Africaparent Logo
Africaparent Logo
EnglishSwahili
  • COVID-19
  • Becoming a Mama
  • Ages & Stages
  • Parenting
  • Health
  • Feeding & Nutrition

Study Reveals That Babies Are Being Exposed To Excessive Screen Time

2 min read
Study Reveals That Babies Are Being Exposed To Excessive Screen TimeStudy Reveals That Babies Are Being Exposed To Excessive Screen Time

A study conducted by some Universities discovered that babies were having excessive screen time per day. This is not recommended as it affects their quality of health.

Even for adults, there have been warnings about too much screen time concerning the general quality of life. But it appears time spent in front of the screen is rising for children. Babies as young as twelve months get nearly an hour of screen time a day, study finds.

Babies as Young as Twelve Months Get Nearly an Hour of Screen Time a Day, Study Finds

Babies as Young as Twelve Months Get Nearly an Hour of Screen Time a Day, Study Finds

The study was conducted by the University of Albany, the National Institutes of Health and New York University Langone Medical Center. The study made discoveries on the amount of time children spend in front of screens such as television, computer, and mobile devices.

For this study, the authors reached out to nearly 4,000 mothers with questions on their children's media habits when they were 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months of age. Also, they answered similar questions relating to when their kids were 7 and 8 years old. The study also collected more demographic information on mothers and children from birth records and other surveys.

babies looking at a phone

Consequently, the study found that the time children spent in front of screens increased. Time spent in front of screens went from 53 minutes at 12 months to more than 150 minutes at 3 years, which goes way beyond what is appropriate according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP recommends that digital media exposure should be avoided for children under the age of 18 months. However, children of 18 to 24 months of age, should be made familiar with it slowly, one hour per day.

Other findings by the study

excessive time on phone damages babies health

  • 87 per cent of children went above the recommended screen time of the American Pediatric Academy.
  • Children with first-time mothers were more likely to be in the highest percentile.
  • Twins were more likely to belong to the highest screen time group compared to single-born children.

Too much screen time isn't a good choice for toddlers, because it negatively affects growth and development such as their reading skills, short term memory, and attention span. "Our results indicate that screen habits begin early," said Edwina Yeung, the study's senior author, in a statement. "This finding suggests that interventions to reduce screen time could have a better chance of success if introduced early."

Read also:

  • 10 Activities To Develop Gross Motor Skills For Toddlers
  • The best age to give your child a smartphone, according to Bill Gates

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Lydia Ume

  • Home
  • /
  • Lifestyle
  • /
  • Study Reveals That Babies Are Being Exposed To Excessive Screen Time
Share:
  • Children under 5 should not get more than one hour a day of screen time

    Children under 5 should not get more than one hour a day of screen time

  • Your kids don’t have a problem with screen time – YOU do!

    Your kids don’t have a problem with screen time – YOU do!

  • These Foods Help In Improving Your Sight

    These Foods Help In Improving Your Sight

  • Catch a glimpse of Serena Williams as a mom

    Catch a glimpse of Serena Williams as a mom

  • Children under 5 should not get more than one hour a day of screen time

    Children under 5 should not get more than one hour a day of screen time

  • Your kids don’t have a problem with screen time – YOU do!

    Your kids don’t have a problem with screen time – YOU do!

  • These Foods Help In Improving Your Sight

    These Foods Help In Improving Your Sight

  • Catch a glimpse of Serena Williams as a mom

    Catch a glimpse of Serena Williams as a mom

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Becoming a Mama
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Kids
  • Parenting
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
    • Parent's Guide
  • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Weaning
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright Africaparent.com 2023 Tickled Media Pte Ltd. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it