PARENTING
A Web of confusing advice on raising kids
Rita Watson
Parenting advice in this age of Internet experts has become more complex than we experienced when Dr. Benjamin Spock’s book, “Baby and Child Care,” was the go-to source. Now information is via the Internet or edited for two-minute television news alerts. Three issues of concern to parents have been making headlines recently: Training babies to sleep through the night; handling children with an attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and eliminating those dreaded head lice making their way through schools in the Northeast. Where do parents find reliable sources in a world of conflicting reports?
Despite the value of parenting forums, in terms of trustworthy websites, look for those with up-to-date articles by doctors, epidemiologists, and statisticians. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are important resources. Even though doctors may disagree, the information presented in journal articles is first reviewed by their peers.
But what about print or broadcast media reports of new findings? This is where Internet savvy parents have an advantage — they look beyond the headlines by going to the original source. Otherwise it is a slow process of finding a library that carries research articles. Having first-hand information, or information reviewed by physicians, as is the case with WebMD or MayoClinic.com , helps parents decide what questions to ask of their pediatrician or nurse practitioner in determining what is best for their children.
Here are three recent controversies and resources for making an informed decision.
Baby Sleep Training: Should a parent cuddle or let a child cry it out? To answer this question parents need to understand the importance of sleep and how much is necessary. There is an overview on WebMD, “How Much Sleep Do Children Need?” which has an age breakdown and was physician reviewed on Feb. 12, 2012. Further, a team of researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics a study of infants who received controlled sleep training, that is, periods of crying with comforting, in September 2012.
But parents who question the wisdom of sleep training might read PsychologyToday.com , where experts discuss issues of concern to parents. “Baby Sleep Training: Mistakes ‘Experts’ and Parents Make” was written by Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D., psychology professor and director of the Collaborative for Ethical Education, University of Notre Dame.
Another issue for parents with children of all ages is ADD, what the AAP is calling the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood that “can profoundly affect the academic achievement, well-being, and social interactions of children.” The new material on their site is dated January 14, 2013. It is also helpful to scan the Internet for credentialed experts.
With ADHD, world-renown psychiatrist Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., is a giant who appeared on “Dr. Oz” to discuss his belief in helping children and families affected by ADHD. Dr. Hallowell believes in medication with a major dose of love. But some parents oppose any drugs for their children.
When it comes to treating head lice, parents and teachers are in agreement — this lousy situation needs to be cleaned up. But commercial treatments versus home remedies is a topic that is pitting the science-minded against the crunchy granolas who rely on mayonnaise wraps or Cetaphil, a mild hand and body cleanser. Despite CDC recommendations, recent articles are making a pitch for the value of natural remedies.
There is one new, $300 prescription product on the market, but it has not yet been tested against other remedies. This is a case where common sense might make the best sense, since the problem has had the experts scratching their heads for years. No one likes to talk about lice except perhaps Public Policy Polling. Last month they reported that voters rated Congress as less popular than head lice.
As to the question of how you separate good parenting advice from bad — it’s like gossip — you consider the source.
Copyright 2013 Rita Watson/ All Rights Reserved
Rita Watson, MPH, ( ritawatson.com ) is a regular contributor to the Journal and a relationship columnist for our “All About You” section.