Screen Time

No matter what apps, websites, or videos you may hear about, parents are the best teachers for their children. Babies cannot learn from computers or TV the way they can learn from you.

Why it’s best to limit screen time

Having a baby is a great time to think about how you want to use screens (television, smartphones, tablets, etc.). Having these on can make it harder for you and your baby to communicate. Consider making a plan now to decide when you want to use screens and when to turn them off. When parents limit their own screen time, babies will be less interested in screens, and you will have more time to do other activities together like reading, singing, and playing with your baby.

Babies can use video chat to see family members (such as a parent at work or grandparents who live far away). Other than that, babies should stay away from screens until they are at least 15 to 18 months old, and if they do use screens at that age or earlier, it’s best for a parent to sit with them and talk about what they are seeing.

Even as they get older, it’s important to keep monitoring their media use and talking about the messages they see and hear (about different people, products, and places, etc.). Children start picking up all sorts of messages even when they are quite young. Your conversations will help guide what your child will learn.