Raising young children and keeping them healthy is never easy, but doing so while relying on erroneous or misleading information can make parenting a particularly daunting challenge. In some cases, parental ignorance of children’s health needs can have deadly consequences.

To guide parents through the myths and misinformation about raising a child, Dr. Adesman wrote "BabyFacts: The Truth About Your Child’s Health From Newborn Through Preschool." The book, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., demystifies more than 150 myths, offering animated and realistic explanations that appeal with sincerity, reassurance and conviction to parents and caretakers alike.

As chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the nationally renowned Schneider Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park, NY, Andrew Adesman, MD, has consulted with parents of literally thousands of youngsters during his 24 years as a pediatrician. “I’ve always been troubled by the extent to which parents rely on hearsay or misinformation to care for their children when they’re sick, a problem exacerbated by the Internet,” Dr. Adesman said. “However, I was even more disturbed by a pilot study of 35 pediatricians that I conducted which showed that pediatricians also subscribe to commonplace myths.” In this small study, twenty of the 35 pediatricians (57%) failed to recognize 10 or more of the 40 health myths as being false.

"BabyFacts" covers a wide range of infant, toddler and preschooler issues, including breastfeeding, growth and development, accident prevention, sleep habits, food allergies and childhood illnesses. Here are a few child-rearing myths Dr. Adesman debunks in his book:

• Ear infections need to be treated with antibiotics.
  
• Teething can cause diaper rash, ear infections or high fever.
  
• Newborns and infants should be bathed daily. All fevers need to be treated.
  
• Vitamin C supplements help ward off colds. Spinach is a good source of iron.
  
• A child who has diarrhea should not be given dairy products until the diarrhea resolves.
  
• Eating raw carrots will improve a child’s vision. Ice baths can be used to bring down a high fever in young children.
  
• Reading in the dark can cause later vision or eye problems.
  
• Treat a burn with an application of ice. It is not safe for children to go swimming immediately after eating.
  
• If a child sits too close to the television, it can damage his vision.
  
• After baths, parents should remove normal earwax build-up with cotton swabs.
  
• Wounds will heal more quickly if exposed to fresh air at night.
  
• Fevers of 104°F or 105°F can cause brain damage.
  

No other parenting book sets out with the specific purpose of separating fact from fiction. BabyFacts identifies and clarifies many of the deep-rooted beliefs that are often perceived as conventional wisdom or well-intentioned advice from notable sources—such as the Internet, parenting organizations, friends and family members—and explains all sides of the issues, providing answers to commonly conflicting information.

“The information is targeted primarily toward parents of babies and young children, and secondarily to daycare workers, childhood professionals and grandparents,” said Dr. Adesman. “I’ve compiled the facts into one place to help parents learn that details they presumed to be true may, in fact, be wrong or possibly even dangerous.” BabyFacts is indispensably unique because it is the only book on the market that specifically addresses the commonly proliferated myths and misconceptions regarding children’s health, safety and development.

"BabyFacts" has already garnered glowing praise from many of the nation’s leading pediatricians and health experts. Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Chief Medical Editor at NBC News, commented, “What a wonderful book -- for every parent and all those doctors too." Dr. Robert Needlman, the current co-author of Dr Spock’s Baby and Child Care was equally enthusiastic: “ 'BabyFacts' serves up bite-sized nuggets of solid advice, perfect for parents who want a quick reality check. Dr. Adesman deserves a place on every parenting bookshelf.”

As a pediatrician, Dr. Adesman specializes in the evaluation and management of developmental disorders at Schneider Children’s Hospital, recognized as one of the nation’s premier children’s hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. He is routinely listed by New York magazine as one of the New York area’s best pediatricians, and is frequently interviewed by national, regional and local news organizations on a range of pediatric topics. He previously co-authored a book, "Parenting Your Adopted Child."

"BabyFacts" is scheduled for release on February 2, 2009. For additional information about "BabyFacts", including a complete Press Kit, go to www.BabyFacts.com. Dr. Adesman is available for interview immediately.

Media Contact: Marc Reynolds 631-863-2233 MarcReynol@optonline.net