The research, based on more than 8,000 families, found that 73% of infants have some daily screen time, with the average coming in at 41 minutes a day.

That figure rises in certain households. Infants in single-parent families spend an average of 47 minutes a day on screens, compared with 39 minutes in two-parent households.

Single children are also more likely to be exposed, with about 80% experiencing daily screen use.

While most screen time falls within moderate levels, a small but notable group stands out: about 2% of infants are exposed to more than three hours of screen time a day.

It is this group that raises the most concern. Babies with very high screen exposure were significantly less likely to experience everyday developmental activities such as being read to, going outdoors, or engaging in singing and interaction.

Notably, 80% of babies with no daily screen time were taken out on trips every day. Among those with up to two hours of screen time, that figure dipped slightly to 76%.

But for those exceeding three hours, it dropped sharply to just 60%.

The same pattern appears in parent-child interaction. Daily reading habits remain fairly consistent across babies with low to moderate screen time, but begin to decline once screen exposure exceeds two hours a day.

Interestingly, the study found no clear link between family income and whether babies are exposed to screens at all. Instead, the differences lie more in how long screens are used and how they fit into a child’s daily routine.

Researchers say this points to a more nuanced issue than simply limiting screen time: “It’s not just about how much, but what and why,” said Dr Tammy Campbell of the Education Policy Institute.

In other words, a short period of shared, interactive screen use may have very different effects compared to prolonged passive viewing.

The findings come as the UK government prepares to issue formal guidance on screen use for children under five, amid growing concern about early exposure. By the age of two, around 98% of children are already watching screens daily.

Previous research has also shown that children with very high screen time, around five hours a day, may develop significantly smaller vocabularies compared with those exposed for less than an hour.

What about Malaysia?

While large-scale local data is limited, Malaysian health experts are seeing similar patterns. Guidelines from the World Health Organization, often adopted by local practitioners, recommend no screen time for children under two, except for video calls.

For children aged two to four, screen use should be limited to no more than one hour a day.

Paediatricians here have also warned that excessive screen exposure may be linked to delayed speech, shorter attention spans and reduced social interaction in young children.

Globally, experts stress that screen time is not inherently harmful, but it should not replace real-world interaction. For parents, the challenge is less about eliminating screens entirely and more about ensuring they are used in a way that supports, rather than replaces, early development.

After all, in the first years of life, it is still human interaction – not screens – that shapes how children learn, communicate and connect.