Conflicting advice can cause parents to be confused about their child's health care.

Parents often receive conflicting advice about the health of their children from friends, relatives, the media and now, the Internet. Dr. Kathy Lake, assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says parents should begin by trusting their own judgment and be sure to consult their physician when their child is sick. She explains the most important things a parent can do to protect their child's health.

SOUND BITE: "First and foremost, it would be routine physicals and receiving the recommended vaccinations to prevent devastating infectious diseases that used to be common place and are no longer seen, fortunately. And other issues would be promoting a healthy diet and turning the TV off once in a while and encouraging exercise as well as spending some quality family time together."

Dr. Lake says children can't be expected to develop good health habits if the parents are not setting a good example. Also, she cautions against relying too much on advice from parents and grandparents. Sometimes that advice can be helpful, but it is important to realize that even in the course of 10 years, scientific research changes the recommendations and some of the medications. She says it the parent's schedule does not permit them to bring the child to the doctor for an exam or vaccinations, a caregiver can bring the child. She explains:

SOUND BITE: " . . . as long as they have a written consent form that the caregiver bringing the child in can give to the doctor or the laboratory indicating that they give consent for that individual to authorize all tests or treatments necessary for the child. And then the parent can sign and date it. And that's generally acceptable wherever they go."

Although there is a great deal of information about child care available from many sources, Dr. Lake advises parents to check with their physician when they have questions about their child's health.