Mum’s Grapevine Pregnancy & Baby Facebook Group Rules

The Mum’s Grapevine Pregnancy and Baby Facebook Groups are a safe, warm, friendly, positive and inclusive place for mums to meet and ask as many questions as you like and watch our babies as they grow together.

We welcome mums of all nationalities, religions, ethnicities and sexual orientations, and as a member of a Mum’s Grapevine group, you too agree to be inclusive.

1. Be kind

Write from a place of kindness. Don’t post just to cause controversy. Be polite. Don’t be judgey. Any bullying or abuse of members results in immediate removal.

2. Advertising/Spam

Don’t spam the group with self-promotion or DM members soliciting (incl. influencer Insta accounts) or conduct any form of market research for your business or blog. If you want to promote your business in this group email sales@mumsgrapevine.com.au

3. External linking

Do not post competitions (unless it’s a Mum’s Grapevine comp), GoFundMe or crowdfunding campaigns, coupons, vouchers, research projects, voting campaigns, jobs, discount codes.

4. No buying or selling

Don’t put any of your own items for sale into the group, or ask if anyone is selling a particular item.

5. Privacy

No screenshotting and sharing of any posts outside of this group. Anyone found to be doing this will be removed and blocked. Admin reserves the right to remove any member from the group if we believe that it is in the best interest of the group

6. Medical diagnosis

Do not offer or ask for a medical diagnosis, the only person that can diagnose a medical issue is a qualified medical practitioner. Don’t rely on the medical advice of members.

7. Nudity

Please be mindful of what you post. Poonami’s are funny but photos showing genitalia are not allowed, and are flagged by Facebook.

8. No circumcision debate

You cannot ask for another person’s opinion on circumcision. This is a discussion to have with a medical professional.

9. No vaccination debates

Whether you’re pro or anti-vax, this is not the group for debating the issue.

10. Creating spin-off groups

You cannot use the Mum’s Grapevine group to increase members to your own group. Also, do not create any spinoff groups with the name ‘Mum’s Grapevine’ – this is a registered trademark.

At Mum’s Grapevine:

We support vaccination.
We support mums who breastfeed.
We support mums who don’t breastfeed.
We support mums who bottle-feed.
We support mums who don’t bottle-feed.
We support mums who baby wear.
We support mums who don’t baby wear.
We support mums who use disposable nappies.
We support mums who use cloth nappies.
We support mums who circumcise their babies.
We support mums who don’t circumcise their babies.
We support mums who pierce their baby’s ears.
We support mums who don’t pierce their baby’s ears.
We support mums who do baby led weaning.
We support mums who don’t do baby led weaning.
We support mums who go to sleep school.
We support mums who don’t go to sleep school.
We support mums who follow a newborn baby routine.
We support mums who don’t follow a newborn baby routine.
We support mums who get no sleep.
We support mums who get lots of sleep.
We support mums who need coffee.
We support mums who need tea.

You get the picture. Mum’s Grapevine is inclusive of all mums and supports every parent’s right to raise their children as they see fit. And we want you to be as well.

Let me explain this further so you’re completely clear on our expectations of you as a member of this group. If you, as a parent, give your child four red jellybeans every night, that’s great. If you, as a parent, don’t give your child four red jellybeans every night, that’s great too. But if you start telling all the other parents they must give their children four red jellybeans every night, that’s not supporting everyone’s right to raise their children as they see fit and is not ok.

Things we have zero tolerance for include:

– racism
– judgement
– microagression
– bullying
Mum’s Grapevine speaks from the heart with truth and integrity
Mum’s Grapevine provides a safe space for first-time mums to learn and grow
Mum’s Grapevine supports diversity and embraces everyone’s right to raise their children as they see fit.

FAQs

Q: Can I ask for medical advice?

No.
What we mean specifically is you can’t ask for a diagnosis. If your question starts with “is it safe”, “can I take”, “does this look normal”, you’re probably asking for medical advice. Mum’s Grapevine promises to provide a safe space and we can’t do that if members are offering unqualified medical advice to each other.

Examples of things you can’t ask:

  • For a diagnosis. If you think bub has cradle cap/baby acne/eczema/infected toenail etc, first get a diagnosis then you can ask what other mums are doing for relief.
  • If your baby’s movements in utero are ‘normal’. Stop what you are doing and seek medical advice. What is normal for one mum is not for another.
  • Posting a picture of your baby’s nappy rash or other rash. Rashes can be serious so please don’t ask for a diagnosis from a group, seek medical attention. If you have been diagnosed with nappy rash you can ask what other mums have tried to treat it (without an image!).

Our moderators are instructed to take down questions asking for a diagnosis for the safety of everyone in the group.

Q. Can I talk/vent/discuss immunisation or vaccination?

No.
Over the years we have seen many discussions on this topic flare up and head into a space that is no longer helpful, supportive or safe (see red jellybean discussion above). So I have decided put a total ban on any should I or shouldn’t I immunise/vaccinate discussions. While we understand this is a passionate topic, it’s one that’s best discussed with a medical professional.

Q: Can I vent about my in-laws/mum/cousin not getting their whooping cough vaccination before visit bub?

No.
We have a total ban on any immunisation/vaccination discussions (see above).

Q: Is it ok if I post a code so other members can get free shipping or a discount on this item?

No.
The only discount codes that can be shared within the group are those shared by Mum’s Grapevine. It’s simply to protect members, as we know our codes have been verified as genuine.

Q: Can I ask people to vote on my photo/baby’s photo/for my cousin’s sister’s friend in a competition?

No.

Q: Can I share my blog/Instagram account/website in the group?

No
Unfortunately not. If you’re interested in promoting yourself, please contact our dedicated sales team sales@mumsgrapevine.com.au.

Q: Can I share a GoFundMe or crowdfunding link?

No
While we understand some of these causes are very worthwhile, we cannot verify the authenticity of campaigns.

Q: Can I share competitions?

No, unless they are from Mum’s Grapevine (we have lots of amazing comps).

Q: Can I tag my partner in a post in the group?

No
The group is closed so you can only tag people within the group. Anyone you tag outside of the group won’t see it.

Q: Can I offer my open can of formula/unused medication to other group members for free?

No
That just doesn’t sound safe at all.

Q: Can I invite my male partner to the group?

No
We are providing a safe space for mums and have decided that we will not allow men within the groups. If you spot a male member please tag a moderator.

Q: What if I see a post I don’t like?

The best and most efficient way to get our attention is to report the post.

Q. Can I create another group and ask members from the Mum’s Grapevine group to join it?

No
You cannot use the Mum’s Grapevine group to increase members to your own group. Also, do not create any spinoff groups with the name ‘Mum’s Grapevine’. Mum’s Grapevine is a registered trademark. While you may only know our business as these groups there is a very large and successful online publishing company behind them.