More Than Two Thirds of Children Under Two Use Screens
April 29th, 2026Via: Sky:
More than two-thirds of children under the age of two use screens – some watching devices for up to eight hours a day, researchers warned.
Despite recent government guidelines that parents should avoid screen time for kids under two, new research found that one in 10 babies now regularly fall asleep with a screen.
Almost a third of newborns watched screens for more than three hours a day, while nearly 20 per cent of infants aged four to 11 months watched screens for over an hour a day, a new study found.
Babies and toddlers under two are now using screens at levels that far exceed health advice, with experts warning this amount of device use could negatively impact how children develop.
Scientists say the basis of future health and brain development are laid down in the time from pregnancy to the age of two.
The researchers reviewed thousands of studies, finding growing evidence linking higher screen use in babies to poorer development.
These include increased risk of obesity and short-sightedness, sleep problems, behavioural difficulties, language delay and later, challenges forming friendships can develop.
