Screen Time for Infants

Question: Is screen time allowed for babies less than 12 months old? 

Answer: As digital devices like smart phones, laptops, and tablets become more ingrained in families’ daily lives, they have also become more accessible to young children, including babies. However, the AAP’s Media Use Guidelines for families recommends that screen time and media use be very limited for children younger than 2 years old. (Please note that infants are generally grouped with children under 2 in most research studies and guidelines.)  

Children younger than 2 learn best from exploring the world around them and playing with other children and adults, and they have a hard time understanding what they’re viewing on screens unless it’s explained by an adult. A good example of ways for this age group to use a digital device is to use Facetime or similar apps to video chat with family members. You might need to explain who is on the screen, repeat what they are saying, describe what is happening, etc. 

Researchers have found that overall screen time and regularly having a TV on in the background were linked with lower language and social-emotional skills in young children. However, viewing educational content or watching with a parent/caregiver was associated with increased language skills. If your baby or young child is viewing a screen, we encourage you to select quality content and watch with them. Make this a fun family activity!  

As your child gets older and has increased access to screens, we encourage parents to establish boundaries and balance with screen time early. For more information on setting boundaries, please see these previous portal responses. 

• Should young children have screen time limits? 
• What are the health effects of young kids being on screens too long? 

Other resources:  

• Common Sense Media emphasizes how quality of media use is more important than setting a screen time limit  in their article “How Much Screen Time is OK for My Kids?” 
• Common Sense Media also provides guidance on assessing the quality of a child’s digital media use in “Are Some Types of Screen Time Better Than Others?”   
• Common Sense Media provides reviews of different programs so that you can find the good shows – basically, make sure what you’re putting on for your little one is worth their time and attention. PBS KIDS and Sesame Street are always good options. 
• Healthychildren.org recommends creating a Family Media Plan to facilitate discussion around safe and practical media use that works for a family’s specific needs:   
• If your child likes YouTube, know that not all YouTube content is good. YouTube Kids has more age-appropriate options. A YouTube alternate called Sensical reviews all of the videos posted to make sure they are high-quality. Here is a step-by-step guide that was created by Common Sense Media and the University of Michigan to help you better understand how YouTube works and how to help guide children to the best content on these platforms.   

Age: 0-2, early childhood 

Topics: Screen time, babies, infants 

Role: Parent