Three-quarters of nine-month-olds in England have daily screen time'

"Just 2% of the infants included in the research reportedly watched more than three hours a day, while the average amount of time was 41 minutes, research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found. Parents across different income levels made similar choices for their nine-month-olds, researchers found, and they concluded that screen time and a healthy, active childhood are not necessarily mutually exclusive."

"The more siblings a baby has, the less likely they are to be reported to watch screens. Four out of five (80%) babies with no siblings had some screen time, compared with three out of five (57%) of those with four or more siblings. Infants in single-parent households watched for an average of 47 minutes a day, compared with 39 minutes for those with two parents in the home."

"Researchers also looked at the relationship between screen use and other activities and found that infants in the heavy-use group were significantly less likely to experience regular enrichment activities, such as being read or sung to, or trips outside."

Research from the Education Policy Institute analyzing 8,000 English families found that 72% of nine-month-old infants experience some screen time, with an average of 41 minutes daily. Only 2% watch more than three hours. Screen time prevalence is similar across income levels. Babies with more siblings watch less screen, with 80% of only children having screen exposure versus 57% of those with four or more siblings. Infants in single-parent households average 47 minutes daily compared to 39 minutes in two-parent homes. Heavy screen users are significantly less likely to engage in enrichment activities like reading, singing, or outdoor trips. Researchers conclude screens and healthy childhood development are not mutually exclusive, recommending policymakers support parents in using digital devices constructively.

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