New 24-hour guideline warns busy parents to ditch TV babysitter

IN a world-first, experts have some surprising recommendations for how much sleep, screen-time and exercise babies and preschoolers need. HAVE YOUR SAY

BUSY mums and dads are being warned to stop using the television as a babysitter in new 24-hour sleep and activity guidelines that recommend absolutely no screen-time for children aged two and under.

And parents of preschoolers aged five and under are being warned to limit screen-time to less than an hour or risk it impacting their child’s cognitive, physical and social development.

But the world-first 24-hour guidelines for sleep, physical activity and screentime were also clear that not all screentime was bad.

Any screen time used for creating, problem solving, or learning was acceptable but “co-viewing” with a parent, to help the child learn about the world around them, was recommended.

Other recommendations in the guidelines released today include:

— Between 10 to 13 hours of sleep for preschoolers aged three to five.

— Three hours of physical activity for preschoolers, including an hour or more of “energetic play”.

Kids need tougher rules around screen time, experts warn. Picture: Supplied

– Up to 14 hours of sleep for toddlers and less than an hour of being restrained in a car seat or high chair.

— 14 to 17 hours of sleep for babies and being physically activity — including at least 30 minutes of “tummy time” — spread throughout the day.

“Certainly the fast and quick transitions that we see on screens, the bright flashing lights and the impact that has on the developing brain is something that we need to be mindful of,” University of Wollongong early childhood expert Tony Okely said today.

“Also how it might limit or minimise communication or language development among young children as well because it’s taking place of conversations that might happen,” he said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt acknowledged parents were busy but said the guidelines were the best advice from Australian and international experts. Picture: Kym Smith

The guidelines recommend more than an hour of active play a day for pre-schoolers. Picture: Kym Smith

Launching the guidelines at Parliament House in Canberra today, Health Minister Greg Hunt said they were the best recommendations for parents.

“I’m a deep believer that parents are parents, that only parents should try to be the parents of children and our job is to provide the best information and the best guidelines,” he said.

“We have to always deal with the reality of day to day life and so what we’re saying here is it’s best to minimise the passive screentime and it’s best to increase the active play time.”

The World Health Organisation is considering endorsing the new guidelines, developed by Australian and Canadian researchers, as its official recommendations to parents.