No, babies under 18 months should not watch TV, apart from brief video calls, since real-life play and interaction drive healthy development.
New parents often ask, “can a baby watch tv?” especially when a bright screen calms a fussy little one. Major pediatric groups say no for regular viewing, with a narrow exception for video chatting with family. This guide explains why experts take that stance and shows simple ways to handle screens in a home full of devices.
Can A Baby Watch TV? What Experts Say
Major medical organizations answer can a baby watch TV with a clear message. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises no screen media for babies under 18 months, except for live video chat with loved ones. That recommendation comes from research showing that babies learn best from face-to-face interaction and hands-on play, not from glowing screens.
The World Health Organization goes in the same direction. Its guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep for children under five state that screen-based sedentary time is not recommended for infants, and that toddlers and preschoolers should have very limited screen time, with far more time spent moving and sleeping well.
| Age | Screen Time Recommendation | What To Prioritize |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | No TV or videos; video chat only with an adult actively engaging the baby. | Skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, soothing voice, feeding, and sleep. |
| 7–12 months | No regular TV or background shows; brief video calls with family are fine. | Tummy time, floor play, songs, nursery rhymes, and simple games like peekaboo. |
| 13–18 months | Still avoid TV viewing; if screens appear, keep them short, rare, and shared with an adult. | Walking practice, stacking toys, picture books, and interaction with caregivers. |
| 18–24 months | Small amounts of high-quality content watched together with a caregiver. | Talking about what the baby sees, naming objects, and linking screen content to real life. |
| 2–3 years | Up to about an hour a day of high-quality, age-appropriate content, not all at once. | Outdoor play, pretend games, art, and shared reading still take first place. |
| 3–4 years | Similar limit of about an hour a day, with clear routines and no screens at meals or bedtime. | Preschool activities, movement games, social play, and simple chores. |
| Any age under 5 | No background TV running all day in the room where the child spends time. | Calm, predictable routines and chances to play, talk, and rest without constant noise. |
These age-based guidelines may look strict at first glance, yet they are built on a simple idea: babies and toddlers grow through movement, touch, sound, and back-and-forth interaction. When a screen replaces those experiences, learning slows and family routines can start to revolve around a device instead of the child.
Baby Watching TV And Screen Time Limits
To understand why experts say no to baby TV, it helps to know how quickly the first years shape vision, hearing, and attention. During this period, babies are wiring connections in the brain at a fast pace. That wiring responds strongly to direct interaction: a parent smiling, a sibling making faces, a caregiver singing and moving in real space.
Studies reviewed by the American Academy of Pediatrics show that traditional TV and fast-paced cartoons do not match the way infants process information. They have trouble linking flat images on a screen with real-world objects. Even when they seem captivated by a show, they often are not learning much from it, and the screen can pull attention away from the people in the room.
Research tied to the World Health Organization guidelines adds another layer. Long periods of sitting and staring at screens displace active play and movement, which help bones, muscles, and heart health. Too much screen time at a young age links with more sedentary habits and higher health risks later on.
Developmental Concerns Linked To Early TV Viewing
Researchers have reported connections between heavy screen use in the first years and slower language growth. When a television runs in the background, adults tend to talk less to babies, which means fewer words heard and fewer chances to practise sound making. Some studies also tie higher early TV exposure to shorter attention span and more behaviour struggles later in childhood.
Not all children who watch some TV as a baby will face these problems, and single short exposures are not a disaster. The concern comes from habits that build up day after day, where screens replace play, conversation, and shared reading. That pattern, rather than one specific cartoon, creates risk over time.
Sleep, Overstimulation, And The Evening Routine
Screens can also disturb sleep, especially when used near bedtime. Bright blue light from screens tells the brain to stay alert, which makes it harder for babies and toddlers to wind down. Fast cuts, loud sounds, and intense colours add to that stimulation just when their bodies need calm.
Good sleep in the first years helps growth, mood, and learning. When a baby watches TV in the hour before bed, falling asleep often takes longer, night waking can increase, and early morning wake-ups become more common. A quiet bedtime routine with dim lights, simple songs, and story time sets a different tone.
Baby TV Safer Exceptions And Nuance
Even with strict guidelines, life brings tricky moments. Travel delays, illness, or solo parenting can tempt anyone to hand a phone to a crying baby. Health experts understand that reality, so the goal is not perfection but wise choices and clear limits.
One widely accepted exception to the can a baby watch tv? question is live video chat. Talking to grandparents or a parent who is away on a trip lets babies hear familiar voices and see faces that respond to their sounds and expressions. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that this type of screen time is closer to real interaction and can fit into a healthy routine when an adult helps guide the call.
If a rare short TV clip feels unavoidable, you can lower the downside. Pick calm, slow-paced content made for babies, mute ads, keep the volume moderate, and sit nearby so your baby can still turn back to your face and hands. Turn the screen off fully when the short viewing ends, so it does not keep drawing scattered glances for the rest of the day.
What Health Organizations Recommend In Practice
For more detail, read the screen time advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics on HealthyChildren.org and the World Health Organization guidelines for children under five years of age. Both say to avoid TV and apps under 18 months except video calls, to keep screens rare and shared between 18 and 24 months, and from age two onward to limit daily screen use while giving priority to active play, shared reading, and time outdoors.
Practical Ways To Keep Babies Busy Without Screens
Turning away from TV is much easier when you have simple, low-prep ideas ready to go. The goal is not to schedule every minute, but to keep a toolbox of playful moves that work in small pockets of time. Babies thrive on repetition, so you do not need constant novelty. Small changes add up quickly over the week too.
Think in terms of senses and movement. Babies learn by touching, mouthing, grabbing, and watching real people. That means a wooden spoon and a mixing bowl often beat a pricey toy, and a silly face can draw more giggles than any animated character on a screen.
| Situation | Screen-Free Idea | What Your Baby Gains |
|---|---|---|
| You need ten minutes to finish a task. | Set up a safe play mat with a few favourite toys and rotate one new item in. | Practises independent play and learns to play with nearby objects. |
| Baby is fussy in the late afternoon. | Wear the baby in a carrier and walk outside, pointing out trees, cars, and dogs. | Gets fresh air, rhythmic motion, and language input from your running commentary. |
| Rain keeps you indoors. | Lay a blanket on the floor and create an obstacle path with pillows to crawl over. | Builds strength, balance, and coordination in a playful way. |
| You need to cook or clean nearby. | Give safe kitchen tools like measuring cups or plastic containers to bang and stack. | Practises grasping, cause and effect, and sound play. |
| Baby seems bored with usual toys. | Make a simple sensory basket with scarves, soft brushes, and crinkly paper. | Stimulates touch, hearing, and curiosity under your supervision. |
| Streaming shows tempt you during feeds. | Put your phone in another room and keep a basket of books or small toys by the chair. | Encourages eye contact, gentle talk, and bonding during feeding time. |
| Baby wakes early from a nap. | Sit by a window, describe the weather, and let your baby tap the glass. | Helps growth in language and visual tracking without added noise. |
Many caregivers find that once screens are off by default, babies settle into these simple activities with ease. There may be protests at first if TV has turned into part of the routine, yet a few consistent days of new patterns usually lead to less fussing and smoother transitions.
Building A Screen Time Plan For Your Family
Every household has its own pressures, work hours, and living space. A screen time plan does not need to be perfect or rigid. It just needs to line up with the evidence and feel doable enough that you can follow it most days.
Start by writing down your family rules for devices around babies. Some parents ban TV in the room where the baby plays. Others set a rule that adult shows only run after bedtime. You might decide that phones stay off the table during meals and feeds so that your baby sees faces, not screens, during those anchor moments.
Next, review your own screen habits. Babies read body language and eye contact long before they understand words. When they see you pause a show, silence notifications, or put your phone face down to play on the floor, that simple act teaches that people matter more than screens.
Finally, plan ahead for predictable tough spots. If you know that the hour before dinner tends to melt down, set up a toy rotation bin or a safe play area near the kitchen. If you need to make an urgent call, keep a special toy that only appears during those brief moments instead of reaching for the remote.
Putting It All Together
So, can a baby watch tv? The clearest answer from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization is that regular TV does not fit with healthy development in the first year and a half. Short, shared video chats can fit, but screens should stay off most of the day while babies move, play, and connect with the people around them.
That guidance exists to protect early learning, sleep, and family connection, not to judge parents. With a bit of planning, you can keep screens in their place, guard your baby’s first years, and still lean on the technology that helps your household stay in touch and manage busy days.