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Ages 0–4

Screen time and online safety for ages 0–4

Screens enter family life early. The goal at this age is shared, calm, short sessions — not solo scrolling.

Screen-time recommendations and selected research references checked 21 September 2026. Other guidance is general parenting advice.

Screen time — what experts recommend

The UK government’s March 2026 guidance for parents of under-fives recommends avoiding screens under age 2 except shared activities that support bonding, interaction and conversation. For ages 2–5, aim for no more than 1 hour a day. Choose slow-paced, age-appropriate content and use it together. Avoid screens at meals and during the hour before bed.

UK context: This Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care guidance replaces the assumption that government advice has no time target for young children. Screen-based assistive technology for children with special educational needs and disabilities should not be restricted in the same way. Separately, WHO’s global guidance does not recommend sedentary screen time for infants or one-year-olds, and recommends at most 1 hour for ages 2–4; less is better.

Total time across phone, tablet, TV, console and computer combined (school work usually excluded).

Evidence and practical considerations

  • A small cross-sectional MRI study of 47 children aged 3–5 found associations between a screen-use measure, white-matter measures and some language/literacy assessments. It did not prove brain damage or establish effects in babies.
  • An observational study of children aged 12–36 months linked more screen time with less parent–child talk. This does not prove that screens alone caused the difference.
  • Shared conversation, play and sleep remain important parts of the day; follow the linked age-specific guidance and seek advice if development concerns you.

Sources around the world

Typical digital behaviours

  • Watching cartoons or nursery videos with a parent
  • Tapping on a tablet for short play
  • Mirroring what older siblings watch

Risks that actually matter

  • Auto-play pulling toddlers into unsuitable content
  • Screen use replacing sleep, talking or movement
  • Accidental purchases inside ‘free’ apps

Settings worth changing tonight

  • Turn off auto-play on YouTube and streaming apps
  • Use a dedicated kids profile (YouTube Kids, Netflix Kids)
  • Disable in-app purchases on the device

How to talk about it

  • Watch the first episode together so you know the show
  • Name what they’re watching out loud — builds language

Red flags worth investigating

  • Distress when a screen is turned off, every time
  • Sleep disruption after evening screen use

If you want to know more from the experts

Studies, guidance and background reading

Hand-picked from paediatricians, regulators, academic journals and investigative reporting around the world. Open in a new tab.