The short answer
For toddlers, the practical question is not whether screens are “bad.” It is what they crowd out: sleep, talk, hands-on play and movement.
Start here
Choose high-quality content, watch together when you can, and protect meals, bedtime and active play. For very young children, video calls and shared viewing are more useful than solo scrolling.
Drop the guilt
One difficult day does not define development. Look at the family pattern, make one workable boundary and ask your pediatrician about concerns with language, sleep or behavior.