CrayonLyf Parenting Help Center:Trusted Answers for Every Caregiver

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) advises that children below 2 years should not be exposed to any type of screen. WHO's guidelines for children under 5 say sedentary screen time is not recommended for babies under 1 year or for 1-year-olds. At age 2, WHO says no more than 1 hour, and less is better.

• IAP, 24 to 59 months: a maximum of 1 hour a day, with each session no longer than 20 to 30 minutes.
• WHO, 3 to 4 years: no more than 1 hour a day, and less is better.
• IAP, 5 to 10 years: less than 2 hours a day, and the lesser the better.
• WHO, 5 to 17 years: limit sedentary time, especially recreational screen time. WHO notes the evidence is not yet strong enough to set a precise cut-off.

Because the guidelines differ slightly, treat them as a range and ask your child's doctor what suits your child.

In February 2026, the AAP published a policy statement called "Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents" in the journal Pediatrics. Its advice for parents includes creating a family media plan, modelling good device habits and keeping some times and places free of screens, such as the car, dinnertime and weekends. It also uses the "5 Cs of Media Use": the child, content, calm, crowding out and communication.

The AAP's earlier parent guidance also said that the quality of content and a balance with play, reading, movement and sleep matter more than strict limits alone.

• Avoid screens during meals and for 1 hour before bedtime (IAP).
• Do not let screens run during homework (IAP).
• Watch together and check that content suits your child's age (IAP).
• Keep bedrooms and dining areas screen-free, and try regular "digital fasting" family time (IAP).
• Set a family media plan and model good device use yourself (IAP and AAP).

WHO and UNICEF recommend feeding only breast milk for the first 6 months and then continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond. Around 6 months, a baby's needs for energy and nutrients grow beyond what breast milk alone provides, so complementary foods are introduced. The Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 (ICMR-NIN) say the same: breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, with no water or other feeds, then start complementary foods soon after 6 months and continue breastfeeding, preferably up to 2 years. ICMR-NIN suggests starting with a thin but not watery porridge and moving to a semi-solid texture.

WHO also encourages responsive feeding, which means noticing your child's signs of hunger and fullness and responding to them. Texture and variety should increase gradually as your child grows. WHO notes that fewer than one in three children aged 6 to 23 months worldwide eats a diet with enough variety, so variety is worth a little attention.

• ICMR-NIN (India): for young children starting complementary foods, aim for 5 food groups each day: cereals and millets, pulses/egg/meat, nuts and oilseeds, milk and milk products, and vegetables and fruits.
• WHO (2023): animal-source foods and fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily. Where animal foods are limited, eat pulses, nuts and seeds often.
• ICMR-NIN also promotes responsive feeding, with caregiver and child interacting at mealtimes.

• WHO (6 to 23 months): do not give foods high in sugar, salt or trans fats, sugar-sweetened drinks or non-sugar sweeteners. Limit 100% fruit juice.
• ICMR-NIN: no added sugar for children under 2 years, and avoid processed foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) consensus links regularly getting the recommended hours with better attention, behaviour, learning, memory, emotional regulation and health. Regularly sleeping fewer hours is linked with attention and learning problems and with higher risks of accidents, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and depression. Sleeping much more than recommended may also be linked with health problems. Every child is different, so speak to your doctor if you are worried about your child's sleep.

• Under 1 year: several times a day of interactive floor-based play, including at least 30 minutes of tummy time spread across waking hours.
• 1 to 2 years: at least 180 minutes a day of physical activity of any intensity.
• 3 to 4 years: at least 180 minutes a day, including at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity.
• All under-5s: avoid being restrained, for example in a stroller or high chair, for more than 1 hour at a time.

• Include vigorous aerobic activity and muscle and bone strengthening activities on at least 3 days a week.
• Limit sedentary time, especially recreational screen time.
• WHO links physical activity in children with better fitness, heart and metabolic health, bone health, thinking skills and mental health, and with less body fat.

A 2024 systematic review in the Journal of Family Theory and Review concluded that routines, by giving structure, predictability and consistency, influence child development. Predictable routines help children know what comes next, and consistency supports self-regulation. WHO's sleep guidance for toddlers and preschoolers also points to consistent sleep schedules.

• Record sleep and naps, active play, screen time and meals each day.
• Compare with the ranges for your child's age: sleep (AASM, WHO), activity (WHO), screen time (IAP, WHO) and meal frequency (WHO).
• Look at the week, not a single day. Every child is different, so share the record with your doctor if you have concerns.

• Write down the basics: meal and nap times, screen rules and bedtime.
• Share the plan with parents, grandparents and nannies, and talk about it regularly. The AAP's "5 Cs" include ongoing communication, and its family media plan is a shared set of household rules.
• Review the plan as your child grows, because needs change with age.

Consistency is the reason this matters. The research on routines points to predictability and consistency as the helpful ingredients for children.