The honest answer is: essentially no screens

What the guidance says

The AAP and WHO are unusually aligned here: for children under 18 months, there is no evidence that screen media offers any benefit, and meaningful evidence that it displaces the face-to-face interaction infants need to build language. The one exception both bodies allow is video calling with a familiar adult — not because it's beneficial, but because it's the same social interaction infants already need, on a screen.

This isn't a leaderboard. We're not ranking baby content by quality, because the evidence-based answer isn't "which channel" — it's "not yet."

If a screen is on anyway

A long flight, a sick day, a moment you need ten minutes — here is the shortlist we'd reach for first, in order of how little we'd worry about it.

Video calls with a known relative

The only screen use with any developmental backing at this age — it's still a real relationship, just mediated.

Slow, plain music videos

No cuts, one singer, a real instrument. Closest to the co-singing infants already respond to; keep it to a few minutes.

Co-viewed only, never solo, never as a soother

If it's on, narrate along with it — the research is about what replaces your voice, not the screen itself.