02/19/2026
📵 Hear us out, parents. This one is worth the scroll.
The single most common thing we talk about in our office that ISN'T about being sick? Screens before bed. And we get it — after a long day, handing over a tablet buys you 20 minutes of peace. We're not here to judge. We're here to tell you what it's costing your kid.
Here's what the research shows:
📱 Under 18–24 months — no screen time at all (video calls with family are the exception)!
🌙 All ages — screens within 1 hour of bedtime block melatonin production, making it significantly harder to fall asleep and stay asleep
😤 The bedtime battles you're fighting? A screen-free wind-down routine is one of the most effective ways to end them
You don't have to do it perfectly. Start with one night. Move the charger out of the bedroom. Put on an audiobook instead. Small shifts make a real difference.
You've got this — and we've got you. 💙
Source: AAP Screen Time Guidelines — HealthyChildren.org