Truly Mama is a community that focuses on your experience as a mother. We’re here to share your views on motherhood, the journey that leads up to the first moment you hold your precious baby, and the joyous (and not-so-joyous) days that follow as you both grow and explore in their first years.
We feature honest product reviews, unfiltered stories, and celebrate the personal triumphs of moms around the world. We’re also a safe place to land when the journey to – and through – motherhood doesn’t go exactly as planned.
Whether you’re a first-time mom, expecting mom, trying to become a parent, or entering the world of babyhood once again, we’ve got you covered.
Our Promise to You
Truly Mama is built on one promise: that we will always give you the most accurate information about the baby products and parenting information that you need and rely on. Because nothing is worse than a glowing review of a product that actually sucks. If we wouldn’t use it ourselves, we won’t recommend it.
How We Test Our Products
Whenever possible, we test our products first-hand with real mothers and when we can’t, we perform exhaustive research, pour over reviews, and analyze the products based on our own real-world experience as parents. (Because only someone who has cleaned vomit out of a car seat knows how important that easy-to-clean factor is.)
Our testers include a wide range of moms with different experiences and backgrounds, from moms of many kids to moms of babies to adoptive mothers to moms in the country and those in the city. We have homebodies and travelers, but all of our moms have one thing in common: if we’re going to buy a baby product, it had better be worth our hard-earned money.
How We Rate Our Products
We have different rating systems for each product category that we test, but in general, we’re always looking at a few key features when we test products. We know investing in a product that can make a difference in your life is a big deal and that’s not something we take lightly.
We strive to always consider:
- Function
- Quality
- Features
- Budget
- Cleanability (told you we take that sort of stuff seriously!)
We also have a very rigorous review and update process, so you can be ensured that all of the information you’re getting from us is the most recent. Baby products are continually changing (just like babies!), so we’re here to help you stay updated on the best and newest gear and gadgets for parents.
How to Reach Us
Have a product you want us to review? An idea you want us to cover for the site? Interested in writing for us? Don’t hesitate to reach out because we truly want to hear from you. (Get it?)
Email us at hello@trulymama.com.
Meet the Truly Mama Team
Chaunie Brusie, Content Manager
Chaunie is a mom of five and Registered Nurse turned writer, editor, and author. She specializes in parenting and health writing and her work has appeared everywhere from The New York Times to Glamour to Parents magazine. Chaunie lives in Michigan with her family on a small farm and she is as clichéd as possible when it comes to motherhood, right down to her preferred hairstyle (messy bun always), vehicle of choice (minivan, obviously), and hobbies (picking up throw pillows, forever trying to find a match for her children’s socks, and drinking coffee). See Chaunie’s articles here.
Kelly Burch, Writer
Kelly Burch is a writer and a mom of two living in New Hampshire. When she’s not behind her keyboard, she enjoys going on adventures with her daughters: hiking, biking and kayaking through their rural region. When she is at her keyboard, her Golden Retriever stares at her to let her know he would rather be walking in the woods. Last year Kelly’s family traveled the country by RV for seven months, visiting more than 17 national parks in 33 states. Kelly is currently writing a book about the trip, with a spinoff for younger kids.
Kelly often writes about the intersection of family with money, mental health and more. These topics draw on her personal experience. She is a primary caregiver for her diabled father, and a volunteer educator for the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Kelly is also a first-generation college student and homeowner. Her writting has appeared in Parents magazine, Oprah magazine, The Washington Post, Business Insider and more.You can follow her on Instagram at @writingburch, on Twitter or Facebook, and see all of her work with Truly Mama here.
Erin Heger, Writer
Erin is a freelance writer and a mom of two living in the Kansas City area. She primarily covers stories related to healthcare policy, maternal mental health, parenting and personal finance. Her work has been featured in the Atlantic, Rewire.News, Refinery29, Business Insider, HuffPost and more. Find her work with Truly Mama here.
Mary Sauer, Writer
Mary is a writer living in the Midwest and a mom of four young kids. Her work has been published with Healthline, Parade Magazine, Romper, and Vice. Find Mary’s work here.
Gretchen Bossio, Writer
Gretchen is a homeschooling mom from the Pacific Northwest. Writing has always been one of her favorite pastimes so she takes great joy in moonlighting as a freelance writer covering topics such as parenting, wellness, education, fashion, and travel. Find her work here.
Mandy Lange, Writer
Mandy is a writer and former teacher from Michigan. When she’s not hiking or homeschooling, she’s tracking down one of her three kids or iced coffee. Follow her work here.
Briana Meade, Writer
Briana Meade is a writer and mom of two (plus a Golden Retriever pup) living in Raleigh, NC. As a child, she grew up overseas and loves all things Thai — the food, culture, and people. One fun fact: She has been known to drink a half dozen Grapefruit Spindrifts (sparkling waters) a day. Her sparkling water addiction may be a problem, but it’s too soon to tell. Her daughter is a burgeoning tween and likes to use the words “quirky and weird” to describe her mom. Briana thinks her quirkiness is essential to her success as a freelancer, because it allows her to deep dive into random topics and come up with words to describe kids’ products. She loves writing for Truly Mama because she gets to put her “mom cap on” for mamas around the world. Find her work here.
Naomi Kaye, Writer
Naomi is originally from the US but lives with her husband and sons in Bavaria, Germany. Naomi has a background in creative writing, history and social work, and has been freelance writing for several years now for a wide variety of Internet and print publications. She’s written about topics ranging from parenting and travel to the environment and local cuisine (and has published the odd poem and short story as well). Some of her favorite things include snuggling up with a great book, yoga and dancing, hiking in the mountains and sipping on a hot beverage.
Katie Waite, Writer
Katie is a part-time literature teacher and full-time mom who lives in the DC/metro area with her husband, five unruly kids, and one well-behaved dog. Find her work here.
