Screen Time Guide
Age-based screen-time recommendations from the AAP and WHO — plus an optional tracker to see how your week compares.
Enter your child's age and Babysential's screen-time guide shows the recommendation for their age band, drawn directly from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Then, if you like, log daily minutes to see a visual weekly chart with your recommended cap as a reference line.
Everything stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded or shared. Curious about what comes next? Explore our development leaps timeline and milestone tracker.
Recommendations follow AAP and WHO age bands.
Screen-time recommendations by age
The AAP and WHO break screen-time guidance into age bands because a baby's brain and an older child's brain have very different needs:
- Under 18 months: Avoid screen media other than live video chat. Babies learn from real-world interaction, not screens.
- 18 to 24 months: If you introduce media, choose high-quality programming and watch it together with your child.
- 2 to 5 years: Limit to about 1 hour per day of high-quality programming, co-viewed with a caregiver.
- 6 years and older: Set consistent family limits that protect sleep and physical activity, and create a Family Media Plan together.
Quality over quantity
Pediatric guidance has shifted away from a single magic number. The AAP now emphasizes the type of media and whether parents are involved. Slow-paced, educational, ad-free programming watched alongside a caregiver supports learning; fast-paced or background media tends to displace sleep, play, and conversation. Use the minutes as a guardrail, not the whole story.
Protecting sleep and activity
The WHO frames screen time within a 24-hour day: more active play, less sedentary screen time, and enough quality sleep. Keep screens out of the bedroom and powered down before bedtime so they don't crowd out the sleep and movement young children need to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much screen time is recommended by age?▾
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding screen media other than video chatting for children under 18 months. For ages 18 to 24 months, choose only high-quality programming and watch together. For ages 2 to 5, limit screens to about 1 hour per day of high-quality programming. For ages 6 and older, set consistent family limits that protect sleep, physical activity, and other healthy behaviors.
What does the WHO say about screen time for young children?▾
The World Health Organization recommends no screen time for children under 1 year, and no more than 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 4 (less is better). The WHO emphasizes that sedentary screen time should be replaced with active play, interactive non-screen activities, and adequate sleep to support healthy development.
Does video chatting count as screen time?▾
Live video chat — like a call with a faraway grandparent — is treated differently from passive screen media. The AAP considers it acceptable even for babies under 18 months because it is interactive and social, unlike watching videos or apps alone.
Why is co-viewing important?▾
Young children learn best when a caregiver watches with them and talks about what they see. Co-viewing helps toddlers understand content and connect it to the real world. The AAP recommends co-viewing high-quality programming for children under 5 rather than letting them watch alone.
Is this screen-time tool a substitute for medical advice?▾
No. This tool offers general, evidence-based guidance based on AAP and WHO recommendations. Every child and family is different. If you have concerns about your child's media use, sleep, development, or behavior, talk with your pediatrician.