Contradicted by evidence
Sleep
“Sleep training will damage my baby's attachment to me.”
The studies that looked for attachment harm did not find it.
Free · Evidence-graded · 10 claims and growing
Parenting claims, graded
The internet states every parenting claim with the same confidence. The research does not. Each claim here is stated the way a parent would say it, then graded on two axes: how strong the evidence actually is, and how united the field actually is.
Contradicted by evidence
Language
“Hearing two languages will confuse my baby and delay their speech.”
Bilingual children hit language milestones on schedule when you count both languages.
Contradicted by evidence
Products & gear
“A baby walker will help my baby learn to walk sooner.”
Walkers don't speed walking, and the injury record is bad enough that the AAP wants them banned.
Moderate evidence
Milestones
“Tummy time actually matters for my baby's development.”
Yes: prone play time is linked to better motor development, and short frequent sessions count.
Moderate evidence
Screens
“Screen time is harming my toddler's language development.”
Heavy, passive, background screen use is linked to less language input; the dose and the type matter more than the screen.
Not enough evidence
Language
“Pacifier use will delay my child's speech.”
The feared speech link is not well supported; the real documented tradeoffs are ear infections and dental effects with prolonged use.
Strong evidence
Language
“Talking to my baby, even before they can respond, builds their language.”
Yes, and the back-and-forth matters even more than the word count.
Contradicted by evidence
Milestones
“Teething causes fevers.”
Teething can nudge temperature up slightly; it does not cause true fever.
Limited evidence
Feeding
“Baby-led weaning is better than spoon-feeding purées.”
A fine approach, not a superior one; the trial evidence shows mostly equivalence.
Strong evidence
Language
“Reading to my toddler actually changes their language development.”
Yes, and reading interactively, with questions and pauses, roughly doubles the effect.
How claims get graded
Every claim is graded on two independent axes. Evidence strength asks: how good is the research behind the claim as parents actually state it? Randomized trials and meta-analyses outrank single observational studies, which outrank expert opinion. Consensus asks a different question: where does the field actually sit? A claim can rest on limited evidence while researchers still broadly agree, and both facts belong on the label.
Every empirical statement in a summary is tied to the sources listed on its page, and an automated check enforces the honesty rules: claims below strong evidence cannot use proof-language, and claims with limited or insufficient evidence must say so in plain words. The check runs on every update to this site; a summary that overclaims cannot ship.
The grades are educational summaries of published research, not medical advice, and they can change; each page shows when it was last reviewed.
Educational summaries of published research, not medical advice. Grades reflect the cited literature at the review date shown on each page.