Recommendations for physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep for the child in the first year of life
A healthy life and proper habit formation require an adequate distribution of overall daily activities, which can be viewed as a time of physical activity (of light, moderate or vigorous intensity), sleep and time that a child spends sitting (sedentary time).
Body
The basis of healthy growth, in addition to proper nutrition, is physical activity and good sleep, along with stable care and a safe supportive environment. Therefore, it is important to plan daily activities in accordance with the child`s age and needs.
Children under 12 months:
- Infants should be physically active several times a day in a variety of ways. They should spend at least 30 minutes in interactive floor-based play, younger ones in prone position,
- The position of relative rest: in a pram, high chair, carrier, or on your body is not recommended to last longer than 1 hour. This time should be used for stimulating activities such as talking, singing, reading to a child, joint sightseeing.
- In this period exposure of children to screens is not recommended (television, tablet, mobile phone).
- The time child spends sleeping, daytime and night time, changes over time. For the youngest age from 0 to 3 months it may last 14–17 hours, while in the next period from 4 to 11 months of age it shortens a bit and lasts 12–16 hours
