Screens have become an increasing part of day-to-day life. 

They can be used for things like:

• everyday tasks and life skills
• entertainment
• social connection with friends and family
• learning
• being creative.

It's important to understand how to realistically manage screen time while also considering the current recommendations for different ages.  

Babies learn the most from face-to-face interactions. Many families with friends and relatives living far away use video-chatting apps like Messenger, Facebook or WhatsApp to stay connected. 

It's okay to use screen time to catch up with long-distance friends and family as long as your baby is primarily interacting with other people in person.

Families need to consider the use of screens in their daily lives and whether screen time is replacing:

• opportunities for learning
• social interaction
• physical objects that can help babies develop other skills, like puzzles or blocks.

As babies grow, they start to imitate the behaviour of those around them. A baby who is exposed to a lot of screen time during the day may develop behaviours like:

• wanting to hold or use a parent or carer's phone all the time
• needing to look at a screen while eating
• needing to use a screen to keep occupied instead of developing independent play skills.

Excessive screen time can also disrupt a baby's sleep patterns, emotional regulation, self-soothing skills, and attention span.

See Screen time for more information.