A new report has discovered that some tots get up to eight hours of screentime per day, with almost a third of newborns watching screens for more than three hours per day.

The findings come after the UK Government issued guidance that children under two do not use screens at all, with the exception of communal activities such as video-calling family members.

The report, carried out by the 1001 Critical Days Foundation and the iAddict research group, involved a survey, focus group and a literature review to examine the extent and possible impact of infant screen use.

The results highlight a "reality gap" between government advice and everyday life, the foundation revealed.

Will Quince, the former Conservative education and health minister and the chief executive of the 1001 foundation, said: "The burden of screen time cannot fall solely on parents. Tech companies must wake up to the realities of the impact of screen time on babies. Content ratings are currently misleading parents, rating content as ‘suitable for all ages’ or ‘suitable for 0+’. We are calling on major tech companies to urgently review these standards."

In a review of current research, experts have found evidence linking screen time to poor outcomes for kids, such as an increased risk of obesity, short-sightedness, sleep and behavioural difficulties, and later challenges with friendships.

Former Conservative MP Dame Andrea Leadsom, the founder of the 1001 foundation, said: "Screens are the challenge of our time, and this research demonstrates a critical area where parents urgently need more support. It’s joyful but hard work having a small baby, and we should be doing everything possible to make it easier, not harder."