Product Reviews and Recommendations

At Verywell Family, our mission is simple: to support you through every stage of pregnancy and parenthood. Nothing is as precious or important as your family, so we have created a rigorous and thorough process for vetting the products we recommend for you and your loved ones.

It all starts with market research and interviews with industry experts. From there, we create comprehensive methodologies and test products in The Verywell Testing Lab, our testing facility in New York City, and our testers' own homes. While we do receive an affiliate commission on some of the products purchased through our content, our recommendations are curated based on performance, test results, and hands-on experience.

How We Make Money

We receive an affiliate commission on some, but not all, of the products we recommend—but only if you decide to click through to the retailer's site and make a purchase. We only recommend trusted retailers with a proven track record for service and dependability. 

How We Find Deals

In today's world, it's hard to know what an actual deal is. That's why we scour the internet to provide you with the biggest discounts we see in our research and alert you when some of your favorite brands are having their yearly sales. We work around the clock on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day to ensure you know what to buy on the big sale days. 

We monitor shopping trends to bring you the best, most up-to-date offerings, from pregnancy pillows and breast pumps to strollers, potty training gear, toys, and more. We are your go-to source for the latest and greatest products for your home, your health, and everything in between.

Our Testing Process

Before we test any product, our team of seasoned writers and editors research the market and conduct interviews with leading industry experts—including pediatricians, OB-GYNs, lactation consultants, registered dietitians, and more—to understand what you need to look for when buying particular products. Then we develop detailed testing methodologies with the help of certified health and wellness professionals. These methodologies allow us to rate each product for important attributes, such as ease of use, accuracy, ergonomics, and overall value. We display the scores for each attribute on a scale of one to five next to each product. 

Next, we come up with a selection of products for each test. These products cover a range of retailers, prices, user reviews, brand authority, and more. Our jobs require us to spend a lot of time online shopping, and we want to pass along some expert knowledge to you. We also know that everyone has their own unique preferences and tastes, so we like to offer a few vetted options and always consider value when making recommendations. While we may receive some products for free, we purchase the vast majority of the products that we test.

We don't stop at objective testing results; we know qualitative insights are just as important, so we simultaneously ask our testers for detailed feedback. Was the stroller easy to assemble? Did the sound machine work as described by the manufacturer? We editorialize this performance data to provide the most easy-to-understand and trustworthy product recommendations. We also highlight the pros and cons of each product, so you can weigh the most important details against your lifestyle and needs and make the most informed decision. 

Testing in The Lab

The Verywell Testing Lab, our facility in New York City, has 7,000 square feet of testing space and two kitchens. The Lab is where we test and compare everything from baby monitors to bottle warmers, kids' luggage, potty training toilets, and nursery gliders. We capture unboxing, setup, and hands-on tester usage through photos, videos, and written insights during each test. We bring you behind the scenes of our tests to give you a comprehensive and transparent account of how these products perform.

In The Lab, our team tests products alongside certified professionals and experts (who are parents or expectant parents themselves) using our carefully developed methodologies. And we get creative with tests, too. When testing jogging strollers, we’re taking them to a running track and gauging their suspension and maneuverability on different terrains.

Testing At Home

Not every product will lend itself to testing in The Lab, so we also prioritize testing products at home. At-home testing allows us to vet things like delivery and setup and monitor how products hold up over time. How well does the crib accommodate little ones as they grow? Do dishwasher-safe bottles stand up to hundreds of wash cycles? 

Like in The Lab, our at-home testing process involves editors, writers, and experts testing products with comprehensive methodologies. Our testers fill out surveys, rate each product for key attributes, provide helpful and insightful notes, and capture photos and videos of the products in real life. Whether they are evaluating changing pads, nursing bras, or activity tables, our home testers focus on the most important traits, including durability, ease of use, and value.

Why Trust Verywell Family

The product recommendations from Verywell Family are purely editorial. We occasionally receive products to test and review for free, but we purchase most of the products we test. And while we receive affiliate commissions on some of the products we recommend, our opinions are always based on objective research and testing. 

We monitor marketplace trends, including the latest studies on product safety, guidance from certified experts, customer reviews and frequently asked questions on retail sites, and product innovations.

We are dedicated to ensuring that our content reflects the diversity of our audience. To do this, we make a point to research brands and products founded by people who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and other minority groups whenever possible. For more information, read our full commitment to anti-racism.

Once written, every article is fact-checked for accuracy and vetted by a Verywell Family Review Board member. However, you should consult your healthcare team to determine if a specific product—especially a product, supplement, or medical device—is right for you and your family. Read more about our editorial process.

After we publish an article, we don't just forget about it. Our team is relentlessly updating and keeping our recommendations fresh, accurate, and helpful. We also know how frustrating it can be to do your research on a product only to add it to your cart and see that it's out of stock. We try to mitigate this by having dedicated editors check availability daily to provide you with the best user experience possible.

Review Board and Fact Checking

Before publication, each article goes through our Verywell Family Review Board to ensure the accuracy and safety of everything we review. Our team of medical experts reviews our recommendations for health and medical accuracy. 

We also rely on our team of qualified and experienced fact-checkers, who provide a critical step in our commitment to content integrity. Fact-checkers rigorously review articles for accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We use only the most current and reputable primary references, including peer-reviewed medical journals, government organizations, academic institutions, and advocacy associations. 

Safety and Product Recalls

As the parenting and family space is ever-changing, all products, including those we review and recommend, may be subject to recalls or revised use recommendations. We urge you to monitor announcements from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) related to any products you purchase. We also suggest you register your purchases with the manufacturer to get alerted if a recall is issued.

Meet Us

Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or opinions you’d like to share with our team of editors, please feel free to email us at commercefeedback@dotdash.com