Evidence-based parenting:

Links for the science-minded

© 2009 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved

Parenting Science readers are interested in the evidence. They are also avid consumers of science news, in fields ranging from anthropology to neuroscience to zoology.

Where else can you go to find rigorous, fully-referenced analysis of the scientific and pediatric evidence about kids?

Here are a few suggestions.

Developmental psychologist Charles Fernyhough, whose work is profiled in my article on mind-minded parenting, has an excellent blog where he analyzes the latest research about child development. If you're interested in how kids think, don't miss it.

The University of Michigan Evidence-Based Pediatrics website features a database of “critically-appraised topics,” i.e., brief, thumbnail summaries of recent studies on medical topics like peanut allergy or the influenza vaccine. The summaries provide key information—like study design and results—at a glance. Full references provided.

Polly Palumbo of Momma Data is a psychologist and mother who battles irrationality with her evidence-based blog about health and child development. Check out her posts about the ways that the media misreports important medical and pediatric stories in the news.

STATS covers the “use and abuse of science and statistics in the media.” Staff writers have sunk their teeth into a number of subjects relevant to parents, including vaccines.

Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch is a psychiatrist who combats “health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies.” His vast website features articles about medical quackery and pseudoscience, as well as links to related, specialty sites, like AutismWatch.

Other links: Finding like-minded parents

Are you looking for parents who practice attachment parenting? Check out the links on this page.