Babies As Young As 6 Months Using Mobile Media
Survey shows most 2-year-olds using mobile devices, with some spending more than an hour a day on screens
More than one-third of babies are tapping on smartphones and tablets even before they learn to walk or talk, and by 1 year of age, one in seven toddlers is using devices for at least an hour a day, according to a study to be presented Saturday, April 25 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego.
The Academy discourages the use of entertainment media such as televisions, computers, smartphones and tablets by children under age 2. Little is known, however, when youngsters actually start using mobile devices.
Researchers developed a 20-item survey to find out when young children are first exposed to mobile media and how they use devices. The questionnaire was adapted from the “Zero to Eight” Common Sense Media national survey on media use in children.
Parents of children ages 6 months to 4 years old who were at a hospital-based pediatric clinic that serves a low-income, minority community were recruited to fill out the survey. Participants were asked about what types of media devices they have in their household, children’s age at initial exposure to mobile media, frequency of use, types of activities and if their pediatrician had discussed media use with them.
Results from 370 parents showed that 74% were African-American, 14% were Hispanic and 13% had less than a high school education. Media devices were ubiquitous, with 97% having TVs, 83% having tablets, 77% having smartphones and 59% having Internet access.
Children younger than 1 year of age were exposed to media devices in surprisingly large numbers: 52% had watched TV shows, 36% had touched or scrolled a screen, 24% had called someone, 15% used apps and 12% played video games.
By 2 years of age, most children were using mobile devices.
Lead author Hilda Kabali, M.D., a third-year resident in the Pediatrics Department at Einstein Healthcare Network, said the results surprised her.
“We didn’t expect children were using the devices from the age of 6 months,” she said. “Some children were on the screen for as long as 30 minutes.”
Results also showed 73% of parents let their children play with mobile devices while doing household chores, 60% while running errands, 65% to calm a child and 29% to put a child to sleep.
Time spent on devices increased with age, with 26% of 2-year-olds and 38% of 4-year-olds using devices for at least an hour a day.
Finally, only 30% of parents said their child’s pediatrician had discussed media use with them.
To view the study abstract, “First Exposure and Use of Mobile Media in Young Children,” go to http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS15L1_1165.3.
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