Editorial Policy & How I Review

Last updated: February 17, 2026

Trust is the whole point of this site. If you don't trust what I'm telling you, then none of it matters. So I want to be completely transparent about how I choose products, how I score them, how the free tools work, how I handle affiliate links, and what would make me change a recommendation.

How I Choose Products

I either use a product in my own home before recommending it, or I research it extensively enough that I'm confident telling another parent to spend their money on it. "Extensively" means hours, not minutes. It means reading the actual certification documents, not just the marketing page.

Here's what my research process looks like for every product that ends up on this site:

• Hands-on testing when possible. The AquaTru sits on my counter. The Levoit runs in my kids' room. The Thinkbaby sunscreen goes on my kids' skin. If I'm recommending something for your family, I want to know how it actually performs in a real home, not just on a spec sheet.
• Cross-referencing multiple expert perspectives. I look at what the Weston A. Price Foundation recommends, what research has been discussed on Huberman Lab, what Rhonda Patrick has covered through FoundMyFitness, and what the American Academy of Pediatrics advises. These sources don't always agree, and that's the point. I present the different perspectives so you can decide for your family.
• Checking certifications. Marketing copy means nothing without independent verification. I look for NSF/ANSI certifications (42, 53, 58, 401, P473), WQA Gold Seal, MADE SAFE, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and GREENGUARD Gold. If a product claims to do something but doesn't have the certification to prove it, that's a red flag I'll call out.
• Verifying claims against primary sources. If a water filter claims to remove 99% of lead, I look for the actual NSF test report. If an article cites a health statistic, I trace it back to the EPA database, CDC report, or peer-reviewed study it came from. I don't take press releases at face value.

How I Score Products

Every full review on this site uses a 10-point scale. The overall score is based on four categories:

• Performance - Does it actually do what it claims? How well? How does it compare to alternatives in the same price range?
• Safety & Materials - What is it made of? Are there certifications? Are there any concerning chemicals, materials, or design choices?
• Ease of Use - How realistic is this for a busy parent? Is setup straightforward? Is maintenance reasonable? Will it collect dust in a closet after two weeks?
• Value - Not just the sticker price. I factor in filter replacement costs, electricity, longevity, and what you're getting compared to competitors.

These scores are my editorial judgment. There is no algorithm generating them. I weigh each category based on what I think matters most for the specific type of product. For a water filter, safety and performance matter more than ease of use. For a baby sunscreen, safety matters more than value. I explain my reasoning in each review so you can see whether my priorities match yours.

For context: a 9+ means I use it daily and recommend it without hesitation. A 7-8 means it's good with caveats I'll explain. Below 7, I probably wouldn't write a full review unless there's a specific reason to warn you about it (like the Berkey situation).

How the Free Tools Work

Every tool on this site pulls data from government agencies and scientific sources. None of them are based on my opinion. Here's what powers each one:

• Water Quality Lookup - Pulls violation data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). This is the same database the EPA uses to track which water systems are violating federal standards.
• Air Quality Index - Uses modeled data from Open-Meteo, which sources from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). These are forecasts based on atmospheric models, not necessarily readings from a monitor down the street.
• Pollen Count & UV Index - Also from Open-Meteo/CAMS. Same caveat: these are modeled forecasts. They're reliable for general planning but may differ from hyper-local conditions.
• Product Safety Score - Cross-references product ingredients against four hazard databases: California Proposition 65 (~900 chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm), IARC carcinogen classifications (~150 chemicals), ECHA Substances of Very High Concern (~240 EU-regulated chemicals), and TEDX endocrine disruptors (~300 chemicals). The score deducts points based on the severity of the hazard classification, with confirmed carcinogens (IARC Group 1) weighted more heavily than chemicals that are only suspected endocrine disruptors.
• Food Additive Scanner - Checks ingredients against a database of ~120 food additives with risk assessments, and calculates Nutri-Score (nutrition grade) and NOVA classification (processing level). Hazard list matches (Prop 65, IARC, ECHA) for specific additives are flagged directly.
• Pesticide Residue Lookup - Based on the EWG's annual Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen data, which comes from USDA pesticide residue testing.
• Baby Food Heavy Metals - Based on heavy metal testing data from the Congressional Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy reports on baby food contamination.

Important data limitations I want you to know about:

• The EPA doesn't test for everything. There are contaminants in tap water (like PFAS in many systems) that the EPA doesn't yet regulate or require testing for.
• Air quality and pollen models give regional estimates. Your block may differ from conditions a few miles away, especially near highways, construction, or agricultural areas.
• Hazard databases are updated periodically, not in real time. A chemical could be added to Prop 65 before our database reflects it. I refresh these databases monthly.
• A product scoring well on the safety tool doesn't mean it's been tested by me personally. It means the listed ingredients didn't match anything in our hazard databases. Ingredients not on any hazard list aren't necessarily safe; they may simply not have been studied yet.

Affiliate Links & Monetization

I use affiliate links. I want to be upfront about exactly how that works.

When you click a product link on this site and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. This is how I keep the site running and all the tools free. Currently I participate in the Amazon Associates program and am exploring direct affiliate programs with brands where those offer better terms.

Here is how affiliate links do and don't influence what you see on this site:

• The recommendation always comes first. I decide what to recommend based on research, testing, and certifications. Then I check whether that product has an affiliate program. Not the other way around.
• I recommend products that don't have affiliate links. If the best option for your family is a product I can't earn a commission on, I'll still tell you about it. You'll see this in my articles where I mention products like Aquasana that I haven't set up affiliate links for.
• Affiliate links are disclosed. Links marked with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links. Every page with affiliate links includes an inline disclosure near the link and a disclosure in the footer.
• I don't do sponsored content. No brand has paid me to write a review or article. No brand has editorial input on what I publish. No brand has seen a review before it goes live.
• I don't do paid placements. Product positioning on the site is based on what I think is most helpful, not who pays the most.

What Would Change a Recommendation

A review on this site is not set in stone. Here's what would make me update or reverse a recommendation:

• New safety data. If a product gets recalled, fails a certification renewal, or new research reveals a health concern, I'll update the review immediately and note what changed. The Berkey review is an example. When the EPA issued a stop-sale order, I covered it directly.
• Product reformulation or quality decline. If a company changes its formula, materials, or manufacturing and the product is no longer what I originally reviewed, I'll update accordingly.
• A better alternative becomes available. The product landscape changes. If something comes along that outperforms a current recommendation at the same price point, I'll note it in the existing review and write a new one.
• Consistent user feedback. If multiple readers report the same issue (a filter failing early, a product arriving damaged repeatedly, customer service problems), I'll investigate and update the review.

When I update a review, I note the update date at the top and explain what changed and why.

Sources & Citation Standards

I hold myself to specific standards on how I cite information. This is what separates real research from content that just sounds authoritative:

• I name specific studies, not "studies show." If I cite research, you'll see enough detail to find it yourself: the agency, the year, the specific finding. "Studies show" with no citation is a red flag on any site, and I try to never do it on mine.
• I link to primary sources where possible. If I reference EPA data, I link to the EPA. If I reference a specific NSF certification, I point you to where you can verify it.
• I distinguish between "associated with" and "causes." These are not the same thing, and the difference matters. An ingredient that's "associated with" health effects in epidemiological studies is not the same as one that's been proven to cause those effects in controlled trials. I'm careful with this language.
• I note when evidence is preliminary or contested. Not every health topic has a clear consensus. When something is still being debated, I'll tell you that rather than presenting one side as settled fact.
• I use "as of" qualifiers on regulatory information. Prop 65 lists, EPA regulations, and certification statuses can all change. I include dates so you know when the information was current.
• I use "reported as" language for expert perspectives. When I reference something discussed by Rhonda Patrick, Andrew Huberman, or the Weston A. Price Foundation, I present it as their reported perspective, not as established medical fact. Different experts interpret the evidence differently, and I want you to have that context.

A Note on Health Information

Everything on this site is educational. I'm a mom who does a lot of research, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice, and nothing here should replace a conversation with your pediatrician or healthcare provider.

I go deep on topics like water contaminants, air quality, food additives, and product safety because I believe parents deserve access to this information. But applying it to your specific family's situation is a conversation between you and your doctor.

For the full legal version, see the Disclaimer.

Questions?

If you have questions about how I review products, how a tool works, or how I handle anything described on this page, I genuinely want to hear from you.

Email: hello@thoughtfulmom.com