Three-quarters of nine-month-old babies in England are allowed screen time daily, while a small “heavy use” group watches more than three hours a day, according to one study.
Only 2% of babies included in the research reportedly watched more than three hours a day, while the average time was 41 minutes, according to research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
The researchers found that parents of different income levels made similar decisions for their nine-month-old children, and concluded that screen time and a healthy, active childhood “are not necessarily mutually exclusive.”
They said that instead of “demonizing” screens and trying to reduce exposure, policymakers should support parents in using digital devices to improve child development and parent-infant bonding.
The research, which is based on data from 8,000 families in England who participated in the Children of the 2020s study, explores the prevalence and intensity of screen time among nine-month-old babies.
It found that 72% of babies in the sample experienced at least some screen time at nine months, while just over a quarter (28%) experienced none.
The more siblings a baby has, the less likely they are to be reported looking at screens. Four in five (80%) babies without siblings spent some time in front of a screen, compared to three in five (57%) of those with four or more siblings.
Babies in single-parent homes watched an average of 47 minutes a day, compared to 39 minutes for those with two parents in the home. Differences by parental education and income were not significant.
The researchers also looked at the relationship between screen use and other activities and found that babies in the high-use group were significantly less likely to experience regular enrichment activities, such as being read to, sung to, or going outside.
The Department for Education (DfE) is set to publish guidance for parents on screen time for children under five, amid concerns that excessive screen time could damage young children’s ability to speak.
Dr Tammy Campbell, director of early years, inequalities and wellbeing at EPI, said: “This research is one piece of an expanding jigsaw of up-to-date evidence and adds new information for a very recent and nationally representative cohort of babies.
“This suggests that when it comes to babies and screens, parents of all income levels are making similar decisions for their children. It also indicates that screen time and a healthy, active childhood are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
“So a big part of the conversation needs to move from ‘how much’ to ‘what’ to ‘why’. It’s about how and when a screen is used for shared interactive play or passive viewing. And it’s about why usage is high among the very small group of babies who spend more than three hours a day.
“Rather than simply focusing on demonizing any use and cutting minutes, policymaking and guidance should help families use digital tools to improve childhood development, attachment, and enjoyment.”
England’s Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza, co-chair of the panel setting up the government guidance, said: “Parents today are raising their children in a world where screens are part of everyday life – for many, especially in the early months of a child’s life, it can be difficult to know what the right balance is.
“That’s why I’m pleased to co-chair a group creating the first government guidance on screen time for children under five, because the context in which screens are used at home among families is crucial.
“As children’s commissioner, I understand that screens are both a help and a concern for parents, so the upcoming early childhood guidelines will provide clear, trusted advice, giving parents confidence in managing how their children view screens.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Parents have told us they want clear, practical and non-judgmental advice on screen use by under-fives as they raise their children in a digital world.
“That’s why we are working urgently to publish the first government guidance for parents on screen use in young children, backed by an independent, expert-led evidence review and shaped by parents’ own experiences so that the advice reflects real family life.”
