Poll Reports

Half of parents say their child used a pacifier and one-quarter say their child sucked their thumb or fingers. 4 in 5 parents think pacifier use should stop at or before age 2, but only 3 in 5 parents think thumb-sucking should stop by that age. 1 in 11 parents feel they acted too late to stop their child’s pacifier use, compared to 1 in 6 parents for thumb-sucking.

About half of parents are very confident they can recognize signs of puberty in their child. Among parents of children 7-9 years, 1 in 6 have started seeing signs of puberty in their child. Common challenges are choosing the right age to start talking about puberty and whether to explain sex.

Less than half of parents feel they are able to find accurate information about bird flu. 1 in 3 parents have taken action to protect their family against bird flu. 2 in 5 parents wish the government was doing more to prevent a bird flu outbreak. 1 in 5 parents say the media is making too big a deal about bird flu.

1 in 6 parents think teens should be allowed to get non-surgical cosmetic procedures for any reason if they have parental approval. Half of parents say being bullied about appearance is not a valid reason for teens to get a non-surgical cosmetic procedure. 1 in 14 parents say their teen girl has asked about getting a non-surgical cosmetic procedure.

Only 3 in 5 parents say their child regularly brushes their teeth twice a day. Parents report that fewer boys than girls brush and floss regularly. 1 in 3 parents have noticed that their child has bad breath.

1 in 8 parents of young children have not thought about their discipline strategies. Half of parents rate themselves as very consistent in disciplining their child. 1 in 4 parents have threatened their child age 3-5 years with no Santa or gifts.

Nearly 4 in 10 parents say that in the past year their child has experienced negative consequences when angry. 7 in 10 parents feel they sometimes set a bad example of how to manage anger. 1 in 7 parents think their child gets angry more often than peers the same age.

Nearly 1 in 5 parents think their teen does not get enough protein. 2 in 5 parents say their teen has consumed protein supplements in the past year; this is higher for teen boys than girls. 1 in 3 parents use protein supplements themselves and are more likely to report their teen also consumes protein supplements.

1 in 5 parents say their child age 6-12 years has no friends or not enough friends. 3 in 4 parents have taken steps to help their child make new friends. 2 in 3 parents say it is important that their child’s friends come from families similar to theirs.

2 in 3 parents want their child’s healthcare provider to suggest ways to prevent their child from developing hereditary health conditions. Parents feel slightly more knowledgeable about their child’s family health history for medical conditions than mental health. Nearly half of parents express concerns about their child potentially developing a hereditary condition.