Kids need more activity and more sleep to cut obesity, parents told

Reconsider that baby walker and discourage all screen time for under2s — that’s the advice in the first official guidelines for how active preschoolers should be.

The Ministry of Health guidelines cover children aged under 5 and discuss physical activity, play, sleep and screen time.

Obesity affects about 7 per cent of New Zealand children aged 2 to 4 years. The guidelines recommend:

Sit less

Provide regular activity breaks to limit the time a child spends sitting, and limit time in equipment that restricts free movement.

Discourage screen time for under 2s, and limit it to less than an hour a day for older preschoolers.

Babies between 9 and 24 months who have had their movements restricted have been found to be heavier, the ministry notes, and research has found mobile baby walkers can restrict muscle development and lead to injuries and falls.

“This is because muscular development happens in a specific sequence. Each stage is important for programming the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system to enable a child to progress through each stage of their development in the appropriate order,” the guide says.

“Some baby jumpers allow the baby to just touch the floor, which can push the body forwards and the head back. This means the baby is not using their hip or gluteal muscles. If baby jumpers are used regularly for long periods, children may find it difficult to put their feet flat on the floor, which can delay progression to walking.”

The ministry and the Australian Physiotherapy Association discourage the use of mobile baby walkers because of risk of falls and because they can restrict development.

The guidelines note parents often feel compelled to introduce “educational TV”, and children are naturally attracted to screens.

“But this does not mean screens are good for them. Under-5s should spend as little time as possible watching screens and more time playing both inside and outside.”

Move more

Provide activities that support physical, social, emotional and “spiritual” growth for at least three hours every day for toddlers, spread throughout the day.

Include opportunities for active play that develop basic movement and competence and provide sufficient challenge to build resilience and encourage creativity. Involve nature in activities.

Developing balance is important through activities such as balancing, stretching and bending, rolling or sliding, and headstands. Updated guidelines for those aged 5 to 17 years are:

Sleep well

Babies (birth to 3 months) should have 14 to 17 hours of quality sleep.

Infants (4 to 12 months) should have 12 to 15 hours sleep a day.

Toddlers (1 to 2 years) should get 10 to 13 hours, including at least one daytime sleep. Bedtime should be before 8pm.

Preschoolers (3 to 4 years) should have 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day.

Poor sleep early in life is associated with poorer health outcomes in later childhood, including obesity.

Health Minister and Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman said the guide would help families.