Ask Dr. Mona

This is very common, especially during cold weather, long stretches indoors, illness, or busy seasons. Screens are easy, they buy you time, and sometimes they are exactly what helps you get through the day. So first, know you’re not alone.

What you are noticing matters though. When meltdowns increase after screens, that is often a sign that screens have shifted from being helpful to being overstimulating for your child’s nervous system. The screen turns off, but their brain is still revved up, and that sudden drop can show up as irritability, big emotions, or dysregulation.

A few tips to help take screens out of the constant negotiation:

Instead of deciding in the moment, it helps to set predictable screen times ahead of time. For example, one show after rest time or screens end before dinner. When kids know what to expect, they tend to ask less. And when they do ask outside of that window, you can respond calmly and consistently: "Screens are not available right now, only after snack time. You can play cars or color."

The transition off screens matters just as much as the limit itself. Giving a heads-up helps, but confident, simple language helps even more: "Screens are all done. It is snack time." For older toddlers and preschoolers, it can also help to remind them that turning it off now does not mean forever: "We are turning it off now, and we can watch again another day." That reassurance can take the edge off the panic that sometimes comes with all done.

If big feelings still happen, that does not mean you are doing it wrong. You can hold the boundary and support the emotion at the same time: "I know this is hard. I am here." A few tougher days while you reset screen limits is very normal and often a sign that you are responding thoughtfully to what your child actually needs.

If you want more help setting screen boundaries that stick and handling meltdowns when screens end, this PedsDocTalk YouTube video goes over everything.

This happens far more often than people talk about. Potty training can feel especially discouraging after a three-day approach that did not go as planned. Setbacks are very common, and stopping does not mean you failed. For many kids, taking a break is exactly what helps things reset.

When you are ready to try again, easing off pressure makes a big difference. Instead of pushing for results, focus on comfort and choice. Simple options help kids feel more in control without turning it into a battle: “Do you want to sit on the potty before or after snack?” or “Do you want to try the little potty or the big one?”

Keep things low-key. Reading potty books together, letting a stuffed animal try, or keeping the potty nearby without expectations can all help take the pressure off. Even sitting for a few seconds, talking about it, or showing interest again are meaningful steps forward.

Notice and name small steps when they happen: “You sat on the potty.” “You told me you had to go.” Those moments help rebuild confidence after a rough start.

Potty training does not have to happen in a weekend to work. Many kids do better when things move slower and pressure is removed. If you want a flexible, realistic approach, especially after a tough first attempt, the PedsDocTalk No-Pressure Potty Training Course offers guidance to help make the process smoother for both of you.

Ask Dr. Mona

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Dr. Mona will answer these questions in a future Sunday Morning Q&A email. Chances are if you have a parenting concern or question, another parent can relate. So let's figure this out together!