Co-Parenting Calls Can Cause Anxiety in Young Children

The article advises that scheduled FaceTime calls between children and the other parent may not always be beneficial, especially when parents have tension. Such calls can disrupt a child's routine and cause anxiety, particularly for young children who need help managing the call. Parents should be flexible and adjust the arrangement if it consistently causes distress.

The article highlights that scheduled virtual visits, while intended to preserve parent-child bonds, can backfire when co-parents harbor unresolved conflict. For children around age four, who cannot independently operate a device, the call forces reluctant parental cooperation, often amplifying tension. The child’s resistance may signal distress from repeatedly re-experiencing the separation, not dislike of the absent parent. Experts suggest that flexible, child-led communication—such as sharing photos or letting the child initiate contact—better supports emotional security than rigid nightly mandates.

Research on early childhood development emphasizes routine and predictability as anchors for emotional regulation. When a daily call disrupts a young child’s settling-in period at either home, it can undermine the very stability the custody arrangement seeks to provide. The article’s guidance aligns with broader co-parenting advice: prioritize the child’s observed reactions over adult needs for reassurance, and treat the call schedule as a living arrangement open to revision when it consistently causes distress.