From the Guidelines
Babies under 2 years old should not watch TV, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, to ensure healthy brain growth and development. This recommendation is based on the findings of several studies, including those cited by the AAP 1, which suggest that exposure to TV at a young age can lead to delayed language development and other negative effects.
Key Considerations
- The AAP recommends less than 2 hours of screen time per day for children, and no screen time for children under 2 years old, except for video chatting with family 1.
- Infants and toddlers need direct interactions with parents and caregivers for healthy brain growth, and TV viewing can replace these essential interactions 1.
- Research has shown that infants under 18 months who watch TV may experience delayed language development, and no studies have found benefits to early TV viewing 1.
Alternative Activities
- Engage babies with books, toys, and outdoor activities to promote physical movement, hands-on exploration, and face-to-face social interaction.
- Prioritize direct human interaction, such as reading, singing, and talking, to support language development and cognitive growth.
- If introducing screen time after 18 months, choose high-quality, educational content, and maintain strict time limits to avoid disrupting sleep patterns and other negative effects.
From the Research
Studies on Brain Development and Function
- The provided studies do not directly address the question of whether babies can watch TV 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- These studies focus on various topics such as neurofeedback, type 1 diabetes, microglial activation, brain tumor diagnosis, and tissue engineering, which are not relevant to the question of babies watching TV.
Lack of Relevant Research
- There are no research papers among the provided studies that assist in answering the question of whether babies can watch TV.
- The studies do not provide any information on the effects of TV watching on babies or any guidelines for TV watching in infants.