Poll Reports

Only half of parents were confident that they would know what to do if their child were choking. 1 in 10 parents would take their young child immediately to the ER for a minor burn. Parents with recent first aid training were more confident they would know what to do to handle their child’s urgent medical situations.

Parents are more confident that their child's school can provide first aid (77%) than assist a student having an asthma attack (58%) or a mental health problem (38%). Parents view school nurses as most likely to provide first aid or handle an asthma attack, but are less sure about which staff would assist with mental health issues. Parents may overestimate the amount of time a school nurse is onsite at their child's school.

1 in 3 parents are very concerned about bullying/cyberbullying for their children. Black parents cite racial inequities as the top health concern for their children. Involvement of their child in a motor vehicle accident is a common concern for many parents.

Most parents think their teen has received all recommended vaccines, despite national data suggesting otherwise. Over one third of parents do not know when or if their teen is due for another vaccine. Parents expect child health providers to guide them on teen vaccines, by scheduling appointments or sending reminders.

6 in 10 mothers have been criticized about parenting their young child, most commonly by family members. Discipline is the most common topic of criticism, followed by diet/nutrition and sleep. Half of criticized mothers say they avoid people who are too critical.

80% of White parents say their child can swim independently, compared to 66% of Hispanic and 49% of Black parents. More White parents report their child has ever taken swimming lessons compared with Hispanic and Black parents. 37% of parents would allow their child to go into the water in a home/neighborhood pool or hotel pool without an adult present.

Over half (55%) of parents gave their child over-the-counter seasonal allergy medicine in the past year. One in seven parents have given their child over-the-counter allergy medicine that was labeled for adults. One in five parents did not check the expiration date on over-the-counter allergy medicines they had at home before giving them to their child.

Only about half of parents are very confident they can get a same-day appointment with their provider for a sick child. About 4 in 10 parents will take their child to an urgent care, retail clinic or emergency department if they wake up with sore throat and fever. 10% of parents would use email with their provider to get advice for a sick child.

1 in 5 parents don’t think it is important to limit junk food and fast food in their child’s diet. Parents’ biggest challenges around healthy eating include cost, convenience, and children’s food preferences. Nearly all parents believe childhood eating habits have a lifelong impact on health, but only 1 in 6 parents say their child’s diet is very healthy.

The top factors in parents' decision to keep a child home are concern that the illness will get worse or spread to classmates if the child goes to school. Parents are more likely to keep a child home with diarrhea, vomiting or fever, but send a child to school with a cough or runny nose.