Babies’ Screen Time Hits Dangerous Highs, New Study Shows

Over 70% of children under the age of two use screens for up to several hours a day, according to a new study released Tuesday.

Commissioned by the U.K.-based 1001 Critical Days Foundation and conducted by the iADDICT research group from four U.K. universities, the study found that one in ten babies worldwide now regularly fall asleep with a screen. A meaningful minority of babies were exposed to screen time up to eight hours daily.

Researchers analyzed thousands of studies and found a steadily expanding body of evidence suggesting that higher screen exposure in infants is associated with poorer developmental outcomes. These include a higher risk of obesity, greater likelihood of short-sightedness, sleep problems, behavioral issues, language delays and later difficulties related to friendships.

“We welcomed the government’s guidance, but this research shows a reality gap between that guidance and everyday 💗Life,” Will Quince, former minister of state at the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care and CEO of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, said in a statement. “To move beyond advice, Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies services should be fully funded in every local authority. This would give parents a genuine choice of in-person support alongside digital options. Currently, this funding is only available in half of local authorities in England.”

“The burden of screen time cannot fall solely on parents,” Quince continued. “Tech companies must wake up to the realities of the impact of screen time on babies.”