ipads could hinder babies\' sleep and brain development, study suggests

Research has shown that the use of ipad and other touch-screen devices can damage the baby\'s sleep and subsequent brain development.
British research has found that babies spend 16 minutes less per hour on these devices.
The study of more than 700 families was the first to study the connection between touch screen devices and sleep for infants and toddlers.
The study found that some children from 12 to 18 months spent up to 5 hours a day on touch screen devices.
Even babies under one year old were found spending two and a half hours on the gadget.
The average screen time is far less than 9 minutes for babies from 6 to 11 months, and the average screen time for infants from 26 to 36 months rises to 44 minutes.
Researchers at the University of London at Berkshire and King\'s College London asked 715 parents about their children\'s daily touch screen usage and sleep patterns.
They found that babies and toddlers who spend more time using touch screens sleep less at night, and although they sleep more during the day, sleep less overall and sleep longer.
The study, published in the journal Science report, found that for an hour of additional use of the touch screen every day, children\'s sleep time was reduced by nearly 16 minutes per 24 hours.
Sleep is important for the development of the brain, especially in the first few years of life when \"neuroplasticity\" reaches its maximum.
This study found that 75 young children (
Between 6 months and 3 years of age)
Use the touch screen every day, increase from 51 of 6-1
From 11 months to 92%, 25-36 months.
This study cannot prove the causal relationship between using these devices and shortening sleep, as it relies on the parent\'s record.
But researchers say there are four potential mechanisms that might work.
These include the effects of blue light, which can affect the biological clock, disrupt the circadian rhythm, and stimulate the content of the game or program to improve psychological and physiological wake-up.
Babies and toddlers may also reduce their sleep time because they stay up late on the device, especially if they are left in the bedroom.
Fourth, the researchers say that children who particularly like to look for longer periods of time on this gadget may be more likely to suffer from other diseases, such as ADHD.
Researchers urge caution when using touch screen devices in infants and young children.
But they say it\'s too early to say if they did the damage.
Previous research by the same team found that infants and toddlers using the ipad had better motor skills than infants and toddlers who did not use the ipad.
Dr. Tim Smith of Birkbeck said: \"These results show that the popularity and accessibility of touch screen devices lead to high usage rates for infants and toddlers, which is related to reduced sleep.
The intuitive nature of the device means that babies and toddlers will be attracted to them, he said.
\"At that stage, there is so much cognitive development that any impact can have an amplification effect,\" he said . \".
The team now intends to start an experimental study to try to determine whether there is a causal relationship between the use of touch screen devices and sleep.
He stressed that most babies and toddlers spend less than an hour on equipment every day.
But this study suggests a growth in \"peer-to-peer\"
This means that an hour on a gadget may be reflected in 4 minutes less sleep.
Nor is this study able to determine any security \"cut-off\" used by the touch screen \"--
A certain amount that does not affect.
\"From our previous research, we also know that the use of touch screens may be beneficial --
\"Develop motor skills early so that young children can stack blocks earlier,\" Dr. Smith said . \".
Previous studies have shown that \"active\" touch screens are used-
Scroll and perform interactive tasks
Sports activities may be promoted in ways that are not possible to passively watch the material.
Dr. Smith said it was difficult to make clear suggestions to parents on the pros and cons of using the equipment because science was too immature.
But he said it would be wise to allow people under 18 months to barely use the screen, in addition to \"video chat\" such as Skype.
\"Don\'t let them scroll on YouTube after 18 months, try to do things like\" Sesame Street \"or CBeebies --
\"Progammes is designed for educational content,\" he said . \".
The researchers say parents also need to be careful when the child is using the device to avoid using it before going to bed.
However, he said it is necessary to show a \"balance\" in the use of these devices, as children will grow up in a world where technology is important.
Dr. Anna Joyce, research assistant in cognitive development psychology at Coventry University, said: \"Based on these findings and what we have learned from previous studies, it may be worthwhile for parents to restrict touch screens, use other media and Blu-ray a few hours before bed.
\"Touch screens should not be completely banned until we learn more about how touch screens affect sleep, because the use of touch screens may bring cognitive benefits, for example, as the authors have shown in their previous work, in order to develop fine motor skills.
Other scientists questioned the reliability of the new study, arguing that the interpretation of the results should be \"very cautious \".
The experimental psychologist and researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford, Dr. Andrew prizblski, said that parents were told in advance that the purpose of the study might distort the results, this means higher parental participation rates for fear of screen use.
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