Editorial and Medical Review Policy
How we decide what to publish, which sources we trust, how we keep pages current, and how we fix mistakes.
Last updated
Our principles
- Helpful first. Every page should leave a dad knowing what to do next.
- Sourced, not opinionated, on health. Medical and safety statements come from authoritative organizations and are linked.
- Honest about who we are. Content is written by the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. We don't invent authors, experts, reviewers, credentials, statistics, or testimonials.
- Independent. Advertisers and affiliate partners don't see, shape, or approve content.
Sources we use
For health and safety, we rely on primary, authoritative sources, including:
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), including HealthyChildren.org and AAP policy statements in Pediatrics
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH, NICHD, NIMH)
- The NHS (UK National Health Service) and Mayo Clinic
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for car seats
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the FDA for product safety
- Peer-reviewed research in major journals, used to support, not replace, guidance from the bodies above
For money, leave and benefits: the U.S. Department of Labor, IRS, HealthCare.gov, Social Security Administration, and official state program websites.
We avoid unsourced claims, product marketing, and anecdotes presented as evidence.
Medical and safety review
Health and safety pages are checked against the sources listed on each page before publishing and at every review. We are not a medical practice and do not employ physicians; we don't claim physician review we haven't had. Where guidance is uncertain or varies, we say so and point readers to their own provider.
Each page shows a "last reviewed" date. We re-review:
- Health and safety pages at least once a year, and promptly when a major guideline changes (for example, AAP safe sleep or car seat recommendations).
- Money and leave data, such as state paid leave benefit caps, each January when programs update.
- Product recommendations at least twice a year, and immediately on safety recalls.
Tools and calculators
Tool logic follows published methods and guidelines, which are explained on each tool page. Default numbers (such as childcare costs) are labeled as starting estimates with sources, and you can change them. Tools are automatically tested to make sure the math is right.
Product recommendations
We don't run a testing lab and never claim hands-on testing we haven't done. Recommendations are based on published specifications, safety standards, and design features that matter for the people we write for. We never display prices or star ratings, because they change constantly. Read the affiliate disclosure.
Corrections
If we get something wrong, we fix it and update the page's review date. Significant corrections to health or safety information are noted on the page. Report an error through the contact form.
How we use software
We use software tools, including AI writing assistance, to help draft and organize content. Every page is checked against its cited sources before publication, and the editorial team is responsible for everything we publish.