Toddlers and tech: how young is too young?

The first years of a child’s life are crucial for development. It’s when they learn how to communicate and connect with other people and to interact with the world around them.

“Much of early learning is hands-on, through touch and through real-life interaction with people,” says David Rosenberg, MD, a pediatrician in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “When infants don't have that exposure to other people, when they just have a screen, they don't learn as well.”

Yet according to a 2020 report by Common Sense Media, 40 percent of American children have used a mobile device before they’ve even celebrated their second birthday.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that it’s best to keep technology away from infants 18 months and younger. An exception is video chatting, which children may use to interact with family members.

Between the ages of 18 and 24 months, the AAP advises the digital media may be used as long as the programming is of a high quality and parents access the programming with their children. Watching with your child and explaining the content can also help them understand what they’re seeing. The AAP advises against letting children of this age view media on their own.

Here are some of the downsides of the use of smartphones, tablets, and televisions for children under two years of age—and what parents can do to set healthy limits on tech use.

Drawbacks of too much tech

Children younger than two learn and grow best through physical exploration of their surroundings and spending in-person time with their families, caregivers, and other children. Missing out on this important developmental work while overusing media can lead to a variety of issues.

Potential delays in speech and social development

“One of the concerns with technology is that if the only stimulation kids are getting is from this two-dimensional screen, there can be delays in the development of expressive speech,” says Dr. Rosenberg.

Expressive speech means how a child uses words to express how they feel or what they want. Past research has found that toddlers around 18 months old who spend more time using mobile media devices have an increased risk of delayed expressive speech development. And a 2023 study published in JAMA Pediatrics noted that the more time a one-year-old spends with screens, the larger the negative effect on their communication and problem-solving skills at ages two and four.

Slightly older toddlers may also experience negative effects from screen time. In a study published in 2024 in BMC Public Health, researchers investigated how much screen time can lead to delays in speech, using data from more than 31,000 children between the ages of two and three years old. They found that toddlers who spent more than an hour a day using a mobile device were more likely to have less-developed language abilities.

That said, technology deployed in certain settings may offer limited benefits for speech. Some evidence suggests that live video chatting can help toddlers learn words and connect with family members—but it’s still no substitute for the real thing.

“With increasing screen time, there may be decreased maternal and paternal time,” Rosenberg says. “And we know how important that time is for bonding, growth, and development.”

Sedentary lifestyle

Spending extended periods of time on devices can make children less physically active.

“If they’re sitting watching television or playing video games, the only exercise they’re getting is with their thumbs,” says Rosenberg.

Experts recommend that children one to two years old should have at least 30 minutes of structured play and 60 minutes or more of unstructured play per day. Structured play is directed by an adult. Unstructured play, while monitored by an adult, is driven by the child.

“Not only is play important for physical fitness, it's also important for mental health,” says Rosenberg.

Sleep interruptions

Sleep is essential for cognitive development at any age, but especially for young children. In a 2024 review published in Cureus, researchers noted that multiple studies have found links between toddler’s use of screens and reduced sleep at night. Screen time also has a negative effect on how long it takes toddlers to fall asleep. According to one study the authors cited, for each hour spent on a mobile device, a child lost about 26 minutes of nighttime sleep.

One reason behind this may be the blue-light emission from the screens. This type of light can affect how toddlers’ bodies make melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep. This in turn disrupts their circadian rhythms, the body’s natural internal clock.

“The devices get kids excited,” says Rosenberg, “which translates into poorer quality sleep.”

What you can do as a parent or guardian

It’s not easy juggling multiple responsibilities. Sometimes setting your child in front of the iPad for a few minutes is just what you need to get the laundry done, dinner on the table, or that last of the workday’s emails out. But it's important to maintain limits, and to remember that you have the power to positively influence how your child interacts with media. If tech use has become a habit in your household, here are some ways to cut back:

Develop a plan

The AAP recommends creating a “family media plan” to help you set clear boundaries about household media usage. This tool can help you limit screen time to certain areas of your home, decide how you would like your child to view media, and reduce the overall amount of viewing that takes place.

Co-view media together

“If your kids are going to be using media, take responsibility for what they're looking at,” says Rosenberg. The AAP recommends that you monitor what your child is viewing and, as much as possible, watch with your child.

Replace screen time with real play

Structured and unstructured play time is essential for toddlers because it encourages problem-solving and motor skill development. As much as possible, substitute screen time with engaging, interactive activities, such as playing outside, reading books together, or having playdates with other children.

According to Rosenberg, as long as toddlers are in an environment where they have things and people to play with, they won’t be missing out if a parent decides to cut out screen time altogether. “The most important thing,” he says, “is stimulation.”