What are the effects of screen time on babies under 2?

Screen Time for Babies Under 2: Significant Developmental Concerns

Babies under 2 years should have zero screen time (except for video chatting with family), as this age group faces critical developmental risks from screen exposure that can impair language development, brain growth, and parent-child interactions. 1, 2

The Evidence-Based Guideline

The American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization, and major international pediatric societies uniformly recommend avoiding all screen time for children younger than 2 years, with the sole exception of video chatting with family members. 1, 2 This recommendation has been consistent since 2016 and is based on mounting evidence of developmental harm. 1

Why Screen Time Is Harmful for This Age Group

Critical Brain Development Period

• Infants and toddlers have a critical need for direct face-to-face interactions with parents and caregivers for healthy brain growth, and screens directly interfere with these essential interactions. 1
• Research demonstrates that infants younger than 18 months exposed to television suffer from delayed language development. 1
• Seven separate studies have documented language delays in screen-exposed infants, with infant videos specifically shown to delay language acquisition. 1
• Importantly, no studies have documented any developmental benefit from early screen viewing. 1, 3

Displacement of Essential Activities

• Screen time replaces crucial activities including parent-child interaction, physical play, and sleep—all fundamental for healthy development. 4
• High levels of screen use are associated with negative consequences across multiple developmental domains including cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional development. 1, 4

The Reality: Most Families Are Not Meeting Guidelines

Only 24.7% of children under 2 years actually meet the zero screen time guideline, meaning three out of four babies are being exposed to screens despite clear recommendations against it. 1, 2

Objective Measurement Reveals Concerning Patterns

• When screen exposure is measured objectively (not just parent reports), infants at 6 months are exposed to an average of 1 hour and 16 minutes of screens daily. 5
• By 24 months, this increases to an average of 2 hours and 28 minutes per day. 5
• Some 6-month-old infants are exposed to more than 3 hours of screen time daily. 5
• Socioeconomic disparities emerge as early as 6 months, with children from lower-educated households exposed to 1 hour and 43 minutes more screen time daily compared to higher-educated families. 5

Specific Developmental Harms

Language and Cognitive Impact

• Screen exposure reduces both the quantity and quality of caregiver-child interactions, directly impacting language acquisition. 4
• Excessive screen time is linked to worse executive functioning and academic performance later in childhood. 4

Physical and Mental Health Consequences

• Screen exposure increases risk of obesity, sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety. 4
• Screen time before bed disrupts sleep patterns, which are critical for infant development. 2
• Children develop increased sedentary behavior patterns with significant correlation between screen time and unhealthy food consumption. 6

Social-Emotional Development

• Excessive screen use obstructs the ability to interpret emotions and can fuel aggressive behavior. 4
• Background media (parental screen use around infants) also has adverse developmental effects. 3

Implementation Strategy for Parents

Absolute Boundaries

• Remove all screens from the child's bedroom and establish screen-free mealtimes. 2
• The only acceptable screen exposure is video chatting with family members (grandparents, deployed parents, etc.). 1, 2

Parental Behavior Modification

• Parents must model appropriate screen behavior, as parental background media use negatively affects infant development. 3
• Recognize that parental concern about screen time correlates with actual excessive use—if you're worried, you're likely right to be. 6

Alternative Activities

• Prioritize face-to-face interaction, reading, singing, and physical play—these cannot be replaced by screens. 1, 4
• Maintain consistent sleep schedules without screen exposure before bedtime. 2

Common Pitfall to Avoid

Do not rationalize "educational" content for babies under 2. Despite marketing claims, no evidence supports educational or developmental benefits from media use in this age group, while substantial evidence documents harm. 1, 3 The infant brain learns through direct human interaction, not screens.