Week 46: We did all the research on screen time and here’s what we found

A lot of research has been making the rounds recently, and we know it’s not easy to get a straight answer about how screens affect our children. The experts have said over and over again that there are no proven benefits of media exposure for infants and toddlers, but will time spent on a phone or tablet actually hurt your baby?
Because phones and tablets are so convenient, young children are more exposed to screen time than ever before. In fact, 40% of 3-month-olds and 90% of 2-year-olds are regularly watching programs on screens. In this post, we have sorted out the information being shared on this topic to help you make your own informed decisions about how to manage screens for your family.
HOW SCREEN TIME IMPACTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
- As part of a major research study of thousands of children to try to understand the impact of screen time on young children, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that children who reported more than two hours a day of screen time got lower scores on thinking and language tests.
- That same study found that children with lots of screen time had a premature thinning of the outermost layer of their brains (the cerebral cortex). This layer is the most evolved brain region and supports the highest-order cognitive functions.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding screen media for children younger than 18 months. Children under 18 months cannot translate what they perceive on a two-dimensional screen into the physical world. Researchers say that young children who have more access to screens develop lower communication and cognitive abilities because screen time takes away from the experiences that genuinely support learning.
- The people designing touchscreen devices and the apps that play on them are taking steps to limit their use at home. Silicon Valley parents are concerned enough about the addictive potential of screen time that many of them are eliminating it completely for their children.
HOW SCREEN TIME IMPACTS PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
- Babies’ sleep and subsequent brain development is potentially being harmed by touchscreen device use. A University of London study showed that there are “point by point” increases in sleep interruption, meaning that a quarter of an hour on a screen might be reflected in four minutes’ less sleep. Sleep is essential for the development of the brain, particularly during the first few years of life. The study was unable to determine any “cutoff” for screen use; there was no established amount that had zero impact.
- Additional research has shown links between screen time and toddler obesity, sleep disruption during early childhood, and diminished fine motor development.
Screen time can reduce quality time with loved ones
- Before we all had smartphones, earlier research was already showing that time spent watching TV was taking away from time interacting with siblings and parents, engaging in creative play, and doing homework. There’s good reason to believe that these effects are the same or greater with handheld devices today.
But it can make chats with Grandma and Grandpa more enriching
- Scientists have shared that video chats such as Facetime are different from other screen media, and not harmful in the same way. Even many parents who say no to screens in all other aspects of their children’s lives are fine with video chats because the science supports that the serve-and-return conversation and real-time interaction are good for learning and bonding.
- That said, it’s best to avoid video chats right before bed time, when the screen light is most likely to disrupt crucial sleep time.
Tips for managing screen time
Screen time is really hard to minimize and manage when we’re just trying to get through the day, so here are some tips to help think it through if you aren’t ready to turn off all the screens cold turkey.
- Make the best of video chats. They aren’t harmful like other forms of screen time, and you don’t want to let Grandma down. Zero to Three has 5 tips for making the most of them.
- Plane time and travel time don’t have to mean screen time. Traveling without a device usually means carrying more stuff with you like books, crafts (play dough, washable markers, pipe cleaners and pom poms) and snacks, as well as accepting that your child is going to take much of your focus. One tactic that works for some is audio books with kid headphones. You can usually find the audio books that go with picture books you already have, so your child can follow along as they listen.
- Make the most of props around you. Planes and restaurants can be more fun if you use what is already there: ice cubes and cups, the window shade (on a plane), or napkins (use it to hide snacks, play peek-a-boo). Also, once you put devices away you start to notice how many people might love to talk to your baby.
- Consider delaying screen time budgeting altogether. Some parents argue that skipping screen time altogether is almost easier than budgeting it. It’s hard to say no to screens completely, but when a child gets used to the kind of rush that comes from using digital devices, they will learn to seek out the immediate gratification of a screen over the slow but more meaningful feedback of the real world.
Posted in: 11 - 12 Months, Technology, Child Development
Keep reading

0 - 12 Weeks
3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
0 - 12 Months
The complete guide to baby development milestones
We compiled this expert guide to help you know what to expect for your baby's growth and month-by-month development.

11 - 12 Months
Month 12: Meet our Organic Cotton Baby Doll, a timeless doll for everyone
The Organic Cotton Baby Doll comes in three skin tones and is gender-neutral. Read more about our Baby Doll for everyone.

9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Introducing updates to ‘The Thinker’ and ‘The Explorer’ Play Kits for babies
We are constantly working to improve our products, which may result in periodic Play Kit updates. See how we continue to provide stage-appropriate play essentials that your child will love.

0 - 12 Weeks
3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
The benefits of bringing your baby outside
Spending time outside is not only enjoyable for babies, it also supports their cognitive and motor development—and may even help them sleep better.

11 - 12 Months
Our favorite gifts for baby’s first birthday
First birthdays are a big deal and worth celebrating. Gifts are one way to mark the occasion. Here are our 15 favorites for your one-year-old.

0 - 12 Weeks
3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
25 - 27 Months
28 - 30 Months
31 - 33 Months
34 - 36 Months
Why wooden toys make the best playthings
Wooden toys are a staple of Montessori learning. They're durable, beautiful, and inspire wonder for a child's budding imagination.

3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
18 - 48 Months+
Why children are so attached to their loveys (and what to do if your child loses theirs)
Loveys, also known as "transitional objects," help babies and toddlers through transitions. Learn why these blankies, stuffies, and more are important and what to do if one goes missing.

0 - 12 Weeks
3 - 4 Months
5 - 6 Months
7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Our simplest activities to do at home with your baby
Running out of new activities for your baby during quarantine? Don't worry! Here are 14 of our favorite simple play ideas for spending time at home.

11 - 12 Months
Sticky Note Wall
Sticky notes are all you need for this fun activity. It encourages fine motor and gross motor skills, builds core strength, strengthens hand-eye coordination, and improves grasping skills.

7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Pillow Crawling
If you have a crawler (on average around 8-10 months) that needs more of a challenge, try creating a mountain of pillows. This activity is also great for babies who have skipped crawling or are quickly trying to move past the crawling stage.

11 - 12 Months
Contact Paper Art
Starting around 11 months, your baby will love this indoor play activity that uses clear Contact paper, painter’s tape, and construction paper.

9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Laundry basket spider web
Problem solving and fine motor work are key to releasing the trapped toys in this fun DIY play for your baby.

9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Balls and muffin tin activity
Balls and muffin tin activity | Lovevery

7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
7 easy sensory bottle ideas
Sensory bottles excite your baby’s senses and help make connections in their brain and we’ve collected 7 here that are easy to make and mess-free.

7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Nature walk and outdoor treasure box
The world right outside your home is full of opportunities for your baby to learn. Take a stroll around the neighborhood with your baby, enjoy the fresh air, and collect some natural souvenirs for an outdoor treasure box.

7 - 8 Months
9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
Easter Egg Play
If you were able to get some Easter eggs this year, or you have some from previous years, you can offer them to your baby to explore. They will like the bright colors, figuring out how they open and close, and watching the different ways the eggs move.

9 - 10 Months
11 - 12 Months
13 - 15 Months
Sing along with Lovevery on Spotify
From developing neural pathways to encouraging language development, music is almost magical in its impact on your baby's brain development. Listen to Lovevery's playlists for everything from bedtime to dance parties.

11 - 12 Months
Welcome to The Thinker Play Kit for months 11-12
Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph introduce the Thinker Play Kit for months 11 and 12 of your baby's life.

11 - 12 Months
Month 12: Air—your invisible playmate
You can help your toddler understand natural sequences related to airflow by fanning them, blowing across the top of a bottle, blowing bubbles, and more.

11 - 12 Months
Month 12: Walking by their first birthday? Not on average 🤔
On average, toddlers start walking between 9 and 17 months. Here are some tips to support your child's walking development.

11 - 12 Months
Week 52: Happy Birthday, Baby!
Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph recaptures the strides both you and your baby have made in the first year. Celebrate how far you've come as a parent.

11 - 12 Months
Week 51: Sensory play (and why letting your baby get messy is important)
Keeping your baby clean matters to most parents, but getting messy can teach important skills. Here are some fun ideas for messy sensory play.

11 - 12 Months
Week 50: The brain-building benefits of letting your baby struggle
Letting your baby struggle may go against your instincts, but it can help build independence and resilience. Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph demonstrate why.

11 - 12 Months
Week 49: Clap and sing along with the best playtime songs for baby
Clapping and singing to music provides early lessons in pattern recognition and language. Try our list of songs and lyrics to incorporate into playtime.

11 - 12 Months
Week 48: Beyond the bedtime routine — why everyday rituals are important for your baby’s brain
Learn about how predictable sequences in your baby's everyday life help them begin thinking in more advanced ways.

11 - 12 Months
Week 47: How doing mundane tasks like laundry can be full of meaning for your child
There is an art to narrating, explaining, and including your baby in everyday tasts. Watch Lovevery CEO Jessica Rolph model how.

11 - 12 Months
Week 46: We did all the research on screen time and here’s what we found
Will time spent on a phone or tablet actually harm your baby? Lovevery sorts out the information sorts out the information to help you make informed decisions.

11 - 12 Months
Week 45: What’s the real deal with the Montessori approach?
We love Montessori for its focus on fewer, high-quality playthings and real-world, sensory experience. Learn more about it and where and when we look beyond it.