Parents are told to avoid screens altogether in the first two years of a child’s life.

At the same time, digital devices are part of everyday family life used for communication, work, learning, and at times, simply getting through the day.

Our new research talks to first-time parents about how they navigate – or try to navigate – this tricky time.

What is the guidance on screen use?

Australia’s national 24-hour movement guidelines recommend no screen time for children under two and a maximum of two hours for children over five.

Advice from prominent bodies such as the World Health Organization are similarly clear about limiting screen use for children.

As well as concerns about children being too sedentary, this advice comes amid ongoing research about the potential harms of too much screen use. These include sleep problems, language delays and social-emotional issues.

However, this rigid health advice conflicts with education guidelines that children are introduced to – and gain skills in – digital technologies before they start school.

There is also a growing understanding among researchers that strict guidelines around screen use are not compatible with real life and can be confusing to parents.

In January 2026, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a new policy statement noting both concerns about screen use but also potential benefits if the content is good quality and appropriate for children. The academy argued we cannot view children’s media use through the lens of “screen limits alone”.

Our study wanted to understand how first-time parents interpret and apply screen use guidance in the early years.

This is a group navigating a steep learning curve. Without prior experience to draw on, many rely heavily on external advice while also feeling pressure to make the “right” decisions.

Our study involved 23 Australian parents of children aged under four, recruited via social media........

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