TV in the Background: Understanding the Impact on Infants

Question: Is it okay to have the TV on in the background when my infant is in the room?   

Answer: This is a great question, and you’re not alone in wondering about it! Many families have a TV on in the background during the day while cooking, doing chores, playing, or simply spending time at home, and sometimes it’s just easy to forget it’s on. Some families live in shared spaces where older siblings watch TV in the same room as an infant. Work schedules, caregiving needs, level of support from others, and the layout of a home can all influence how and when screens are on.  

In fact, a recent study found the most common way infants and toddlers are exposed to screens is through screens that are on nearby, but the child is not actively watching them. This might look like a TV playing while they eat dinner, or a parent or sibling using a phone or tablet in the same room. 

What the research shows 

Infants learn through exploring their surroundings and through back-and-forth moments like hearing you talk, watching your face, singing songs, and playing together. When a TV is on in the background, it can compete with some of these everyday moments that matter most for your babies’ learning and development. Even if your baby is not watching, a TV playing in the background can affect their language, attention, and other important developmental skills. 

Here is what some of the research shows us about how background TV can affect young kids: 

• A summary of many studies shows that children who spend more time around background TV have fewer opportunities for the kinds of conversations and interactions that help them build language skills.  
• One study showed that the total number of words and number of different words a young child says and the number of questions they ask are lower in households that have background TV playing. 
• Having a TV on in the background can also limit the back-and-forth that naturally happens between a parent and infant when they play with or use an object together, like a book or a toy. When the TV is on, the parent and infant are less likely to interact with each other, which is how infants learn language, conversation skills, and how to focus their attention.  
• Research also found that when screens were on in the background during everyday routines or interactions, children were not as good at managing their emotions, behavior, and attention and did not learn as well. 

It’s important to keep in mind that studies show links but not proof that background TV by itself causes developmental difficulties. Other factors like family routines, stress, school, resources, and other aspects of a child’s environment can influence their development.  

What you can do 

Every family’s media environment is different depending on their physical space, work schedules, caregiving needs, and other factors that make it hard to avoid background TV. It may not be possible to totally cut out all background media, and that’s okay. The goal does not have to be perfection.  

Instead, notice when background screens may make it harder for your child to talk, play, rest, or connect with you. Make small changes when you can. When possible, try turning off TVs or other screens during activities that help your baby learn and connect, such as feeding, playing, reading, or talking together. 

If background TV is part of your daily routine, consider noticing when it may be distracting you and turning it off during key moments. If you regularly use your phone or other device while you are with your baby, leave your phone out of your reach so you are less tempted to pick it up. Small adjustments can make a meaningful difference over time. 

You may also find these resources helpful: 

• The 5 Cs of Media Use overview and tip sheet for infants will give you a list of questions to help you think about your babies’ screen time, including how much background tv they are exposed to. 
• The AAP Family Media Plan can help you think through your family’s media use, including your own. Your infant will watch and mimic what you do, so it can be helpful to set up your own boundaries around how you use media. 
• Screen-Use Tips for Parents of Children Under Three gives tips to help families use screens in a way that supports their development. 

References 

• Dore, R. A., & Dynia, J. M. (2021). Prevalence and predictors of background television among infants and toddlers from low-income families' homes. Infant behavior & development, 64, 101618.  
• Keşşafoğlu, D., Yıldız, E., Küntay, A. C., & Uzundağ, B. A. (2025). Infants' background television exposure and maternal language input: A home observation study. Journal of child language, 1–17. Advance online publication.   
• Kucker, S. C., & Schneider, J. M. (2026). Screen Time Is More than Just the Screen: Indirect Media Exposure Dominates Infants' Digital Environments. Infancy: The Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies, 31(1), e70074.   
• Madigan, S., McArthur, B. A., Anhorn, C., Eirich, R., & Christakis, D. A. (2020). Associations between screen use and child language skills: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(7), 665–675.   
• Mallawaarachchi, S., Burley, J., Mavilidi, M., et al. (2024). Early childhood screen use contexts and cognitive and psychosocial outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 178(10), 1017–1026.  
• Ribner, A. D., Barr, R. F., & Nichols, D. L. (2021). Background media use is negatively related to language and literacy skills: indirect effects of self-regulation. Pediatric Research, 89(6), 1523–1529.   
• Uzundağ, B. A., Koşkulu-Sancar, S., & Küntay, A. C. (2024). Background TV and infant-family interactions: Insights from home observations. Infancy: The Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies, 29(4), 590–607.   

Age: 3 months old 

Topics: Screen Time, infants, background TV  

Role: Parent/Caregiver