As you sit on the sofa, scrolling through social media, you suddenly notice that you’re not the only one looking at your phone screen. Your little one is staring intently at the colourful images and funny videos as though mesmerised.

While you try not to expose them to screens too often, their sudden intrigue does get you thinking, why is it that screen time for toddlers is so often frowned upon? And might a bit of screen time not be a good thing? Surely, it could give me a breather on a busy day?

Now that phones and other digital devices have become an integral part of most homes, the debate as to whether or not children should engage with screens is a hot topic among parents. And with so many conflicting views on the subject, it can be really hard to navigate the waters and come up with a happy conclusion. Ultimately, we believe that it’s up to you and your family to decide whether screens become part of your children’s lives, but we want to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decision.

With all of this in mind, we’ve explored the many pros and cons, so you don’t have to.

So, what are the potential benefits of screen time?

Getting used to screens at a young age will help your toddler to feel competent in a digital world later in life.

There are plenty of YouTube accounts and sites that offer educational videos and games for toddlers.

Your child may enjoy watching toddler-friendly TV.

It’s much easier for toddlers to communicate with friends and family that live further away when they can see their faces on screens.

Why should I be cautious regarding screens and my toddler?

Extended screen time has been linked to certain health risks, including obesity and insomnia, and problems with inattention and impulsivity.

There’s a worry that your child might see something scary or explicit.

Apps and games will often be free to download but come with functions that allow you to buy extras. A toddler could repeatedly click on something that proves costly for you.

Excessive screen time at a young age has been linked to depression and anxiety later down the line.

Screens can be very addictive for toddlers, and excessive time on screens can be a habit that is hard to break.

Screens impede the release of melatonin (the body’s sleep hormone) towards bedtime.

Now we’ll leave it up to you to decide if and how much screen time you want your toddler to engage in, but should you decide to introduce the TV, tablets, or some such device, we’ve put together a few points for you to keep in mind.

How can I safely and effectively use screens with my toddler?

Your own parental values and common sense are the most reasonable guidelines for deciding how, when, and with whom your toddler uses screens. When you come up with your approach, focus on screen context and content rather than screen time. We believe that you should focus on the content your little one watches as opposed to the time frame. Are they watching age-appropriate content? Are they spending all of their time in front of the TV and not engaging in varied enough play? Are they watching with you and their siblings and bonding over the experience? Consider the hows, whens, and whos, and develop your own rules and approach to screens.

Review the media your child is watching and engaging with. Take some time to watch TV or play on a tablet with your kids so you can monitor the media they’re exposed to. We recommend turning parental controls on for all the devices they have access to.

Fully engage with screen activities. When you’re sitting and watching the TV with your child, ask them questions about what’s happening, copy the characters and act out scenes, or sing and dance along. Think of fully engaging with the TV, not just watching it.

Reflect on your own screen use and time. If you’re spending a huge part of your day on your phone or laptop, your toddler will seek to imitate you. So consider your own use of screens and how long you spend looking at them, and if these are the messages, you want to send to your toddler.

Should toddlers use screens?

How helpful is time on a tablet or phone to your toddler's development? And can it impact sleep?