Last Updated: January 2026
Let’s talk about money—specifically, how The Common Mom keeps the lights on (and the coffee maker running). We believe in complete transparency, so here’s the honest truth about how we earn income through product recommendations.
The Bottom Line Up Front
When you buy products through links on our site, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep this site running, test more products, and continue providing free content for moms like you.
But here’s what’s most important: We only recommend products we genuinely believe in and would recommend to our best mom friends. Period.
Amazon Associates Program
The Common Mom participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. When you click our Amazon links and make a purchase, Amazon pays us a small commission (we’re talking pennies to a few dollars per sale).
This doesn’t change your price—you pay exactly what you’d pay if you went directly to Amazon. It’s just Amazon’s way of saying “thanks for sending customers our way.”
Other Affiliate Partners
We also work with other retailers and brands that have affiliate programs. These might include Target, Walmart, baby product companies, and other family-friendly retailers.
The same rule applies: you never pay more when using our links, and we earn a small commission when you make a purchase.
Our Promise: Honesty Over Earnings
Here’s what you need to know about how we choose what to recommend:
We test everything. If we’re recommending a product, it’s because we (or moms we know and trust) have actually used it. We don’t recommend things we’ve never tried just because they have high commission rates.
We share the bad news too. If a product has flaws, breaks easily, or isn’t worth the money, we tell you—even if it means you won’t buy it through our affiliate link.
Lower-priced options win. If a cheaper product works just as well as an expensive one, we’ll tell you to save your money. Your budget matters more to us than our commission.
We recommend alternatives. We often suggest multiple options at different price points, including non-affiliate products when they’re genuinely better choices.
We update our recommendations. When we find something better or when products change, we update our reviews—even if it means losing commission on the original recommendation.
How We Actually Review Products
Our review process is simple but thorough:
- We use products in real life, usually for several weeks or months
- We test them the way real moms use them (which means they get dropped, dragged, and occasionally covered in mysterious sticky substances)
- We consider practicality, durability, value for money, and whether it actually makes life easier
- We check reviews from other parents to see if our experience matches theirs
- We compare similar products to help you choose the best option for your needs and budget
Sponsored Content
Occasionally, brands may pay us to create sponsored content. When this happens, we always clearly label it as sponsored. Our honest opinion doesn’t change—if we’re writing about a product (sponsored or not), you’re getting our real thoughts.
We turn down most sponsorship offers. We only work with brands that align with our values and that we’d genuinely recommend to friends.
Free Products for Review
Sometimes companies send us free products to review. We’re transparent about this in our reviews. Receiving a free product doesn’t guarantee a positive review—we’ve given honest (sometimes critical) reviews of many products sent to us for free.
We also buy plenty of products with our own money to ensure unbiased testing.
What This Means for You
Using our affiliate links is a simple way to support The Common Mom at no cost to you. It helps us:
- Keep all our content free (no paywalls or subscriptions)
- Buy products to test and review
- Spend time researching and writing detailed guides
- Maintain and improve our website
- Occasionally afford an extra latte during late-night writing sessions
But you’re never obligated to use our links. Whether you click our link or go directly to the store, we’re just happy if we helped you make a good decision for your family.
Price and Availability Notes
A few important details:
- Prices change constantly—what we listed may not be current when you read it
- Products go out of stock or get discontinued (especially the really good ones)
- Sales and promotions vary by retailer and timing
- Always check the final price at checkout
The Mom-to-Mom Bottom Line
If we were sitting together at a playground bench, and you asked me about a product, I’d tell you my honest opinion—what I liked, what annoyed me, and whether it’s worth your money. That’s exactly what we do here, whether there’s an affiliate commission involved or not.
Your trust means everything to us. We’re building a community of moms helping moms, and we take that responsibility seriously. We’d rather lose a commission than lose your trust.
FTC Compliance
This disclosure complies with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines on endorsements and testimonials in advertising (16 CFR Part 255). Basically, the government wants to make sure we’re transparent about affiliate relationships—and so do we.
Questions?
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, how we review products, or anything else, just ask: [email protected]
Thank you for supporting The Common Mom and for trusting us with your product decisions. We don’t take that trust lightly.
Now go buy that thing you need (through our link or not—we’re just glad we could help!). 💙