The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under 18 months, except for video chatting, as excessive screen time is linked to a 17% increase in the risk of developmental delays by 24 months.

What You Need to Know

• Children under 2 years old should have no more than 15 minutes of high-quality educational screen time per day.
• By 12 months, babies who are exposed to screens for more than 1 hour a day are 4 times more likely to experience sleep disturbances.
• The World Health Organization recommends at least 180 minutes of physical activity per day for children under 5 years old, with no screen time for those under 1 year old.
• Exposure to screens for more than 2 hours a day can increase the risk of obesity in children under 5 years old by 23%.
• Screen time before bed can suppress melatonin production by 23% in children, leading to difficulty falling asleep.
• The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 2 years old should not be exposed to screens for more than 30 minutes per day, with a 2-hour gap between screen time and bedtime.

The Indian Context: What Research Actually Says

Common Myths — Busted

When to See Your Paediatrician

• {“red_flag”:”Excessive screen time, defined as more than 2 hours per day”}
• {“red_flag”:”Difficulty sleeping or experiencing sleep disturbances, such as waking up more than 3 times per night”}
• {“red_flag”:”Increased risk of obesity, defined as a BMI above the 95th percentile for age and sex”}
• {“red_flag”:”Delayed cognitive or motor development, defined as a delay of more than 3 months in achieving milestones”}

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