Most parenting media optimizes for engagement. We optimize for what is probably true, what's contested, and what's noise. Every recommendation in The Compass carries one of four evidence tiers — surfaced visibly, never tucked away.
Six decades of longitudinal evidence converge on a remarkably small list of factors that predict adult outcomes. These six studies do most of the heavy lifting.
The quality of close relationships at age 50 predicts physical health at age 80 better than cholesterol does. The childhood factor most strongly associated with relationship quality in adulthood is having had at least one warm, responsive caregiver.
Self-control at age 3 predicts adult health, wealth, criminal record, and substance abuse better than IQ or family socioeconomic status. Self-control is malleable and built through co-regulation.
Attachment security at 12 months predicted social competence in preschool, peer relationships in middle childhood, romantic functioning in adolescence, and emotional regulation in adulthood.
Dose-response relationship between childhood adversity and adult disease, mental illness, substance abuse. A single stable, responsive adult relationship buffers high ACE scores.
High-quality early childhood education for disadvantaged children produces lifelong gains: more years of schooling, higher earnings, lower crime, better health. Benefit-cost ratios estimated at 7 – 12×.
11,800+ children from age 9–10 followed into adulthood. The largest current dataset on how digital media, sleep, family functioning, and substance exposure affect adolescent brain development.
No claim in The Compass appears without one of these tiers. The tier tells you how confident the field is, not how confident we are.
Multiple high-quality RCTs, large meta-analyses, or longitudinal cohorts with convergent findings. AAP / WHO / CDC consensus.
Examples: Back-to-sleep · vaccination schedule · attachment research · harm of corporal punishment.
Some RCTs plus observational support, or strong observational evidence without RCTs.
Examples: Mediterranean diet for child mental health · Montessori for executive function · baby-led weaning.
Promising recent research that has not yet been fully replicated or scaled.
Examples: Smartphone delay until 14–16 · specific mindfulness curricula · screen-time impacts on under-2 cognition.
Long-standing practice with limited rigorous evidence. Shown honestly so parents can decide.
Examples: Many specific bedtime routine elements · certain cultural feeding norms.
The Compass is informational, not medical advice. Every red flag in our content prompts a professional consultation. If something feels wrong, call your doctor — that is what they are for.