Editorial guidelines
How we earn your trust
Families come to us with important questions. These guidelines explain how we research, write, check and update everything we publish, so you always know where our advice comes from.
✓ Sources linked in every health article
01
Our commitments
Four promises guide every decision our editorial team makes.
Accurate
We base advice on current guidance from trusted organizations and check facts against the original source.
Independent
Advertisers and partners never decide what we cover or what we recommend.
Transparent
We link to our sources, label sponsored content and explain how we make money.
Current
We update articles when guidance changes and show you when we have made a change.
02
How an article is made
Every article follows the same path from question to publication.
- 1
Choose the question
We cover the questions parents actually ask, prioritizing topics that affect health, safety and everyday decisions.
- 2
Research the guidance
We start with official guidance and high-quality research (see our source tiers below) before anything is written.
- 3
Write for real life
Clear answers up front, practical steps, checklists and tables, and a "when to call the doctor" box for health topics.
- 4
Check and link sources
Key facts, numbers and recommendations are checked against the original source and linked in the article.
- 5
Publish, monitor and update
After publishing, we watch for new guidance and reader feedback and update the article when needed.
03
How we choose sources
Not all information is equal. We rank sources by how reliable they are. Select a tier to see examples.
Official guidance
Our first stop for any health or safety topic. When official guidance exists, it leads our advice.
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- World Health Organization
- National Institutes of Health
- NHS
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Peer-reviewed research
Studies published in established medical and scientific journals, read with care for study size, design and whether results fit the wider evidence.
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Large clinical and cohort studies
- Research summaries from academic medical centers
Recognized expert organizations
Respected nonprofits and specialist groups that translate research into practical guidance for families.
- ZERO TO THREE
- Child Mind Institute
- Safe Kids Worldwide
- March of Dimes
- Postpartum Support International
What we do not rely on
These can be a starting point for questions, but never the basis for advice.
- Unverified forums and social posts
- Influencer or celebrity claims
- Press releases without the underlying study
- Sites selling the product being discussed
04
Health and safety content
Articles about fertility, pregnancy, child health and safety follow current guidance from recognized medical authorities. When organizations disagree, we explain each position rather than picking one without saying so.
- Every health and safety article links to its sources.
- We include clear warning signs and when to contact a doctor.
- We never diagnose, prescribe or replace personal medical care.
- Health and safety articles are reviewed first when guidance changes.
05
Technology and AI
We use technology, including AI writing tools, to help research, outline and draft some articles, and to find images. These tools help us cover more of the questions parents ask.
Technology never replaces our standards: health and safety information must be based on guidance from trusted organizations, sources must be linked, and every article must follow these guidelines. If you find an error, we will correct it.
06
Products and affiliate links
When we write about baby gear, toys or other products, we explain what features matter and why, with safety first. We look at safety standards, recalls, practical use and value.
Some links may earn us a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. It never affects what we recommend.
If a brand ever sends us a product, that will never guarantee coverage or a positive review, and we will say so.
We do not recommend products that conflict with safety guidance, such as unsafe sleep products.
07
Advertising and independence
Our editorial team decides what we publish. Advertisers, sponsors and partners do not choose our topics, review our articles before publication or influence our recommendations. Any sponsored content will be clearly labeled as sponsored, and ads will always look different from our articles.
08
Images
Most photos on Apparently a Parent come from licensed stock libraries such as Pexels and are used to illustrate a topic. People shown in stock photos are not the subject of the article. We choose images that reflect real family life and avoid images that could be unsafe to copy, such as babies sleeping with loose blankets or pillows.
09
Our writing style
Our style checklist. Tap each one, just like our writers do before publishing.
That is the checklist every article has to pass. ✓
10
Updates and corrections
If we get something wrong, we fix it quickly and say what changed. Here is how we label changes:
| Label | When we use it | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| Correction | A factual error was fixed. | A note explaining what was wrong and what we changed. |
| Update | New guidance or information was added. | An updated date and, for major changes, a short note. |
| Clarification | Wording was improved to prevent confusion. | A short note when the change affects meaning. |
Spot something wrong?
Send us the article link and what looks incorrect. We review every report.
11
Questions about our guidelines
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Articles are published by the Apparently a Parent editorial team. You can learn more about us on our About page.
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Our health and safety articles are based on published guidance from medical organizations, and we link to those sources. Unless an article says otherwise, it has not been individually reviewed by a medical professional, so please check with your own provider before making health decisions.
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We update articles when trusted organizations change their guidance, when a reader reports an error, or when we find better information. Health and safety topics are reviewed first.
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Send us a message through our contact page with the article link and what looks wrong. We review every report and correct confirmed errors promptly.
Want to know more about us?
Meet the team behind Apparently a Parent, read our mission and see what we cover for every stage.
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