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Mamapedia offers real advice for real moms

Posted Oct 2, 2009 by Beth Gaddis

Updated Oct 2, 2009 at 01:32 PM

New to the area?  New to motherhood?  Or just have a question you wish you could throw out to somebody other than your Facebook friends?

Check out the new Mamapedia Web site.  The Mamasource spin-off launched in May and is expanding to include users and information for cities across the nation.  It’s addictiveness comes from the ability to ask questions and get support and answers from a wide variety of parents.

“I love how you can look up a topic and find all the conversations that happened about that,” said Gisele Lewis, who gave birth to a baby girl in February.  She and her family just moved to Temple Terrace two months ago.

“For somebody who just moved here, it’s a huge benefit,” she said. “I’ve been looking for Tampa doctors and it’s a relief to find tons of information about that.”

She’s also mining the site to find information about babysitters, day cares and schools in the area.  And she surfs the site to find information about things going on with her daughter now – such as introducing solid foods – and for information on topics she knows she’ll face in the future.

“One thing I find myself doing is reading the suggested topics posted at the bottom of the page,” Lewis said. “I get addicted to that and I find that really fun.  It accidentally prepares me for things that will happen.”

A quick check of the site on Friday showed these hot discussions: school fundraiser ideas, getting kids to care about academics, dealing with Halloween fears, and tips on staying organized, including cleaning up that cluttered Tupperware cabinet.

Another local mom uses the site to advertise her business. Maggie Blatt lives in South Tampa and home schools her three children: Amber, who turns 8 this weekend, 5-year-old Jasmine, and 2-year-old Logan. 

She also runs wheelsoflight.org, which features advice and products for homeopathic healing and natural childbirth. 

She has also searched the site for content, including ideas for her kids’ birthday parties.

“What I like about it is you have real people responding to real questions and you’re getting all sides of the coin,” Blatt said.

Click here to check out the site.