Chloe's 10 Commandments of Dating.”
    Chloe Carmichael, PhD
    Licensed Clinical Psychologist

    Don't fall into a guilt spiral about screen time. You can balance quality time with screen time and not feel guilty about it. Learn to regulate how you feel about screens and remember to relate to other people. It's okay to decompress on a screen for a little while and then spend time with family afterward.

  2. 2
    Establish media-free times (and follow them yourself). Telling your child to limit their screen time while you continue to scroll on your phone creates more problems than it solves. Lead your child by example and hold your entire family to media-free times throughout the day for tablets, TVs, video games, and even social media use. [9]
    • Dr. Carmichael says, "Set reminders and time limits for media-free times. For example, you can program a voice assistant like Alexa to remind you to go screen-free for 30 minutes every day at the same time. That can be helpful when you're trying to build or change your family's screen-time habits." [10]
  3. 3
    Introduce activities that help you connect as a family. One way to limit screen time, says Dr. Carmichael, is to "fill your life with things that don't revolve around the screen." [11] Doing more together as a family will also help your child feel less bored, more active, and more emotionally supported. Walk around the neighborhood, play in a nearby park, take them running errands with you, help them with their homework, and let them help you cook. Plan family nights where you play board games, work puzzles, or watch a movie. [12]
  4. 4
    Emphasize responsibility before screen time. Give your child specific chores that they're responsible for (i.e., emptying the dishwasher, feeding the pets, etc.). Then, establish a rule that they must complete those chores before they play their video game or watch their show. This helps them learn responsibility and how not to "[get] completely lost in something and [avoid] other things you have to do," says Crohn. [13]
    EXPERT TIP

    JoAnn Crohn

    Parenting Expert and CEO of No Guilt Mom
    JoAnn Crohn is a parenting expert, certified life coach, speaker, and podcast host based in Chandler, Arizona. With over 11 years of experience, JoAnn is the CEO of No Guilt Mom and is passionate about helping exhausted moms release mom guilt and stress. On her podcast No Guilt Mom, she helps teach moms how to help their kids be more self-sufficient, offers advice on disciplining in a way that teaches kids to think for themselves, and discusses setting boundaries on their own time and lives. JoAnn is also the author of 2 books, “Me & My Friendships: A Kid’s Guide to Making Friends” and “Drama Free Homework: A Parent’s Guide to Eliminating Homework Battles and Raising Focused Kids”. She has appeared on a variety of parenting podcasts, including 3 in 30: Takeaways for Moms, Shameless Mom Academy, Okayest Moms: The Podcast, and PGish Parenting with Erin Holland. JoAnn has a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, and worked previously as a national board certified teacher.
    JoAnn Crohn
    Parenting Expert and CEO of No Guilt Mom

    Talk to your child about how screen time affects them. Ask them, "How does it make you feel? Are you comparing yourself to other people? Are you feeling really revved up?" If the screen time or content they're consuming is making them feel bad, give them other activities or help them find better content.

  5. 5
    Monitor the content on their iPad using the Screen Time feature. Young children, especially, may have a hard time knowing the difference between safe and unsafe content. Use Apple's Screen Time feature to change the settings on your child's iPad, so they won't have access to inappropriate apps, sites, or videos. Try strategies like blocking content you don't want them to watch or websites you don't want them to visit, disabling autoplay on YouTube and streaming apps, restricting Siri, and turning off the search feature. [14]
    • To set up parental controls for your child's iPad, open the Settings app on your Apple device and tap Screen Time. Select your child's name from the Family list, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter your passcode if prompted. From here, you'll be able to set up whichever parental controls you want and also shut them off as needed.
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Section 5 of 5:

Final Thoughts

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  1. Parenting is difficult, and most moms and dads are learning the best ways to care for their children as they go. While you may wish that you had restricted their screen time in the past, it's not too late to take control of the situation (if you want to)! Use the strategies we recommended above to help your kid cultivate a healthier relationship with their electronics and reduce screen usage. Help them lead more active lives, improve their social skills, and throw off the "iPad baby" label.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.aecf.org/blog/impact-of-social-media-on-gen-alpha
      2. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947
      3. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947
      4. ↑ https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2025/06/screen-time-problems-children
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6764013/#H1-5-POI190061
      6. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9714705/
      7. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Healthy-Digital-Media-Use-Habits-for-Babies-Toddlers-Preschoolers.aspx
      8. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Healthy-Digital-Media-Use-Habits-for-Babies-Toddlers-Preschoolers.aspx
      9. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Healthy-Digital-Media-Use-Habits-for-Babies-Toddlers-Preschoolers.aspx
      1. ↑ Chloe Carmichael, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ Chloe Carmichael, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Healthy-Digital-Media-Use-Habits-for-Babies-Toddlers-Preschoolers.aspx
      4. ↑ JoAnn Crohn. Parenting Expert and CEO of No Guilt Mom. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/105121

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