A new study found that more than one-third of babies had used smartphones and tablets even before they learn how to walk and talk. Parents admitted that they have relied to mobile devices while they are busy doing some household chores or running errands. Some use the devices to calm the babies or put them to sleep. Are mobile devices the new nanny now?
Hilda Kabali, study author and a third-year resident in the Pediatrics Department at Einstein Healthcare Network, worked with her colleagues in developing a survey aiming to find out what types of mobile devices were used by the babies, their initial age when they first used it, the frequency of use, the types of activities, and if the pediatricians have warned their parents of the dangers of early exposure to such devices. The survey was completed by 370 parents from urban, low-income minority community.
The analysis showed at age 1, 52 percent of the babies had watched the TV, 36 percent had touched or scrolled a screen, 24 percent had called someone, 15 percent had used mobile apps, and 12 percent played games. By age 2, most of the children were using mobile devices.
"We didn't expect children were using the devices from the age of 6 months," Kabali said in a press release. "Some children were on the screen for as long as 30 minutes."
As the children grow older, the time spent on devices also increase. Twenty-six percent of the 2-year-olds spend an hour a day on devices, while the rate is 38 percent for the 4-year-olds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the use of devices such as televisions, computers, smartphones and tablets by children under age 2. About 30 percent of the parents who participated on the study said that they were reminded of their pediatricians about this.
The study was presented on April 25 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego.
