Children should be prohibited from screen time until the age of 3 as it can lead to developmental delays, a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found.

Researchers at Drexel University discovered that babies and toddlers who are allowed screen time are more likely to display atypical sensory behaviors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The team analyzed data on the television- and movie-watching habits of 1,471 kids younger than 2, as reported by their parents.

The researchers found that 1-year-olds granted screen time had a 105% higher likelihood of experiencing sensory processing issues at 33 months old.

These children were more likely to engage in concerning behaviors such as disengaging or showing a lack of interest in activities, responding slowly to stimuli, seeking more intense environmental stimulation, or feeling overwhelmed by sensations like loud sounds or bright lights.

The researchers also discovered that the amount of screen time the babies were permitted and their age directly impacted their development. Each hour of daily screen time increased the child’s chances of exhibiting sensory problems by 23% at 18 months but dropped to 20% at 24 months.

The experts concluded that children younger than 3 should not be allowed screen time, and children 3 to 5 should only be granted one hour of screen time a day.

However, kids 2 and younger averaged 3 hours, 3 minutes a day of screen time as of 2014, per research published in JAMA Pediatrics.

“Parent training and education are key to minimizing, or hopefully even avoiding, screen time in children younger than two years,” senior study author Dr. David Bennett, a Drexel professor of psychiatry, said in a statement.

The one exception is video chatting — as the social benefits are likely helpful to a child’s development.

This research adds to a long list of concerning effects likely linked to screen time including language delay, behavioral issues, sleep problems and problem-solving struggles.

It also comes as the rate of autism and ADHD has drastically grown in recent years. In 2020, one in 36 8-year-olds in America had autism, compared to one in 44 in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

The national rate of ADHD has also been steadily increasing since the CDC began measuring it in 1997.

“This association could have important implications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, as atypical sensory processing is much more prevalent in these populations,” lead author Dr. Karen Heffler, an associate professor of psychiatry in Drexel’s College of Medicine, said in a statement.