Research
Research overview
Every day parents come across news and advice about children's health: in group chats, social media feeds and at the playground. Some of it rests on serious reviews of evidence, some on one person's experience, and some is made for clicks or sales. Here we explain where the guidelines this reference relies on come from, what their limits are, and how to tell a balanced article from a loud headline in a few minutes.
Reliable advice on children's health usually sounds modest and ends with 'discuss it with your paediatrician'. Big promises are a reason to pause and double-check.
Where guidelines come from
| Source | What it is | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| WHO guidelines on sleep and physical activity | A synthesis of evidence from many studies on how much children need to sleep and move | Given as wide ranges for all children worldwide; they do not take account of an individual child's circumstances |
| National vaccination schedule | In Russia, a Ministry of Health document setting out which vaccinations are provided and when; other countries have their own schedules | Does not explain the decision for an individual child; how it applies is discussed with the paediatrician |
| Preventive check-up procedure | In Russia, a Ministry of Health document on routine check-ups for children and teenagers; other countries run their own programmes | Describes how check-ups are organised, not what the doctor will actually find |
| A single scientific study | A test of one hypothesis in a particular group of children | One result rarely changes practice; later studies confirm or refute it |
| Articles, blogs and videos | Summaries of varying quality, sometimes with references to sources | May oversimplify, go out of date or sell something disguised as advice |
| Advice from family and friends | Personal experience and family habits | One case says nothing about what will suit your child |
How to read a news story about children's health
Find what the text refers to
Does it mention a guideline, an official document or a study? If no source is named at all, treat the text as an opinion, not a fact.
Tell a study from a guideline
A single study shows only what was seen in one particular group of children. A guideline appears when similar findings build up and are weighed together.
Check which children it is about
Age, country, special circumstances: a result for teenagers does not always apply to toddlers, nor do data from one group apply to all children.
Notice the tone
Words like 'shocking', 'what doctors are hiding' or 'stop immediately' are designed to frighten, not to inform. A balanced article speaks calmly and acknowledges uncertainty.
Check whether someone is selling you something
If a product, a course or a 'unique remedy' awaits you at the end of the article, the conclusions may have been bent to fit the sale. Don't take such advice at face value.
Discuss it with your paediatrician
If a story worried or interested you, write it down and ask the doctor at the next visit. They will explain whether it applies to your child.
Red flags in advice for parents
- A promise to cure something or 'boost immunity' with a single product
- A call to ignore your doctor's advice or skip check-ups
- References to 'a doctor I know' or an anonymous expert instead of a source
- Frightening stories with no details that can be checked
- Precise figures with no indication of where they come from
- Advice to buy a specific product, supplement or procedure right away
- Claims that 'all parents will soon learn the truth'
Read next
- Sources
Which documents this reference relies on, how we select information and where the limits of the text lie.
- Glossary
Plain-language explanations of words you hear from the paediatrician and read in guidelines: check-ups, vaccinations, sleep, research.
- Questions
Questions worth writing down and asking your paediatrician at a routine check-up: about vaccinations, sleep and development.
Sources
- World Health Organization: 2019 guidelines
- World Health Organization: 2020 guidelines
- Russian Ministry of Health Order No. 1122n of 6 December 2021
- Russian Ministry of Health Order No. 514n of 10 August 2017
Information checked as of the date of preparation. WHO guidelines, the Russian national vaccination schedule and the rules for children's check-ups are updated from time to time, and other countries have their own schedules and programmes, so check the details for your child with your paediatrician.