Modern day parents have the added pressure of navigating technology in their child's life and most have likely worried about the negative effects that screen time can have. A new study presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting this week says that there may, in fact, be some alarming effects.

The research, led by Dr. Catherine Birken, discovered a connection between screen time from tablets and phones and speech delays in children ages six months to two years. Parents of nearly 900 children shared the amount of minutes their children spent using screens per day at 18 months with researchers who then assessed the child's language development. They looked at a variety of speech indicators including the child's vocabulary and whether they use sounds or words to get attention or help.

The results found that for every 30-minute increase in daily screen time, there was a 49% increased risk in "expressive speech delay" — otherwise known as using sounds and words. It's important to point out that this research did not find any connections between other areas of communication like body language and social skills.

Birken also caution that much more research is needed to definitive say that these devices are causing speech delays.

"I think in order to actually develop the evidence to inform parents and clinicians about what to recommend, we need more definitive research," Birken said in a statement to CNN. "You need trials. You need good evidence, at least longitudinal studies, but this, at least, this finding is identifying an association and it does support the current recommendations [from the American Academy of Pediatrics.]"

The AAP's current recommendations are as follows:

"• For children younger than 18 months, avoid use of screen media other than video-chatting. Parents of children 18 to 24 months of age who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming, and watch it with their children to help them understand what they're seeing.

• For children ages 2 to 5 years, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them.

• For children ages 6 and older, place consistent limits on the time spent using media, and the types of media, and make sure media does not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity and other behaviors essential to health.

• Designate media-free times together, such as dinner or driving, as well as media-free locations at home, such as bedrooms.

• Have ongoing communication about online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect online and offline."

Based on the study's findings, Dr. Birken suggests that parents avoid allowing children younger than 18 months to have screen time until more research is done.

[h/t: CNN

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Lindsey Murray Trends & Reviews Editor Lindsey works with the Good Housekeeping Institute to test and review products like appliances, bedding, baby items, and more

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