Prepare questions about a child’s health and wellbeing

Age, development and context matter when reading general guidance.

Start with a useful question

Information written for adults may not apply to children. When reading about a child’s health, notice the age group, the source and the limits of the information. Bring questions about the individual child to an appropriately qualified clinician.

Related reading: Find a clearer starting point for health information · Prepare useful questions for a medical appointment

Put the idea into practice

Read the original source where possible and check when it was published or reviewed. Look for the limits of the evidence, the population it describes and any commercial interest. Write down what remains unclear rather than filling a gap with an assumption.

Review what you learn

Use general information to prepare questions, not as a diagnosis or a personalised treatment plan. An appropriately qualified healthcare professional can help relate evidence to an individual situation. The official resource below offers a starting point for further reading.