Introduction
For today's young children, parental smartphone use forms part of their earliest environments. As toddlers develop, they not only notice but increasingly engage with smartphones. This shared digital presence introduces opportunities for technoference - moments where smartphone use disrupts parent-child interactions (McDaniel & Coyne, 2016). Quantitative studies link technoference to reduced parental sensitivity (Braune-Krickau et al., 2021) and adverse child outcomes, yet little is known about how parents themselves experience and interpret these dynamics. Understanding parental perspectives is essential for providing nuanced, effective guidance.
Purpose
This qualitative study explores mothers' experiences, attitudes, and ambivalences regarding the presence of smartphones within the parent-toddler relationship.
Method
The study is part of the multi-methods project Smart Toddlers (Swiss National Science Foundation, grant nr. 10001C_192820). Twenty-nine mothers of children aged 14-16 months participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022).
Results
Six themes each captured mothers' experiences of their own smartphone use and of their toddlers' own smartphone use. Mothers reported setting boundaries to protect key interactions, such as joint play and meals, yet described seeking "me-time" on smartphones. Smartphones also provided valued social connection, helping mothers manage feelings of isolation. Many became acutely aware of serving as role models for their observant toddlers. Regarding children's engagement, mothers described the "magnetic pull" of smartphones but expressed uncertainty about appropriate exposure. Most sought to delay device use to protect natural learning and creativity, rejecting smartphones as tools for soothing or distraction.
Conclusions
Mothers experience a high amount of ambivalence, striving to balance digital connectedness and real-live connection to their child. They aim to minimize technoference while also acknowledging the challenges they face in this respect. This underscores a need for parental guidance that considers the complex functions portable digital devices fulfill for parents of young children.