According to research, babies learn best when they connect with people, especially their parents and other primary caregivers.

This contact lays the groundwork for the development of language, social skills, and emotional stability. Babies interact with people and are exposed to a variety of sensory stimuli, including touch, smell, sight, and sound, all of which are important for their development. The restricted sensory experiences provided by screen time, on the other hand, can impede the development of these critical abilities.

Screen Time Too Much Can Hinder Development

The development of language more slowly, poor social skills, and even physical health issues like obesity have all been linked to excessive screen usage. Additionally detrimental to sleep, which is essential for a baby’s brain development, is screen time. A study indicated that for infants between the ages of 6 and 18 months, every hour of screen usage was linked to a 16-minute reduction in overall sleep time.

A baby’s attention span, memory, and capacity for self-regulation can all suffer from excessive screen time in addition to these other issues. Later in adulthood, these abilities are crucial for overall wellbeing, mental health, and academic performance.

Screen Time Recommendations

Infants under the age of 18 months should not be exposed to screens, with the exception of video conversations with relatives and friends, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP suggests high-quality educational media and no more than one hour per day of supervised screen time for toddlers between the ages of 18 and 24 months.

Prioritizing Experiences Off-screen is Crucial.

Off-screen activities for babies and toddlers, such reading books, singing, playing with toys, and exploring their surroundings, should be given priority by parents and caregivers. Language learning, cognitive development, and social and emotional growth are all supported by these activities.

For a baby’s growth to be at its best, human contact and non-screen experiences are essential. While screens could offer momentary solace, too much exposure to them can be detrimental to a baby’s physical, social, and cognitive growth. To give their children the greatest possible start in life, parents and other adults should prioritize non-screen activities and restrict screen time.