{"id":58609,"date":"2025-07-11T22:22:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T22:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/?post_type=first-things&p=58609"},"modified":"2026-02-04T23:21:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T23:21:32","slug":"sleep-better-screen-free-bedtime","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/sleep-better-screen-free-bedtime\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Proof: How a screen-free bedtime can help your toddler sleep better"},"content":{"rendered":"

About Baby Proof:<\/i><\/b> Baby Proof is a blog series that breaks down the latest child development research into simple, helpful tips for parents of young children. We translate big studies into bite-sized advice\u2014so you can feel confident knowing what\u2019s best for your baby, backed by science.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Getting a toddler to sleep can feel like a nightly battle. But what if one small change could make a big difference? A new study from the <\/span>University of Bath<\/span><\/a> shows that removing screens in the hour before bedtime helps toddlers sleep better\u2014and wake up less at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

What the study found<\/span><\/h2>\n

Researchers worked with more than 100 families with toddlers aged 16 to 30 months. These families were used to giving their kids screen time\u2014like watching cartoons or playing on a tablet\u2014right before bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Half the families were asked to replace screen time with calming, hands-on activities for one hour before bed. They got a \u201cBedtime Box\u201d filled with things like books, puzzles and toys. The other half didn\u2019t change anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

After seven weeks, toddlers who had screen-free bedtimes fell asleep faster, slept more soundly and woke up fewer times during the night. Pretty impressive for such a simple switch!<\/span><\/p>\n

Screen Time Recommendations from Pediatricians<\/p>\n

Find the latest recommendations for screentime by age from the American Academy of Pediatrics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more<\/p>\n

Why screens can disrupt sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n

If bedtime has been tough in your house, this is a great place to start. Here\u2019s how to try a screen-free bedtime routine:<\/span><\/p>\n