Phones and tablets may seem like a convenient way to keep babies engaged, but new research suggests that time in front of a screen may actually harm their development.

In the large study of more than seven thousand children, researchers found one to four hours of screen time per day for 1-year-olds was linked to delays in communication, motor skills, problem-solving, as well as personal and social skills by the age of two.

Experts say time in front of the screen takes away from real-life interactions where babies learn how to communicate.

"Language is really the foundation for so much, developmental psychologist Dr. Catherine Tamis-Lemonda said. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies younger than 18 months get no screen time — except for video chatting.

Children between the ages of two to three should only get up to an hour a day of educational programming.

To encourage language and social development, turn off devices when they aren't in use, and make sure you set a good example by limiting your screen time.

Talk to your child often — especially while you are performing tasks. 

In the new study, mothers of children with high levels of screen time were more likely to be first-time moms, have a lower household income, be younger, have a lower education level, and have postpartum depression.

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