Parent blogging has become so popular – and SO competitive! – that there are various awards now that the best and brightest British Mummy and Daddy Bloggers can bag. Bloggers who win can then proudly display the badge on their website that proclaims they are one of the best in this growing business. 
And it is not just the kudos that comes amongst one’s peers that you’ve been chosen as one of the most informative and best written mummy or daddy bloggers around. On a serious ‘business’note, blogs that do gain these awards can be more attractive to advertisers who will pay to advertise on them, have a product reviewed by the blogger or be invited to PR receptions where mums and dads might be given samples of the latest toys or clothes. So there is a lot at stake.
At The Magazine we are constantly amazed by the amount of effort put into some of these blogs. Even if you are not a blogger it’s worth having a look at these finalists as in our minds they are all due awards for the sheer amount of time they clearly spend hours making these blogs such a great read. Considering parent bloggers are busy with their young families, the time and effort that must also go into taking some of the amazing photos, thinking up the most incredible recipes or craft work deserves to be credited.
And this week the finalists have been announced in the third annual MAD Blog Awards, celebrating the best and brightest British Mummy and Daddy blogs.
More than 50,000 nominations were received in the awards, but just 70 finalists will be invited to attend the gala awards ceremony to be held in London in September, hosted by awards sponsors Parentdish.
Over the next month, blog readers will be invited to vote on the shortlisted finalists at the MAD Blog Awards website (www.the-mads.com), while an independent judging panel will decide the winner of the prestigious MAD Blogger of the Year award.
Parent bloggers represent a hugely influential online community, and the finalists have a combined audience of more than 500,000 readers a week. A full list of categories and finalists is below, and case studies are available on request.
Sally Whittle, founder of the MAD Blog Awards, said: “The MAD Blog Awards are a celebration of the wonderful things parent bloggers are achieving in the UK. Bloggers are driving international charity campaigns, making big corporations sit up and take notice, and finding new ways to earn a living. But most of all parent blogs are about sharing stories, and bringing people together.”
Tamsin Kelly, editor of Parentdish.co.uk, said: “Parentdish.co.uk is proud to sponsor the MAD Blog Awards, for the second year running. Once again, we’ve been amazed by the quality and diversity of the nominated blogs, and we’re really excited to see what happens next.”
The finalists for the MAD Blog Awards 2012 are:
MAD Blog of the Year, sponsored by Parentdish
Adventures of an Unfit Mother
Frugal In Cornwall
Northern Mum
A Patch of Puddles
Slugs on the Refrigerator
MAD Blog Post of the Year
Family Budgeting
Chickens in Peckham
Mammy Woo
Patch of Puddles
Susan K Mann
Best Family Travel Blog
A Bavarian Sojourn
It’s a Small World
Jenography
Mummy Travels
Mum’s Gone to…
Best MAD Baby Blog
All Baby Advice
Diary of a First Child
Mummy Limited…
Diary of a Premmy …
Stay At Home Mum Loving It
Best MAD Blog Photography
The AR Blog
The Boy and Me
Dear Beautiful Boy
Slugs on the Refrigerator
This Mummy Loves…
Best MAD Blog Writer
Mummy, Daddy and Me Makes Three
Mammywoo
Northern Mum
Susan K Mann
You Can Take Her Home Now
Best MAD Craft Blog
Rainy Day Mum
Lulastic
Red Ted Art
Slugs on the Refrigerator
The Imagination Tree
Best MAD Family Life Blog
Adventures of an Unfit Mother
Mummy, Daddy and Me Makes Three
Northern Mum
Makeshift Mummy
Susan K Mann
Best MAD Family Fun Blog
Coombe Mill
Grenglish
Multiple Mummy
The Five Fs
Red Ted Art
Best MAD Food Blog
Bangers and Mash
The Crazy Kitchen
Frugal In Cornwall
Maison Cupcake
Relentless Laundry
Best MAD Home Blog
Frugal In Cornwall
Growing Spaces
Love Chic Living
Violet Posy
The White Approach
Best MAD Schooldays Blog
Actually Mummy
The Five Fs
Northern Mum
Thinly Spread
Science Sparks
Best MAD Small Business Blog
Bizzy Mum
Coombe Mill
The Kiddy Charts
Little Sheep Learning
The Mummy Whisperer (Pictured Right)
Best MAD Fashion Blog
The Baby Wears Prada
Cocomamastyle
The Fashion Detective
Geek Is The New Chic
Transatlantic Blonde
Best MAD Thrifty Blog
Baby Budgeting
The Diary of a Frugal Family
Frugal In Cornwall
Lulastic
Mortgage Free in Three
Best Mad New Blog
The Baby Wears Prada
Dorky Mum
I Want My Mummy
Mammasaurus
Not My Year Off
Best Pregnancy Blog
Diary of a First Child
Edspire
Me the Man and the Baby
More Than Toast
Heather, Stay At Home Mum
Most Helpful MAD Blogger
Typecast
Mammasaurus
Mummy, Daddy and Me Makes Three
Mummy Tips
Susan K Mann
Most Inspirational MAD Blog
A Boy with Asperger’s
I Want My Mummy
Mammywoo
A Patch of Puddles
Savette Gazette
Most Innovative MAD Blog
Geek Mummy
Typecast
Love All Blogs
Mammasaurus
Science Sparks
