Survey finds two-thirds of babies on screens
- Leeds Trinity and Aston researchers, working with the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, released findings showing more than 70% of UK under-twos now use screens. - In a survey of 150-plus parents, some babies were exposed for up to eight hours daily, and 85% of parents got no advice. - The numbers land just weeks after Britain issued its first under-5 screen guidance, exposing a big gap between policy and family life.
Babies and screens are now colliding much earlier than most parents — or pediatricians — are comfortable with. New UK research says more than 70% of children under two are already using screens, sometimes for hours a day, and a significant minority are reaching as much as eight hours. That matters because the first two years are when language, sleep, attention, and social bonding are getting built at high speed. The news here is not just that screens are common — it’s that the gap between official advice and actual family life looks huge. (leedstrinity.ac.uk) ### Who put these numbers out? The findings come from the iADDICT research group — academics from Leeds Trinity, Leeds, Aston, and Loughborough — in work commissioned by the 1001 Critical Days Foundation. Leeds Trinity said the results are still “emerging,” which is worth noting, but the topline numbers are concrete enough that universities and the foundation are already pushing them publicly. (leedstrinity.ac.uk) ### What did they actually find? In surveys and focus groups involving more than 150 parents with babies under two, screen use showed up in over 70% of babies, infants, and toddlers. Some children were using screens for several hours a day, with exposure reaching up to eight hours in some (leedstrinity.ac.uk)e occasional convenience and more like a daily habit. (leedstrinity.ac.uk) ### Why is under two such a big deal? Because this is the period when babies learn mostly from people, not from pixels. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children younger than 2 learn best by exploring the world and interacting with adults and other children, and that screens work be(leedstrinity.ac.uk)tself is a weak teacher for a baby. (aap.org) ### What are researchers worried about? The team says its review of thousands of studies points in one direction — more screen exposure in babies tends to track with worse developmental outcomes. The list includes sleep problems, (aap.org). But it does mean heavy use during infancy keeps showing up alongside the exact skills babies are supposed to be building offline. (leedstrinity.ac.uk) ### So are parents just ignoring the rules? Not really. The researchers go out of their way to say parents are often using screens to survive ordinary life — chores, exhaustion, stress, and limited support. Nearly two-thirds of parents in the study were worried about their own screen use, (leedstrinity.ac.uk) tool that is sitting right there. (leedstrinity.ac.uk) ### What does official guidance say now? The timing matters. On March 26, 2026, the UK government published its first national screen-time guidance for under-5s. For children under 2, the advice is to avoid screen time except for shared activities that encourage bonding and conversation. F(leedstrinity.ac.uk)ontent is better, solo use is worse, and fast, social-media-style clips should be avoided. (gov.uk) ### Why does this feel bigger than one survey? Because it suggests public-health advice is arriving after the habit is already normal. The government says 98% of two-year-olds watch screens every day. So the real problem may not be whether experts can draft sensible rules — it’s whether families have enough time, childcare, and support to follow them. (gov.uk) ### Bottom line This story is really about a mismatch. The science and guidance say babies need human interaction first. Family life in 2026 keeps pushing in the other direction. Until parents get more support — not just more warnings — screens will keep filling the gap.
