Screen time is one of the most guilt-inducing topics in modern parenting. The evidence sits somewhere in the middle of the extremes - and UK guidance is notably more measured than the headlines suggest.
What the WHO says
No sedentary screen time at all for babies under one. No more than one hour per day for children aged two to four. These guidelines were designed primarily to protect physical activity and sleep time.
What the RCPCH says
The Royal College of Paediatrics took a different approach. Rather than setting specific time limits, they concluded that the evidence of direct harm at typical levels is relatively weak. Instead, they recommend four questions: Is screen time controlled? Does it interfere with family activities? Does it interfere with sleep? Can you control snacking during screen time?
What the evidence does support
Screens in the hour before bedtime can disrupt sleep. Screen use should not replace physical activity (NHS recommends 180 minutes per day for ages one to four). Background television reduces parent-child interaction and language exposure. For babies under 18 months, video content offers essentially no educational benefit.
What actually matters
The practical takeaway is less about counting minutes and more about what screens displace. If your toddler watches 20 minutes of CBeebies while you make dinner, and the rest of their day involves play, conversation, reading, and sleep - that is fine. Problems emerge when screens become the default for boredom, consistently delay bedtime, or reduce conversation in the home.