A leading pediatrician answers the question looming large on every parent’s mind: What’s truly safe for my kids?

book_coverThere is little doubt that children today face unprecedented dangers. With conflicting reports in the media and rumors on the playground, parents simply lack the information needed to separate fact from the hype—and as a result, their fears are at a fever pitch.

So what do parents actually need to worry about? In Dangerous or Safe? pediatrician and mom Dr. Cara Natterson uses her medical expertise, the latest scientific research and her own perspective as a mom of two to provide parents with definitive answers.

Tackling twenty-five hot-button issues, Dr. Natterson outlines why each subject is rumored to pose a threat, explains what experts have said about it, and presents her very own “Bottom Line” so parents can make an informed decision on each topic. An indispensable resource, this relatable guide gives moms and dads clear instructions on what to avoid, and which so-called poisons are completely safe. It also answers the questions that parents most frequently ask their pediatricians, including:

  • Why do kids today have more allergies?
  • Is it all right for my daughter to wear nail polish?
  • Are all plastics safe? Can they be microwaved?
  • Is it safe to give my child cold and cough medications? Are antibiotics better?
  • Is use of deodorants and antiperspirants linked to breast cancer?

In addition to explaining the hazards of commonly known materials such as lead and plastics, Dr. Cara Natterson exposes startling new evidence on seemingly benign products—like cell phones—which may in fact endanger us all. Whether it’s a plastic baby bottle or the pesticide spray in the grass, Dangerous or Safe? prepares parents for every possible hazard their child may face.


Praise for Dangerous or Safe?

“A clear, succinct, scientific explanation of what is safe and what is not safe for your child. Every parent, and every child, could benefit from it.” –Deepak Chopra, author of Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul

"As a mother and cancer survivor, I am increasingly concerned about the foods and products my family consumes. Dangerous or Safe? helped me understand what I really need to worry about and what there's no need to lose sleep over. Parents should read this book, both for their children's health and their own." —Sara Ellington, co-author of The Must-Have Mom Manual and The Mommy Chronicles

"A word of warning. If you are a hypochondriac-by-proxy who, like me, enjoys freaking out about every imagined danger to her children, do NOT buy this book. Dr. Natterson's sage and reasoned advice will dispel the perils that plague your daydreams, while making clear what you should, in fact, be concerned about. It will, quite simply, calm you down and thus ruin your neurotic day. If, on the other hand, you would actually appreciate sensible and knowledgeable advice, buy this book immediately." —Ayelet Waldman, author of Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace.

“This is the book parents have been waiting for. Cara Natterson cuts through the morass of alarming and conflicting information that confuses and worries parents. She offers clear advice on what matters and what doesn’t.” —Mark Schuster, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of General Pediatrics and William Berenberg Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, and co-author of Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They’d Ask).

“Dr. Natterson aims to put to rest "unfounded and overhyped fears" that seem epidemic among today's parents who are bombarded with tales of the "dangers" lurking in every corner of their home. This book is worth the chapter on vaccines alone!" —Lara Zibners, M.D., author of If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Still Be Okay

“Dr. Natterson sets the records straight for parents regarding what is safe for their children to put in and on their bodies…Science-based and presented in an easy to understand manner. Her focus is to educate parents about what foods and products might endanger their children….I would highly recommend this book for my patients” --Gary Rachelefsky, M.D., author of Free Your Child from Asthma and Professor of Allergy and Immunology, UCLA