| The internet can be a wonderful source of childcare | | | | education and training that makes him or her an |
| information. Like the advice new parents get from | | | | authority. Anyone can present him or herself as a child |
| family and strangers alike (whether you're a willing | | | | expert on the internet; be sure to determine whether |
| recipient or not), not only does the internet offer an | | | | or not that person can back up his or her suggestions |
| endless supply, but also it can be difficult to parse out | | | | with proper credentials. |
| which advice is good advice, bad advice, and very, | | | | Is the article peer-reviewed? Just because childcare |
| very bad advice. Despite this, untangling the web of | | | | articles appear on the internet doesn't mean the |
| childcare advice on the internet to find reliable, | | | | content is valid. That is why articles that present |
| trustworthy information is possible. To do this, be sure | | | | themselves as authoritative sources of childcare |
| to ask yourself the following questions before taking | | | | information should be peer-reviewed. An article is |
| any childcare advice from the internet: | | | | peer-reviewed if other professionals in the field have |
| Does the author subscribe to your parenting style? If | | | | read the author's work and have approved its content. |
| the author does not support the parenting style you | | | | This is especially important when seeking medical |
| have adopted, the advice may be hard to swallow. | | | | advice. |
| The mere mention of the term "cry-it-out" would make | | | | The final and most important consideration when |
| any attachment parenting style parent cringe! In this | | | | seeking childcare advice on the internet is: What does |
| instance, it may not take long to determine which | | | | your pediatrician think? No online article--no matter the |
| parenting style the author subscribes to. But before | | | | source--can replace the advice you get from your |
| you invest time reading pages of childcare advice, | | | | child's pediatrician. She or he has first-hand knowledge |
| check out the author's background to get a sense of | | | | of your family's medical history and can make the best |
| the context in which he or she is dishing out advice. | | | | judgments regarding your child's health. Before you |
| Does the author have the proper credentials to offer | | | | adopt any online medical advice, be sure you check |
| childcare advice? Before you follow anyone's advice, | | | | with your pediatrician first and foremost. |
| do some research to determine if the author has the | | | | |