What is the Hot List?

The Hot List is a place for moms to find and share interesting thing on the Web. Moms can "bump" submitted items that they think are interesting and that other moms would appreciate. The more bumps an item gets, the more likely it will be to end up on the Popular tab of the Hot List.

How do I find things to read on the Hot List?

A good place to start is the Hot List front page. This is where the most interesting items (as voted by other moms) can be found. The front page changes often, so it's good to check it frequently.

You can also click into any of the subcategories (current events, parenting, health, entertainment, recalls & alerts, offbeat) to see the most popular items within these categories.

If an item catches your eye, you can click on it to view the comments other moms have written about it and you'll also find a link to full the original story in case you want to read it. And of course, you can also leave a comment with your thoughts.

What kinds of things can I submit to the Hot List?

Pretty much anything you can link to on the Web that fits into one of the Hot List's categories.

Currently the categories are:

• Current Events
• Parenting
• Health
• Entertainment
• Recalls & Alerts
• Offbeat

You can submit serious new stories, funny blog posts, an amazing photo, an important recall alert, a poignant journal post — these are just a few examples of the kinds of things you can submit (and find) on the Hot List.

How exactly do I submit something to the Hot List?

It's easy. Just click the "Submit Item" button at the top of the page and then follow the steps to submit your url and add some additional information to your submission.

If you're reading a CafeMom journal post, group post, or article on another site that has a Hot List button, just click this button to submit the item and then follow the instructions to add a few more bits of information to your submission.

To submit an item now, click here.

How does voting work on the Hot List?

If you like something you read on the Hot List and think other moms will find it interesting, you should "bump" it. A bump is a positive vote for something. The number of bumps is an important factor in determining which items appear on the Popular tab of the Hot List.

To bump something, simply click the "Bump" button next to the item's title.

Also, don't forget to check the Recent sections to see the most recently submitted items. You determine which stories make it the Popular tab with your votes, so check often and vote often.

What should I do if I find something that shouldn't be on the Hot List?

If you come across an item on the Hot List that is miscategorized, inappropriate, spam or a duplicate, you can "flag" it. To flag something, just click the "Flag It" link in the item's summary then select your reason for flagging it. Flag items are less likely to make it onto the Popular page of the Hot List and may be reviewed by CafeMom.

Why aren't the items with the most bumps on the front page?

There are multiple factors that go into determining which items make it to the Popular tab, including the number of bumps, number of flags, and the people who voted for the item. We can't tell you exactly what goes on behind the scenes, but trust that we are constantly making changes to ensure that the most interesting things to the most moms make it on the Popular tab.

Can I remove or edit an item I've submitted?

To be fair to the moms who are investing time to vote and comment on items, we do not allow you to remove your listings. You may edit your submission if it has less than 3 bumps. After that, you can no longer make edits because it's part of the Hot List system and moms have already read it and voted on it.

What is the difference between the "Popular" and "Recent" tabs?

There are "Popular" and "Recent" sections in each Hot List category, as well as for the Hot List overall. The Popular tab contains the items that we've determined are the most interesting to moms based on the voting by other moms. The Recent tab shows a list of the most recently submitted items — you can read these and bump them if you like them. Only items with at least 3 Bumps can appear on the Popular tab.

Can I share an item with my friends that I read on the Hot List?

Of course. At the bottom of each item summary, you'll see a link that says "Share." Just click this link to email the item to someone who you think would appreciate it.

My story doesn't fit into one the current categories? Will you be adding more categories?

Based on demand, we may add additional categories in the future. If there is one you'd like to see, you can use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page to send us your suggestion.

Who can see what I'm submitting, commenting on, and bumping on the Hot List?

Your submissions, comments, and bumps on the Hot List are public and can be viewed by everyone.