MC-Guide

Content Writing

Website 106: parents.com

How Can You Earn Money Writing For “parents.com” Website

This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to parents.com.

You will learn what parents.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.

Parent reading, researching, and writing

Parents.com

Parents.com · Contributor Snapshot

Pay: freelance rates vary (assignment-based) Style: clear, supportive parenting help Formats: service · explainers · shopping Audience: parents & caregivers Difficulty: beginner → pro workflow

Best for writers who can turn real parenting questions into practical guidance with credible sources and a calm tone.

Content Writing · 03 Beginner Friendly Target: Parents.com

Guide: How to Write for Parents.com (and Earn Money) — Step by Step

This guide helps a total beginner learn how to research Parents.com, understand what it publishes, and create professional pitches so you can write blog posts, articles, magazine-style features, or guest-style service content and earn money through freelance writing.

We start from the official About + Contact page because that is the most reliable place to find real contact routes: Parents.com About Us and especially the Contact Us section.

You’ll also learn how to write “Parents.com-style” content (clear, supportive, helpful, and responsible), and how to turn those skills into money: assignments, repeat work, portfolio growth, and better-paying clients.

Section 1 · Understand the publication

What Parents.com is and what kinds of content it wants

Parents.com is a mainstream parenting and family lifestyle website. That means its content is designed for people who are busy, emotional, overwhelmed, and looking for quick answers. A Parent reader is not reading like a student. They are reading like someone who says: “Please tell me what to do next.”

Before you pitch anything, spend at least 30 minutes exploring the site: Homepage, About Us, and the Contact Us section. A professional writer always starts from official pages so they do not waste time.

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Content type #1: Service articles (how-to parenting help)

Service articles are the most common type of parenting content online. They are practical guides, steps, scripts, and checklists. They solve everyday problems and reduce stress.

Example topics: sleep, feeding, routines, tantrums, school stress, sibling conflict, screen time.
Style: calm, supportive, no shame, easy steps.
Reader promise: “Do this today and you’ll feel better.”

Beginners should start with service articles because they do not always require heavy interviews. But they still require accuracy and responsibility.

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Content type #2: Product guides (shopping + gear)

Parenting websites often publish product roundups and buying guides. These guides help parents choose gear, avoid regrets, and compare options.

Example topics: strollers, car seats, baby monitors, diaper bags, bottles, toddler beds.
Must include: criteria, who it’s for, safety notes, and real usage scenarios.
Important: avoid fake reviews; never claim testing you didn’t do.

Product writing can pay well, but it must be trustworthy. Editors reject “generic shopping fluff.”

Parents.com (like most large brands) also publishes “explainer” content: child development, health basics, mental health, pregnancy guidance, and family wellbeing. When writing health-related topics, you must be extra careful. You should never give medical advice. You should include “talk to a clinician” guidance where needed.

Format	Reader goal	What your draft must include	Beginner-safe example headline
Service guide	Fix a parenting problem fast	Steps, scripts, mistakes, checklist	“A calm bedtime routine for toddlers (7 steps)”
Explainer	Understand a term without panic	Definition, examples, resources, when to seek help	“What emotional regulation means for kids”
Shopping guide	Buy the right thing	Criteria, comparisons, safety considerations, FAQs	“How to choose a travel stroller (simple checklist)”
Essay + takeaway	Feel seen and learn something useful	Story + practical advice + resources	“What I learned after parenting burnout (and what helped)”

Starter Parents.com links you should open now:

Tip: keep these tabs open while you write your pitch.

Now do a “brand tone scan”: open 5 random articles from the homepage and study how quickly they deliver tips, how short the paragraphs are, and how they use headings. You are not copying words. You are learning the style of helpful writing.

Section 2 · Fit your idea

How to choose topics Parents.com is likely to accept

Beginners often fail because they pitch a topic that is too broad, too emotional, or too “opinion-based.” Parents.com is mostly problem-solution writing. Use these checks to design a pitch that feels safe, useful, and professional.

Check 1

Is it a real parenting question people search?

Strong topics are searchable questions. Ask: “Would a parent type this into Google at 2 AM?” If yes, your idea is probably strong.

Sleep: “toddler wakes at 3 AM”
Food: “kid refuses vegetables”
Behavior: “hitting at daycare”
School: “separation anxiety at school”
Family life: “how to stop yelling”

Check 2

Is your angle specific (not generic)?

“Potty training” is generic. “Potty training when your child is afraid of the toilet” is specific. Editors want specific angles because they are easier to read and easier to rank.

Broad: “picky eating”
Specific: “picky eating without pressure (14-day plan)”
Broad: “tantrums”
Specific: “tantrums in public: calm scripts you can use”

Check 3

Can you support it with credible sources?

Parenting writing is high-trust writing. Even if you are not a doctor, you must reference trustworthy sources. Use organizations like: AAP, CDC, WHO, NHS, ACOG.

If your topic is medical or mental health related, propose expert quotes (pediatrician, therapist, lactation consultant, teacher, etc.).

Check 4

Does your idea match the supportive tone?

Never pitch shame-based parenting content. Your pitch language should be supportive: “Many parents struggle with this,” “Every family is different,” and “Here are options.”

Avoid: “bad parents,” “lazy,” “just do this”
Prefer: options, flexibility, realistic steps
Health topics: include “talk to a clinician” guidance

Mini-exercise: Write this sentence: “This Parents.com article helps [specific parent] solve [specific problem] using [steps] and [credible sources].” If you can fill it clearly, your idea is ready.

Bucket	Search question	Pitch angle	Proof to include
Sleep	“Toddler won’t stay in bed”	“7-night plan with scripts + routine”	Steps + common mistakes + expert guideline references
Food	“My kid eats only carbs”	“Pressure-free picky eating plan”	Nutrition guidance + real examples
Behavior	“My child hits”	“Replacement behaviors + calm scripts”	Child development sources + examples by age
Shopping	“Best stroller for travel”	“Travel stroller checklist + comparisons”	Specs + criteria + safety notes

Section 3 · Prepare yourself

Build a beginner portfolio (clips) that editors trust

Parents.com is a large brand, so editors usually prefer writers who can show proof. Proof means: you can write clearly, structure content well, and be responsible with sources. That proof is called your clips (published writing samples).

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Step 1: Create 3–5 clips in 2 weeks

Start with any platform: WordPress, Medium, Substack, Blogger, or even a free portfolio site. Your goal is not to be famous. Your goal is to show you can write the type of content Parents.com publishes.

1 service guide (how-to, steps, scripts)
1 explainer (definition + examples + resources)
1 product guide (criteria + comparisons)
1 “tips” article (quick bullets, checklists)
Optional essay (story + takeaway, protect kids’ privacy)

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Step 2: Build a “sources folder”

Parenting writing becomes easy when you have a reliable source stack. Bookmark these and use them consistently:

In your pitch, writing “I will use AAP/CDC/WHO sources” makes your pitch feel safer.

Now do one powerful move: add a “Sources & References” section at the end of every clip. Parenting editors like writers who build trust. It makes you stand out.

Clip type	Best length	Must include	Why it helps you
Service guide	1200–2000 words	steps, scripts, mistakes, checklist	shows you can help parents fast
Explainer	900–1500 words	definition, examples, resources	shows you can explain calmly
Product guide	1200–2500 words	criteria, comparisons, FAQs	shows you can write shopping content

Beginner shortcut: Choose one niche inside parenting: sleep, behavior, feeding, postpartum, school, or gear. Editors prefer a writer with a clear focus.

Section 4 · Practical workflow

Step-by-step pitching workflow (email/contact form)

Parents.com may not have a classic “Write For Us” guest post page. Many big publications work by assignments: you pitch, an editor assigns, you write, you get paid. That is normal.

Your first job is to find the right contact route: About Us and Contact Us. If there is a general form, use it professionally with a clear subject line so it is routed to editorial.

Step 1

Pick 2–3 ideas (not 1)

Editors like choices. If they reject one idea, they may accept another. Choose two service topics and one optional shopping topic.

Step 2

Validate your idea using “site search”

Search Google using: site:parents.com your keyword and note existing articles. Your pitch should explain: “This is different because…”

Step 3

Create a mini-outline + trust plan

Outline = headings. Trust plan = credible sources + expert type (optional). This makes your pitch low-risk for editors.

Step 4

Send a short pitch message (under 250 words)

Do not send a full article draft. Send a professional query with clips and outlines.

Copy-paste pitch template:

Subject: Freelance Pitch — [Specific headline promise] (Parents.com)

Hi [Parents.com Editorial Team],

I’m a freelance writer focused on clear, evidence-informed parenting guides.
Here are 2 relevant clips:
1) [Link] — [one-line description]
2) [Link] — [one-line description]

I’d love to pitch this service article:
• Working title: “[Your headline]”
• Audience: [age range + situation]
• Why it matters: [1–2 lines]
• Outline: [5–7 headings]
• Trust plan: I will reference [AAP/CDC/WHO/NHS] and can include an expert quote from [expert type].

If this fits your editorial needs, I can deliver a clean draft within [X] days after assignment.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Email] · [Portfolio link]

Follow-up rule: If no reply, follow up once (10–14 business days), then move on politely. Do not spam. Use the same idea for another parenting outlet or your own blog.

Section 5 · Money side

How to actually earn money (and grow income over time)

Freelance writing income grows through 4 layers: (1) assignment fees, (2) repeat assignments, (3) better clients using your bylines as proof, and (4) product income streams (affiliate, sponsored content, etc.) on your own website.

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Where the money comes from (simple)

Freelance fees: paid per article assignment.
Repeat work: same editor hires you again.
Portfolio power: your clips help you pitch higher-paying sites.
Your own blog: ads, affiliates, digital products, coaching, newsletter.

The best long-term strategy is: publish + pitch + repeat. This creates stable income.

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Contracts & rights (beginner explanation)

Flat fee: you get paid for one piece.
Rights: publication may own or license the article.
Exclusivity: you may not republish immediately.
Edits: editors can request revisions before publishing.

Always read the agreement carefully. If something is unclear, ask politely for clarification in writing.

Skill	What it improves	How to practice	Money result
Better pitching	More assignments	Write 10 ideas weekly + mini-outlines	More paid work
Fast clean drafts	Editor trust	Use templates + checklists	Repeat work
Niche expertise	Higher rates	Focus on one parenting category	Higher pay long-term
Portfolio growth	Better clients	Publish consistent clips	More opportunities

Note: Freelance rates vary by outlet, assignment scope, and your experience. Always confirm payment details in the assignment agreement.

Section 6 · Ethics & AI

Parenting writing safety rules (very important)

Parenting and family content is high-stakes. Bad advice can cause harm. So your professional writing must follow safety rules.

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Never do these things

Never give personal medical advice.
Never invent doctor quotes or research statistics.
Never shame parents or call them bad.
Never expose identifying details about children.
Never fake product testing.

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Best safe habits

Use credible organizations: CDC, WHO, AAP.
Add “when to talk to a clinician” guidance for health topics.
Use supportive language: “many families,” “options,” “step-by-step.”
Check all claims. Delete anything you cannot verify.

AI rule: You can use AI for outlines and clarity edits, but you must verify all facts and never publish AI-generated “medical” claims without reputable sources. Your name is on the article.

Golden rule: Write like you’re helping a family you care about. If advice could harm them, rewrite it safer.

Section 7 · Micro-SOP

Final checklist before you pitch Parents.com

Use this checklist before every pitch. It prevents beginner mistakes.

Section 8 · FAQ + link library

FAQ for beginners + many useful links

Can a beginner really write for Parents.com?

Yes, if you act like a professional: build clips, pitch specific topics, use credible sources, and write clearly. “Beginner” should mean new to publishing, not careless with responsibility.

Should I send a full draft or a pitch?

Usually pitch first. Big outlets typically want outlines and clips. Full drafts often become unpaid work. Use the short pitch template in Section 4.

How do I find a real contact person?

Start with the official About page table of contents and jump to Contact Us: Contact Us section. If you only see a general form, use a clear subject line (“Freelance Pitch — [Headline]”) and include the word “Pitch” in the first line.

What if I don’t get a reply?

Follow up once. If no reply, reuse the same idea elsewhere or publish it on your blog to strengthen your portfolio. Freelancers build success by pitching consistently, not by waiting for one outlet.

Core Parents.com links (safe + official):

Writing + reporting tools:

High-trust parenting sources:

Best practice: Make your own bookmark folder called “Parenting Sources.” Use these links repeatedly so your writing always stays trustworthy.