About us

About us

ParentData is a data-driven guide through pregnancy, parenthood, and beyond.

Founded and led by Emily Oster, ParentData translates the latest scientific research into answers to the questions you have in your daily life. We believe that knowing the facts can put you at ease. When you trust the data, you can better trust yourself — and have more confidence in your choices.

Child care? Sleep? Sex after kids? We have hundreds of articles to help you through every stage of the pregnancy and parenting journey. We aren’t here to tell you what to do; there are many right answers. Data can inform your decisions, but ultimately only you can make the right choice for your family.

And remember: no matter what you’re facing, you’re not alone. We dig up the numbers and stories so that you can see how many others have faced similar challenges.

Emily Oster

Founder and CEO

Emily is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions. After getting a PhD in economics from Harvard, she went on to pursue research in health economics and is now a professor of economics at Brown University. As a mom of two, Emily was inspired by her own pregnancy and the lack of clear information to guide her decisions. She decided to use her expertise in reviewing and analyzing data to help other parents navigate these topics. She is a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting BetterCribsheet, and The Family Firm. Her next book, The Unexpected, hits shelves in April 2024.

Meet the authors

Aliza Pressman

Developmental psychologist

Denisse Myrick

Community Manager

Erin O’Connor

Developmental Psychologist

Gillian Goddard

Endocrinologist, Author of Hot Flash

Audrey Russo

subscriber

Katie Davis

Clinical Psychologist

Kevin Maguire

Writer

Miranda Featherstone

Social Worker, Writer

Quantrilla Ard

Behavioral Scientist, Maternal and Infant Health Advocate

Rebekah Taussig

Writer, Educator

Sara Reardon

Pelvic Floor Therapist

Tatiana Schlossberg

Journalist

Frequently asked questions

How do I log in?

To access all of the features on ParentData, you will need to log in. First, sign up for a free account or purchase a paid subscription. You will not need to set up a password for your account. Instead, when you log in, you’ll receive an email (at the address associated with your subscription) with a magic link. Once you click that link, you’re logged in and can enjoy the website. If you run into any issues, you can email ask@parentdata.org.

How do I ask a question?

First, check to see if ParentData already has an answer to your question. The simplest way to do this is to ask Dewey, ParentData’s AI librarian. It will direct you to our most relevant articles and send us the question if you cannot find the answer. We hope it will save you time in finding the answers you’re looking for!

What is PregnantData?

PregnantData is a special paid newsletter series for readers going through pregnancy. To receive access, you can either opt in when you sign up for a paid ParentData subscription or else pay for one-off access to the 40-week series. When you sign up, you will share how many weeks pregnant you are. Then you’ll receive a newsletter every week until your due date with data-driven insights that are most relevant at each stage, including prenatal testing, sleeping positions, parental leave, and so much more. It’s the perfect companion to Expecting Better!

How can I listen to the podcast?

You can listen and subscribe to the ParentData podcast by searching for “ParentData with Emily Oster” in your favorite podcast app. The podcast brings Emily together with other experts to talk about some of the most complicated issues in pregnancy and parenting, from labor induction to food allergies to parenting through a divorce. It also features questions and stories from you, our listeners, reflecting how people are navigating these issues in real time. When you sign up for a paid subscription, you can listen to an ad-free version of the podcast. If you are already a paid subscriber and looking for the ad-free version, please email ask@parentdata.org.

Where can I buy Emily’s books?

You can find Emily’s books on pregnancy and parenting wherever books are sold and at Penguin Random House.

Do you work with brands or sponsors?

We are always open to talking with like-minded organizations and companies interested in working with ParentData — please email ask@parentdata.org.