8 minute readWhat do we mean by “screen time”?
We’re not talking about the amount of time your favorite actor spends on screen in a movie or TV show (as in, Molly Shannon deserved way more screen time in “The Santa Clause 2”) but the amount of time we — or in this case, our children — spend using a screen-based device such as a smartphone, tablet, TV, or games console.
Screen time can be categorized as either “active” (which involves doing as well as watching) or “passive”, which describes sedentary activities such as watching TV. Screen time is often a topic of concern among parents, given the perceived impact it can have on children’s physical, social, and cognitive development. But is it really that bad for babies?
Is screen time bad for babies?
Actually, yes. In their Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep for children under 5 years of age, the World Health Organization advises against sedentary screen time for children under 2 years. Meanwhile, a study by JAMA Pediatrics suggests that babies exposed to screens daily are more likely to experience developmental delays.
So, while putting a tablet in front of your baby when they’re fussy may distract and pacify them temporarily, the long-term effect of regularly exposing them to screen time at such an early stage could actually be detrimental to their development. During “inactive” time, reading a story to your baby is much better than putting them in front of a screen.
The WHO recommends prioritizing at least 30 minutes of physical activity (like that old favorite, tummy time) and a good amount of quality sleep (including naps) over sedentary screen time, while even at two years old your little one should be limited to no more than an hour of screen time each day.
How does screen time affect sleep in babies?
As per the WHO’s guidelines, it’s important for babies to have a healthy combination of physical activity, sedentary time, and — crucially — good quality sleep.
Sleep is crucial for your baby’s development, helping to support their physical growth as well as their cognitive functions, but time spent in front of a screen can affect their snoozing schedule in a number of ways — from making it harder for them to drift off to limiting the total amount of time they sleep over a 24-hour period.
Blue light can limit production of the “sleep hormone”
Most devices with screens emit a high-energy, short-frequency “blue light”, and this can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep.
Even as an adult, this can make it harder for you to fall asleep at night — as you may have discovered if you’ve ever tried to doze off after spending too long scrolling through your phone just before bedtime — and the destabilizing effect on babies is similar.
Blue light can also “trick” the brain into thinking it’s daytime, which can throw off your baby’s sleep-wake cycle and affect the overall length and quality of their sleep. The lights in your home can also have an impact on how your baby sleeps, and dimming the lights for 1-2 hours before bedtime, even just a little, can help your baby transition more easily into sleep.
Screen exposure can cause overstimulation before bedtime
If you’ve ever crawled into bed after working until the early hours, or turned in for the night just after switching off a particularly intense episode of The Bear, you’ll know that a whirring, overstimulated brain can make it nigh-on impossible to fall asleep straight away.
Similarly, if your baby is exposed to stimulating content — the bright colors and rapid movement often included in cartoons, for example — they may remain “alert” and take longer to transition to a calm, snooze-ready state. This will often make falling asleep more difficult, while their overall sleep quality will likely be reduced.
More screen time = less sleep time
Ultimately, if your baby spends a significant amount of time staring at a screen, they’re likely to sleep for less time overall — which might prevent them getting the shuteye they need for healthy development (this is typically around 14-17 hours for a newborn and 12-16 hours for a baby aged 4-12 months, though this can vary from child to child).
Research has shown negative relationships between screen time and total sleep time, with one study finding that TV viewing had an adverse effect on infants’ total sleep over a 24-hour period, and exposure to a smartphone screen correlated to less daytime sleep for toddlers.
If your baby is consistently not getting enough sleep, this can impact their cognitive development, their physical health (good quality sleep is essential for maintaining a strong immune system), and their mood — sleep deprivation makes it harder to regulate emotions, meaning fussiness and crying episodes are likely to be more frequent.
What is a healthy screen time limit for infants?
The WHO’s guidelines state that children under a year old shouldn’t spend any time stationary in front of a screen, with sedentary screen time not recommended until they’re at least two.
Here’s a rough outline of the recommended screen time limits for babies and toddlers:
Under 12 months: Babies less than a year old should have no sedentary screen time, with activities like reading and storytelling more encouraged. You should aim for 30 minutes or more of physical activity like tummy time, and at least 12-14 hours of sleep depending on your baby’s individual needs.
1-2 years: Sedentary screen time is still not recommended for any child under the age of two — although video calls with family members are of course encouraged! At least 180 minutes each day should be dedicated to moderate physical activity, and a good amount of quality sleep (typically 11 or more hours) is essential.
3-4 years: Even for toddlers and preschoolers, sedentary screen time should be limited to a maximum of one hour per day. 180 minutes or more of physical activity is recommended, at least 60 minutes of which should be of moderate-to-vigorous intensity. Around 10-13 hours of sleep per day is typically suggested.
What if my child is neurodiverse?
Screen time can sometimes be beneficial for neurodiverse toddlers who need to self-soothe. Certain programs or apps offer predictable, calming visuals and sounds that help regulate the nervous system, making it a valuable tool when used intentionally to support emotional or sensory regulation.
When parents share screen time with their child, however, the experience goes beyond self-soothing. Watching together fosters connection, communication, and learning. It creates opportunities for parents to engage with their child, discuss what they’re seeing, and turn screen time into a shared experience that enhances social and emotional development.
How can I manage my infant’s screen time?
Many parents will have faced similar screen-based dilemmas when dealing with a child mid-tantrum, and it’s important to remember that allowing your toddler a little screen time doesn’t make you a bad parent. But even when it seems like it’s your sole option, there are ways to ensure your little one is not going to go all square-eyed. For example:
Limit screen time where possible. However tempting, try if you can to avoid passive screen time until your child is at least two years old. From two onwards, allow them no more than one hour of supervised screen time each day.
Avoid screen time before bed. Try to get into the habit of turning off the TV and putting devices away at least an hour before their scheduled bedtime, and use this time to “wind down” with calming activities like a bath or a story instead.
Reduce the brightness of devices. If you do let your little one watch something on a smartphone or tablet, put the device on night mode or turn the brightness down to reduce blue light exposure, particularly in the evening.
Encourage active screen time. Screen time doesn’t have to be completely sedentary. Why not watch along with your child and encourage them to sing along to the songs or tell you when they spot different things on the screen?
Create ‘screen-free’ zones. Designate certain rooms or areas of your home as no screens allowed. Keeping TVs and tablets out of your baby’s bedroom, for example, can help them associate it with sleep rather than stimulation.
Make use of parental controls. As your child gets older, you may allow them to use devices such as tablets independently. Parental controls allow you to manage some devices remotely, so you can monitor and limit the content they’re allowed to access.
Lead by example. Children learn a lot of their habits from parents and caregivers, so try to set a positive example by keeping your own screen time to a reasonable level — no matter how many levels of Candy Crush you still have to unlock!
When your little one is inconsolably fussy and you just want a few precious moments for yourself, reaching for the nearest screen-based device can feel like the only way to pacify them. But it’s important to consider the impact too much screen time can have on your baby’s sleep quality and, therefore, their overall development.
The best advice? Try to avoid passive screen time altogether when your child is under two years old, and limit it to an hour a day when they hit toddlerdom. The most important thing is maintaining a healthy balance of physical activity, rest time, and good quality sleep.
Reviewed by Rosey Davidson, Sleep Consultant, founder & CEO, in December 2024.