Free Online Magazines for Parents

As a parent, I have always enjoyed getting information and inspiration from magazines. Between staying informed on the latest health issues to being introduced to new toys and clothes for my kids, I have been enriched by the pages of several quality parenting magazines over the years that have come to my mailbox.

However, there are limitations to print publications. With the increasing popularity of the internet, most articles and ads mention websites, which are helpful. But with my print magazines, I continually found myself at the computer, flipping through pages and trying to remember in which article I read about a specific website so that I could look it up and bookmark it for future use. However, reading online magazines marry the information with instant one-click access to websites, blogs, and online stores, which is quite convenient.

Now, I can get useful and fun information, right on my computer, through these free online parenting magazines. And when I come across a resource I want to use in the future, I simply click on the link and bookmark it. The magazines below are all free parenting magazines online, chock full of information that will both inform and inspire you.

lmnop Magazine
Lmnop stands for "laugh, make, nurture, organize, play," and its pages will introduce you to just that. This Australian online parenting magazine is issued quarterly in a PDF format, so you can either browse an issue online or download it to your computer and read it later. Its pages are filled with everything from inspiring kids' rooms, DIY crafts, cute clothes for babies and kids, birthday party ideas, recipes, and more. Many unique designers and websites are linked throughout the issue, introducing parents to a plethora of resources for shopping and inspiration. Don't worry about many of the companies being Australian (or British); they ship to the US, too. Just convert the currency with this currency converter site or download an app from Google, which you can link to your iGoogle page. That way, you'll know how much something costs before you buy.

Babiekins Magazine
Babiekins Magazine is a new, free, quarterly online magazine for parents of "the trendsetting child." Only on its second issue, this free parenting magazine is chock full of fun, trendy ideas and products for kids and the homes they live in. Even though Babiekins' is authored out of California, it has a truly international flair, with links to shops and blogs from many countries around the world. While the language barrier may be tough at first (the magazine itself is written in all English), all links have lots of pictures, making them fun to browse, even if you can't read the words. I love that I can glean inspiration from moms around the world, and I have found products in far-away places like the Netherlands and Brazil that are unique and special. (Again, checking with a currency converter first is always a good idea!) Overall, this magazine is a fun, artistic read, and a departure from typical parenting magazines.

Families Online Magazine
This online magazine for parents is a nice hybrid between magazine and informative website. Its articles are broken up into categories: Family Fun, Parenting, Health, Life and Style, Travel, Finance, School, and Community, so there's a wealth of information available on a wide variety of topics. Since it's not organized into a traditional "issue" like other online magazines, you can search for articles that directly relate to your interests, which can be a big time-saver if you're looking to read up on a particular topic. The articles are what you would expect from a more traditional parenting magazine without a lot of trendy products and art, but there's a lot of information for parents who like to learn and stay informed. All you have to do is create a log-in identity, and you have free access to all of its articles. While there are not issues to read through or download, this format allows you to read an article on-the-go from your laptop or mobile device, which is nice.

Grandparents Magazine
Grandparents Magazine is actually a free online magazine for grandparents, but parents too will find a wealth of resources within its pages. Although it's set up more like a website, there are lots of articles that you would expect from a traditional magazine, just a click or search away. Some content is definitely geared towards the unique issues grandparents face, which makes this a great resource for any web-savvy grandparents in your life. However, topics such as activities, city guides, coloring pages, gift ideas, and product reviews are great for parents, too. A free membership is simple: just create a unique log-in and you're free to browse all of the content on this site.