How much time should children 5 and under spend in front of a screen?

New guidelines by the Canadian Paediatric Society are encouraging parents to keep smartphones, tablets and even TV away from their infants.

Dr. Michelle Ponti says the organization stands by its position that children younger than two should completely avoid screen time. Their research shows exposure can affect sleeping patterns, stifle learning development and cause other behavioural problems.

“And there’s so many risks of harm that we felt that any potential benefit, you know the risks far outweigh that,” states Ponti.

The recommendation comes as the Canadian Paediatric Society issues its first position paper devoted to digital screens, after finding that more parents are asking their family doctors about how the digital culture is affecting their young children.

The society also recommends children between the ages of two and five should watch no more than an hour of screen time each day.