Every answer on Founded Parent is drawn from a fixed list of approved sources and graded by how strong that evidence is. We never write an answer from general knowledge, and we never cite a source that is not on this list. If the research does not have a clear answer, we say so.
Canadian guidance is checked first. Where Canadian and international guidance differ, the answer says so rather than quietly picking one.
The strongest starting point. These are official recommendations written by expert panels who have already reviewed the underlying research and weighed it for real-world practice.
Studies that pool and assess all the available research on a question, rather than relying on any single trial. Very reliable, and often the basis for the guidelines above.
Individual experiments where participants are randomly assigned to different approaches. Strong evidence, but a single trial can still be limited by its size or the specific group it studied.
Well-established bodies that translate research into practical guidance. Useful for topics where formal guidelines do not exist, especially around child development, behaviour, and medication or exposure safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Answers are written from the highest tier available: guidelines first, then reviews, then trials, then expert organizations. Where a lower tier disagrees with a higher one, we follow the higher one and say so. Each answer then carries a plain-language grade showing how confident the research allows us to be:
An answer that does not rest on a guideline or systematic review is never graded Strong or Good, and Strong always needs at least two that agree.
Where an answer relies on observational, cohort or case-control studies rather than a guideline, systematic review or randomized trial, we say so directly. That kind of evidence can show a pattern, but it cannot show cause and effect as reliably.
Founded Parent summarizes published research. It is educational information, not a diagnosis or personalized medical advice, and it cannot account for your child's individual history. Always check with your child's doctor for guidance specific to your situation. If this is a medical emergency, call your local emergency number. There is more in what Founded Parent cannot do.
Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so its answers may not apply to you. Never delay or disregard advice from a qualified health professional because of something you read here. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.