Editorial policy

Effective date: 12 January 2026

Applies to: All articles and content published on the Water Babies blog (including text, images, videos, downloadable resources and embedded content).

At Water Babies, we’re committed to publishing helpful, accurate and trustworthy content for parents, carers and anyone interested in baby and child swimming. This policy explains who creates our blog content, how we review safety guidance, how updates are made, and how we handle corrections so you can feel confident in what you read and share.

1) Our purpose and principles

Our blog exists to:

• Support parents and carers with practical, evidence-informed guidance related to baby and child swimming, confidence in water, and early years development.
• Share Water Babies expertise and experience in teaching young children in the water.
• Provide clear, inclusive and accessible content that is easy to understand.

We follow these principles:

• Safety first: water safety and child wellbeing are at the heart of our content.
• Accuracy and clarity: we aim to explain topics in plain language and avoid unnecessary jargon.
• Transparency: we explain who wrote the content and how it was reviewed.
• Respect and inclusion: we strive to reflect diverse families, experiences and needs.
• Privacy: we protect personal data and do not publish identifiable information about children without appropriate consent.

2) Who writes Water Babies blog posts

Water Babies blog content may be created by:

a) Water Babies editorial team

Articles are typically commissioned, edited and published by our in-house editorial team (for example, marketing and communications), who:

• plan and manage the content calendar,
• brief writers,
• edit for clarity, tone, accessibility and brand consistency,
• ensure policy compliance (including safety and safeguarding checks).

b) Subject matter experts (SMEs)

We may publish articles written or co-written by Water Babies professionals and specialists, such as:

• swimming teachers and tutors,
• aquatics/safety specialists,
• early years professionals,
• qualified external experts (e.g., child health, development, safeguarding, or water safety specialists).

c) Guest contributors

From time to time, we may publish content from guest writers. Guest content is commissioned and edited by Water Babies and must meet the same standards as all other posts.

Authorship and accountability

• Author bylines show individual names.
• Where relevant, we may also include the author’s role and credentials to help readers understand their expertise.
• Some articles, especially those containing safety-critical guidance may also include a reviewer credit to reflect additional sign-off.

3) How we develop and review content

Editorial standards

Every post is reviewed before publication to ensure it is:

• accurate and aligned with current guidance,
• clear and accessible,
• consistent with Water Babies tone of voice,
• respectful and appropriate for families,
• compliant with applicable advertising and consumer standards (where relevant).

Fact-checking and sources

When we reference statistics, public guidance or research, we aim to:

• use reputable sources (for example, official public bodies, recognised charities, or peer-reviewed research),
• link to primary sources where possible,
• avoid overstating evidence or making unverified claims.

4) Safety guidance review (our “safety-first” process)

Because our audience includes babies and young children, we take extra care with content that involves:

• water safety, drowning prevention, supervision, pool rules,
• baby/child health, wellbeing, development milestones,
• guidance that could be interpreted as medical or clinical advice.

Enhanced review for safety-critical content

Posts that include safety-critical guidance undergo an enhanced review process that may include:

• review by an internal Water Babies subject matter expert,
• review for clarity and safe interpretation (so guidance is realistic, age-appropriate and clearly explained),
• updates to ensure the content remains aligned with current best practice.

Safety-critical sign-off: All safety-critical content must be signed off by either the Aquatics Director or the Head of Pools & Facilities prior to publication.

Not medical advice

Our blog content is for general information and does not replace personalised advice from a qualified professional. If a post touches on health concerns, we encourage readers to speak to a healthcare professional for individual guidance.

Safeguarding and child protection

We will not publish content that:

• could endanger children,
• encourages unsafe supervision practices,
• shares identifying details of children without consent,
• breaches safeguarding expectations.

5) Updates and ongoing maintenance

We’re committed to keeping our content current and useful.

When we update articles

We may update a blog post when:

• safety guidance, best practice or public advice changes,
• we add new information, resources or clarifications,
• we improve readability, accessibility or structure,
• we correct errors.

How updates are shown

When material changes are made, we may:

• update the “Last updated” date on the article,
• add a brief note such as “Updated on [date] to reflect latest guidance on…” for transparency,
• retain the original publish date where relevant.

Review cadence

We aim to review:

• safety-critical evergreen content periodically (for example, annually or sooner if guidance changes),
• seasonal content (e.g., “summer water safety”) ahead of the relevant season,
• high-traffic articles more frequently.

6) Corrections policy (how we handle errors)

We take accuracy seriously. If we discover an error, we act quickly and transparently.

What counts as a correction?

• Minor edits: spelling, grammar, formatting, or small clarifications that do not change meaning.
• Substantive corrections: factual errors, incorrect interpretation of guidance, misleading wording, or anything that could affect safety or decision-making.

How we correct content

Minor edits may be made without a formal note. Substantive corrections are updated as soon as possible and may include:

• an on-page correction note (e.g., “Correction: [what changed] on [date]”),
• updates to the “Last updated” date,
• removal or replacement of content that could pose a safety risk.

If you spot an error

We welcome feedback. Please email:

marketing@waterbabies.ca

Subject line suggestion: Blog correction request

Please include:

• the article title and link,
• the section you’re referring to,
• what you believe is incorrect and why (including a source if you have one).

Acknowledgement timeframe: We aim to acknowledge correction requests within 5 working days and, where appropriate, correct the content as soon as reasonably possible.

7) Commercial content and transparency

Where we reference Water Babies services, partnerships, or products:

• we aim to be clear and transparent,
• we do not allow paid promotions that conflict with child safety or wellbeing,
• we label sponsored or affiliate content where applicable.

8) Accessibility and inclusive language

We aim to make our content usable for as many readers as possible by:

• writing in plain English,
• using descriptive headings and readable formatting,
• adding alt text to images where appropriate,
• avoiding assumptions about family structure, gender, or circumstances.

9) Contact and governance

This policy is owned by the Water Babies editorial team and is reviewed periodically.

Editorial contact (corrections and feedback): marketing@waterbabies.ca

Policy review frequency: annually

Last reviewed: 12 January 2026