A comprehensive systematic review led by researchers at the University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University, Aston University, and Loughborough University has issued a stark warning: children under the age of two should be kept away from screens entirely. The analysis, commissioned by the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, found substantial evidence that exposure to televisions, mobile phones, and tablets during the first two years of life is associated with lasting harm to child development and future quality of life.
According to the review, screen time in this critical period reduces opportunities for bonding with caregivers and for unstructured play with other children. It also limits language development and can lead to overstimulation. “We have learned that screen use among the under-twos is a global concern that in 2026 is not being adequately addressed,” said Rafe Clayton, senior lecturer at the University of Leeds. He added that because the first two years lay the foundations for physical and mental health, unchecked screen exposure “has implications for a whole generation and their future quality of life.”
Rising screen use among toddlers
The researchers noted that by the age of two, daily screen time is nearly universal among children in many European countries and often exceeds recommended limits. A key driver, they found, is parental workload, which leads caregivers to rely on screens as a convenient babysitting tool. “Families are navigating this challenge without the information and support they need. The responsibility cannot rest solely on their shoulders,” said Andrea Leadsom, founder of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation.
The review calls for a reconsideration of existing guidance that permits shared screen time for under-twos or suggests that screen technology is suitable for “all ages.” Richard James, an expert in addictive behaviours at Loughborough University, warned that parents, lacking clear guidance, are “inadvertently teaching children and babies to develop unhealthy habits and relationships with screen devices.”
This finding comes amid broader European debates about digital childhoods. In Germany, for instance, Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has proposed reforms that include measures to support working parents, while the European Union has been grappling with how to regulate digital platforms to protect minors. The review’s authors hope their work will inform policymakers across the continent, from Brussels to national capitals like Berlin and Paris, as well as practitioners in health and education.
The study also echoes concerns raised by other European research. A large Japanese study recently linked breastfeeding to longer sleep in infants, highlighting how early-life habits shape long-term health. Similarly, the new review underscores that the first two years are a unique window for development that cannot be recovered if disrupted by excessive screen time.
While the researchers stop short of calling for outright bans on all digital media in homes, they recommend that parents, educators, and health professionals adopt a zero-tolerance approach to intentional screen use for babies. The message is clear: for the sake of a generation’s future health and well-being, Europe must rethink its relationship with screens in the earliest years of life.
