How to Find Health Information You Can Trust for Your Child

Parents today have access to more health information than ever. A quick search can bring up hundreds of tips about what children should eat, how much they should move, and how much sleep they need. Social media adds even more advice. When two sources disagree, it can be hard to know what to trust.

You don’t have to be a health expert to make sense of it all. A few simple questions can help you find reliable information and decide what makes sense for your child.

What is Health Literacy?

“Health literacy means that you’re able to find, understand, and use health information to make good decisions for you and for your family” says Dr. Connie Arnold, Professor of Internal Medicine and Division Chief of Healthcare Disparities at LSU Health Shreveport.  For families, that might mean understanding a handout from your child’s doctor, checking a nutrition claim you saw online, or knowing what questions to ask at a visit.

Check the Source Before You Follow the Advice

Not all health information is trustworthy. Before you act on a health tip or share it with someone else, ask yourself:

• Who created it? Look for a qualified health professional, medical group, government health agency, university, or research institution.
• What supports the claim? Reliable advice is based on evidence. One person’s story may be helpful, but it does not show what works for every child.
• When was it published or updated? Health information can change as researchers learn more.
• Is someone selling something? Take a closer if the advice leads straight to a product or service.
• Do other trusted sources agree? Check with another reliable source, especially if it surprises or worries you.

Watch Out for Advice That Sounds Too Simple

Your child’s health is shaped by more than one food, habit, or supplement. Be cautious of claims like “Every child needs this” or “Doctors don’t want you to know this.” These types of statements often make health topics seem simpler than they really are.

Childhood obesity, for example, is a complex health issue that can be influenced by many factors, including genetics, eating habits, physical activity, sleep, a child’s environment, and certain medications. Trusted information should help you understand and explain that this is a complex issue and avoid suggesting a quick fix.

Take a Closer Look at Nutrition Advice

Nutrition advice can be confusing for parents. One post tells you children should not eat a certain food, while another claims every child should eat it. Nutrition advice comes from many different places, and mixed messages can make it hard to know which information to trust.

A 2024 study of mothers who regularly used social media concluded that pediatric healthcare professionals should help connect parents with engaging, evidence-based child nutrition resources.

When you see a nutrition claim, ask:

• Does it tell me to cut out a whole food group without medical reasons?
• Does it label foods as simply “good” or “bad”?
• Does it make me feel afraid or guilty about what I feed my child?
• Does it focus mainly on my child's weight or appearance?
• Does it fit my child’s age and needs?
• Is it backed by research?

Good nutrition information should help families understand overall healthy eating patterns and habits and not just quick fixes.

Ask Your Child’s Healthcare Provider

You don’t have to sort through every health claim on your own. If something you read leaves you unsure, bring it to your child’s healthcare provider. 

You can ask: 

• “Is this based on current research?”
• “Does this advice apply to my child?”
• “Are there any risks I should know about?”
• “Where can I learn more?”

If an answer is hard to understand, ask for it in simpler words. Good health information should help you make good decisions, not leave you confused.