What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | The Baby Monitor Trap
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Apr 20, 2025 Stephanie Murray, a writer for The Atlantic and creator of the newsletter Family Stuff, dives into the controversy surrounding the use of baby monitors in parenting. She discusses a family's decision to monitor their kids via a makeshift device while on vacation, sparking online backlash. The conversation highlights the evolution of parenting technology, the anxiety it brings, and the societal pressures parents face today. Murray explores the balancing act between modern conveniences and traditional caregiving practices, revealing the complexities of contemporary parenthood.
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The Howard Family Baby Monitor Incident
- Abby and Matt Howard used a baby monitor via a phone to watch their kids on a cruise ship.
- This decision sparked intense online backlash claiming it was unsafe, though family was present.
Historical Baby Supervision Limits
- Historically, constant baby supervision was exclusive to wealthy mothers with help.
- Most families couldn't monitor babies all the time due to practical constraints.
Post-WWII Parenting Shift
- Post-WWII affluence and parenting expert culture raised supervision standards.
- Technology advances also contributed to the expectation of constant child monitoring.