Recommendations rather than guidelines
There currently aren’t any NHS or National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines about screen time among babies and toddlers, but they do recommend an upper limit of two hours per day for all children.[1]
The American Academy of Paediatrics recommended no screen time at all for children under 18 months of age. However, the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child’s Health were critical of these guidelines, claiming that they were rooted in little evidence.
The World Health Organization recommends no ‘sedentary screen time’ for babies under one (sedentary screen time is time sitting still watching a screen – they suggest time sitting is used for storytelling or chatting).[2]
Positive and negative effects of screen time
The National Childbirth Trust looked at the impacts of screen time for babies and young children, finding that high levels of screen time can have a negative impact on sleep. On the positive side, they found that using age-appropriate content supported children in learning about problem-solving, numeracy, literacy and more, as well as being more confident using digital media as they got older.[3]
Our tips for thinking about screen time with your baby
When it comes to screen time, like with anything, there are positive and negatives. The most important thing is finding a balance that you are happy with. You might find these pointers useful:
Have a schedule in mind
Some parents may want to set aside an allotted time in the day for screen time. As your child gets older, you could set a timer on their own devices, or allocate them time for using the television. It is more likely they will be closely supervised at this age when using screens, so you could turn this into a nice time to share something together for short periods of time.
Make screen time interactive
Maintaining a balance with social interaction may also be a concern when it comes to screen time. However, you can make this experience more interactive. For example, putting children's songs on that you can sing along to together, encouraging them to join in making actions with you can be fun. You could also talk about what you see on screen – even if your baby isn’t talking yet, they will still love to listen to you!
Find fun without screens
Screen time is easy to fall back on when you’re busy or overwhelmed, but there are plenty of ways to find enjoyment away from them. Maintaining fun little interactions in the day, singing with your baby, or even just getting out in the fresh air for a walk are all great.
References:
[1] Screen time for babies and toddlers: the evidence | Baby & toddler articles & support | NCT
[2] World Health Organization (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age.
[3] https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/games-and-play/screen-time-for-babies-and-toddlers-evidence