Forget Fast Food — Parents’ New Biggest Concern Is CoComelon
Some parents set strict bedtimes. Others ban junk food. But these days, the biggest source of parenting stress isn’t sugar or screen time — it’s CoComelon.
The brightly colored, wide-eyed animated series has taken over YouTube with nearly 200 billion views, embedding itself in households around the world. But now, more and more parents are sounding the alarm — calling the show overstimulating, tantrum-triggering, and, in the words of one viral post, “crack for kids.”
Kids Are Hooked, and Parents Are Fed Up
Virginia mom and former teacher Isler, who posts parenting tips on @MamasandMesses, told The New York Post that her 4-year-old son became obsessed. “He was glued to the TV and never wanted it turned off,” she said. Tantrums were constant, especially during transitions. “It was an easy decision—we banned it.”
New York-based beauty writer Hillian had a similar experience. “It’s too fast-paced, too aggressive, and I don’t like the huge eyes — it’s creepy,” she said. After her daughter watched it once at a friend’s house and became instantly fixated, Hillian began downvoting it on Netflix to keep it off their recommendations. “It just feeds into kids’ already short attention spans,” she added.
Online, countless parents are venting their frustration, trading stories of CoComelon-related meltdowns, and comparing the show to a digital drug. “Once your kid gets a taste of the COCO, it’s hard to stop,” one Reddit dad shared. Another parent described a massive tantrum after turning it off before bath time — that was the final straw.
Why Is CoComelon So Addictive?
Some families are pushing back with nostalgia, turning off the constant stream of EDM-style nursery rhymes in favor of classic shows like Barney & Friends, Care Bears, Arthur, and The Magic School Bus — slower-paced, quieter programs that offer life lessons without the sensory overload.
Experts are split on whether this panic is fully justified. A 2011 study showed that just nine minutes of fast-paced programming could temporarily lower a child’s executive function. But later research by the same scientist suggested the problem may lie more with unrealistic “fantastical” content than speed — and any effects were short-lived.
Pediatrician Dr. Mona, known as @pedsdoctalk on Instagram, says CoComelon isn’t inherently harmful — it just needs to be consumed in moderation. The larger issue, she stresses, is screen time overall.
Still, many parents say moderation doesn’t work. They’re tired of negotiating with toddlers over turning it off, so they’re ditching the dopamine-heavy shows for gentler throwbacks — and hopefully, a little peace and quiet.
Because if your child’s first real addiction is a singing watermelon-headed baby, it might be time to bring back Reading Rainbow.