Peripartum mental health and digital media exposure in infants and young children

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether peripartum depression – depression experienced during pregnancy or after birth – is associated with digital media exposure in infants and young children. The review included 13 studies involving 9,603 participants and found that children of mothers experiencing peripartum depression had greater screen exposure. Increased screen exposure may be associated with sleep difficulties and behavioural problems in children, as well as reduced parent–child interaction. Practitioners should be aware that caregiver wellbeing may influence children’s use of early digital media alongside other family, social and contextual factors. Supporting parental mental health may contribute to broader caregiving quality and help families establish routines and activities that support young children’s development.

Why is this important?

• Responsive caregiver–infant interactions are important for early social, emotional and cognitive development. Peripartum depression – depression experienced before or immediately following labour – can affect a caregiver’s ability to engage in these interactions and is recognised as a risk factor for poorer developmental outcomes.
• Digital media use is increasingly common in infancy and early childhood, despite recommendations to limit screen exposure in the early years. Understanding whether peripartum depression is associated with providing higher levels of screen use for their infant may help identify opportunities to support both caregiver wellbeing and child development.

What did they do?

• The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis* to examine the relationship between peripartum depressive symptoms and children’s digital media exposure from birth to six years old.
• The review included 13 studies that measured depressive symptoms during pregnancy or the postnatal period and children’s exposure to television, smartphones, tablets or other digital media.
• They also examined whether factors such as screen type, child age and socioeconomic status influenced the results.

What did they find?

• Children whose caregivers experienced peripartum depressive symptoms had greater screen exposure than children whose caregivers did not report these symptoms.
• These associations appeared stronger for smartphones, tablets and other interactive devices than for television alone.
• Increased screen exposure may be associated with sleep difficulties and behavioural problems in children, as well as reduced parent–child interaction.

What does this mean for practice?

• Practitioners should be aware that caregiver wellbeing may influence children’s early digital media environments, alongside other family, social and contextual factors.
• Supporting caregiver mental health may contribute to broader caregiving quality and help families establish routines and activities that support young children’s development.
• When discussing children’s screen use, practitioners may find it helpful to consider the wider caregiving context, including parental wellbeing, daily routines and opportunities for responsive interaction.

This summary is one of the child mental health research highlights for July 2026, prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).

*Note: A systematic review is a structured process of identifying, selecting and summarising all relevant research on a topic using clear and consistent methods. A meta-analysis is a statistical approach that combines results from multiple studies to estimate the overall effect across them.