December 12, 2009
In a sea of conflicting and confusing health information, parents have always turned to their family pediatrician as a trusted source of advice. Now, in a virtual extension of the pediatrician's office, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) brings pediatrician-approved health information to the Internet with the launch of HealthyChildren.org.

"The site is not meant to take the place of medical advice but instead complement and reinforce what their pediatrician is already saying," said Jennifer Shu, M.D., FAAP, medical editor of the Healthy Children Web site. "The AAP is the leader in the practice of pediatrics, and this is their content for parents."

HealthyChildren.org is divided into multiple, user-friendly sections, including:

• Ages & Stages: Information on the health issues of infants through adolescents, including interactive content on developmental milestones

• Healthy Living: Up-to-date guidance on fitness, sports, oral health, emotional wellness and nutrition

• Safety & Prevention: Preparing for health scenarios that occur at home, school and on the go, as well as in-depth information on the immunizations children need to stay healthy

• Health Issues: An exhaustive A-to-Z list of more than 300 health care topics

Parents can learn about seasonal health issues or read about the latest scientific research and AAP policies. By registering with the site, parents can customize the information based on their children's ages and health topics. The "Ask the Pediatrician" tool allows parents to browse a list of frequently asked questions or pose their own questions. A pediatrician finder makes it easy for both first-time and experienced parents to find an AAP-member pediatrician in their area.

Most importantly, all content is developed and reviewed by leading child health experts and reflects the latest scientific research. Whether seeking general information about children's health, or specific answers to a pediatric issue, parents can be confident in the information they find on HealthyChildren.org.

Visit the new site to download HealthyChildren.org banners and logos for your practice's Web site.