Fifth of kids under 2 have TVs

CHICAGO – One-fifth of infants and toddlers under age 2 have a television in their bedrooms, according to a new study that suggests saturation with media could affect brain development as more shows target America’s youngest children.

In addition to the youngest group, 43 percent of 3- to 4-year-olds have TVs in their rooms, potentially setting up an unhealthy habit, the authors wrote. Previous studies have found that bedroom TVs are linked with childhood obesity, inactivity and low scores on reading and math tests.

The children’s viewing practices reflected their parents’ often guilty reliance on TV, said authors of the study, to be published today in the journal Pediatrics. Asked why they put TVs in their children’s bedrooms, most parents said it was so they and other family members could watch shows.

The number of shows aimed at babies has exploded in the past decade, with video titles such as “Brainy Baby” and “Baby Einstein” joined last year by BabyFirstTV, billed as the first satellite channel catering to infants. Makers of the shows often bill them as educational aids, though researchers say there is no solid evidence to back such claims.

The landscape has shifted dramatically since 1961, when experts say most children did not watch TV until they were nearly 3 years old. Now, studies suggest children start watching TV or videos by the time they’re 9 months old, on average.