Help selecting a magazine to subscribe to.

[dietre_g]

Hello-

I have never posted in this forum, but I am hoping to subscribe to a parenting magazine this year. The only ones that I really know about are "Parents" and "Child" which are published by the same group, I think. Any suggestions or endorsements?? My DS is 9 mos...

Dietre F.
Mom to Evan Gregory
Born 3.15.05
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif
http://lilypie.com/baby1/060315/1/6/1/-5/.png

[kensjen]

If I could only get one magazine, it would most definitely be Brain, Child. It is great!!

[dr mom]

It's definitely a step above the other parenting magazines. I find the writing to be more thoughtful and there is less commercial emphasis.

Personally, I'm turned off by American Baby, Parents and Parenting magazine, which tend to run the same articles over and over and over, but rarely provide new content. Instead, it's pieces like "5 ways to get your child to sleep through the night/share with others/use the potty" or "7 tips for making great family meals/getting your husband to help with the baby/getting your figure back." Just not my style, I guess. And most of the freebies (American Baby is one of the worst offenders) publish blatant ads disguised as articles which are essentially lists of the "100 Great New Toys That You Simply Must Run Right Out And Buy," most of which are (surprise, surprise) manufactured by their primary advertisers.

Another consideration is that you will almost certainly find most of the "mainstream" parenting magazines in your pediatrician's waiting room, so you can read them there for free and save your money for a different subscription at home. ;)

[Melanie]

I like Mothering.

[kijip]

Brain, Child.

I, like a pp am SICK AND TIRED of the Parents/Child/Parneting/American Baby ones. Seriously, it is the same magazine month in and moth out. Get some old copies from the library and save your money.

For non-parenting I am grooving in The Week. Which is the only way my mommy self can keep up with the news!

[kelly ann]

I love The Week. I actually got a 4 year subscription for about $4! DH thought it would be a terrible magazine since I got it at a steal, but it was a pleasant surprise.

My favorite part is the house steal of the week :)

[BaileyBea]

I like Mothering, but I haven't read Brain, Child. I am going to go find a copy tomorrow. It's got me curious. I also like Mom & Baby by Fit Pregnancy.

I will say nothing but bad things about Parenting, Parents, and American Baby. Not because of the articles or the material but because of how they have treated me. Like billing me when I have paid and then having collection companies call me even though I PAID when I sent in the subscription and the check cleared. I think their subscription house just forgot to credit my account and I keep getting billed for magazines I already paid for. I've writing a lot of letters but haven't gotten one response. It's been so frustrating. American Baby gave me a FREE one year subscription and i got billed for the free subscription last month. As they say there is no such thing as FREE.

[lisams]

Another vote for Mothering!

[kijip]

>I love The Week. I actually got a 4 year subscription for
>about $4! DH thought it would be a terrible magazine since I
>got it at a steal, but it was a pleasant surprise.

HOW!? Where do I get cheap subscriptions?

[MarisaSF]

>HOW!? Where do I get cheap subscriptions?

I just went through ebates to magazines.com and got 25% rebate on The New Yorker.
The Week is on there too. Not as good as $4 though! wow!

I basically came to this thread to rec Brain, Child. It's onot n magazines dot com, but you can get group discounts if you subscribe with friends (and there are often moms here who organize co-ops). Wink, wink, if you're due for a renewal and want to organize a co-op, PLEASE let me know! ;)

[kaylinsmommy2]

Hey, me, too. I think we need 4 friends for a group discount? Anyone else? I volunteer to call them .

"ma meee" "mama" and, occasionally, when she's ... confused :"dada" to Kaylin 6/5/04

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[dietre_g]

I would love to get in on the co-op! THank you everyone for the advice - I am excited to try Brain,
Child and Mothering.

Dietre F.
Mom to Evan Gregory
Born 3.15.05
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif
http://lilypie.com/baby1/060315/1/6/1/-5/.png

[nov02mom]

I would love to get in on this!!! Looks like a cool mag!

[ribbit1019]

Count me in if you do it! I am sick of Parenting!!

Christy
Maddy born 6/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
Little Man due 3/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/cKLom4/.png
Co-Owner Ribbit Baby

[Corie]

Here is a brand new magazine that is debuting in
February 2006. Thought it looks interesting. It is from
the editors of Family Fun magazine. The magazine quote says
"Celebrate your child's love of learning".

I will probably try it out! (since I'm addicted to magazines!)


www.wondertime.com

[redhookmom]

My favorite magazines are Mothering and Brain,Child. I also like Family Fun. FF has good ideas for birthday parties, crafts, rainy day activities.
In the Zine category I like Hip Mama and Mamalicious.

[kristenk]

If you have room for one more in the co-op, I'd love to try out Brain, Child! I meant to for the last co-op, but forgot until it was too late.

[cmo]

Count me in on a Brain, Child co-op! I bought a copy last month at Whole Foods (the first time I had seen the magazine anywhere), and thought it was great! Even DH peeked at an article or two and liked it.

Chris

[kelly ann]

I think I bought The Week here when it was a Deal of the Day about a year ago...

http://www.bestdealmagazines.com/

[Karenn]

I liked either Parents or Parenting that first year. It got kind of old after that- rather repetitive.

I subscribed to Brain Child and enjoyed it too. It's not "fluffy" like a lot of magazines, and I know that's the appeal for a lot of people. Honestly though, I just don't really feel like it's in the "magizine" category. In my mind, it's a lot more like a literary journal for mothers. Not bad, but if you're expecting Redbook for moms, this isn't it.

Also, if you're interested in the magazine "Child", this website is offering a good deal. [http://www.magazinepricesearch.com/under5.html] I can't personally vouch for the company, but I think there are others here that have ordered from them.

[The Review Mommy]

I think I want in. DH. How much is the discount? :)

Rebekah

[o_mom]

What do you want out of a magazine?

For general reading, mainstream mags, Parents, Parenting and Child fit the bill. I do get a bit irritated with some of their advice, but alot of their article are fairly informative, if a bit tipped toward the medical and parenting mainstream. You won't find tons of extended breastfeeding/AP/organic-only/anit-vax/insert-your-non-mainstream-idea-here type articles, though they do touch on them occasionally. I use it more as a reminder - like "Oh, yes, I remember reading that in a book somewhere, but baby brain has made me forget until now, thank you for the reminder." They also have pictures of toys and gear with reviews that I like.

For Craft ideas, Family Fun is great, but most of the crafts aren't good for kids until age 2. There are still tons of ideas for you to make and will make a good reference later.

For more philosophical stuff - Brain, Child.

If you are very crunchy, Mothering would be good. I found it a bit judgemental and condescending at times, and we are mildly crunchy.

[TraciG]

I'd like in to, never even saw the magazine but since everyone's loves it I'd like to also try it !

Parent's is always the same every month !