New study links screen use before age two to developmental concerns

Researchers from four UK universities, commissioned by the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, reviewed global evidence on screen exposure during the first 1,001 days of life. The review, which also surveyed parents of children under two, found that more than 70% of infants are regularly exposed to phones or tablets, with one in ten regularly falling asleep with a screen. It associates higher screen time in the first two years with sleep problems, language delays, behavioural difficulties, obesity risk, short-sightedness and later challenges in friendships and social interaction. The authors caution that the review does not prove direct causation, but they recommend that babies and toddlers under two avoid regular intentional screen time, emphasizing the need for language exposure, physical play, eye contact and caregiver attention.

The findings arrive amid growing worries among parents, educators and health professionals about early dependence on digital devices, often dubbed the “iPad kid” phenomenon. The study suggests that early habits of using screens as a soothing tool may lead to later device dependence and associated developmental issues.