Digital technologies and mobile devices are now a mainstay within family life. There is increasing concern that parents’ use of these technologies may negatively impact parenting, parent-child interactions, and child outcomes, but are these concerns valid?

Within this talk, we’ll review the research in this field and discuss the current evidence for potential influences of parent digital media use (e.g. watching TV, using a smart phone or tablet) on the quality of parent-child interactions. Of primary focus will be whether maternal digital media use during infant feeding and care affects the quality and outcome of these interactions. We’ll also discuss the potential benefits of digital media during the transition to parenthood to provide a balanced perspective on this topic. Implications for further research and clinical practice will be discussed.