Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 1st May 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to The Parenting Patch. We're committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website at https://theparentingpatch.com.

By using our website, you agree to this privacy policy. If you don't agree, please don't use our site.

2. Who We Are

The Parenting Patch is the data controller responsible for your personal data collected through this website.

3. Information We Collect

We collect:

• Technical Data: Your IP address (which may be anonymized), browser type, operating system, device type, general geographic location, time zone, and referring website URLs. Collected by our hosting provider (Cloudflare) for operational purposes.
• Usage Data: Information about how you use our website (pages visited, time spent, links clicked). Collected by Google Analytics only with your consent.
• Identifier Data: With your consent, Google Analytics uses cookies to assign you a unique identifier to distinguish between visitors.

We don't collect personal data like your name or email unless you provide it directly (e.g., by emailing us).

4. How We Collect Information

We collect information automatically as you navigate our website:

• Basic technical data is logged by our hosting provider (Cloudflare).
• With your consent, we collect usage data, identifier data, and affiliate link interactions through Google Analytics and affiliate link functionality.

5. How and Why We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Operate and Maintain Our Website: Using technical data to ensure the website functions correctly and remains secure.
• Analyze and Improve Our Website: Using data collected by Google Analytics (only with your consent) to understand how visitors use our website and make improvements.

6. Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)

Our legal bases for processing your data are:

• Legitimate Interests: For processing basic technical data necessary to operate and secure our website.
• Consent: For using Google Analytics and for participating in affiliate programs.

You can withdraw your consent anytime without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website uses:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for website function and security (set by Cloudflare and our consent tool).
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (Google Analytics cookies like `_ga`, `_gid`) - only used with your explicit consent.
• Affiliate Links: Links to partner sites (like Amazon). If you click these links and visit the partner site, they may use cookies according to their own policies to track referrals.

8. Information Sharing

We don't sell your data. We share information with:

• Cloudflare: For hosting, security, and content delivery.
• Google Analytics: For website analytics (with your consent).
• Affiliate Partners (like Amazon): When you click affiliate links.
• Consent Management Provider: To store your privacy preferences.
• Legal Authorities: If required by law.

9. International Data Transfers

Our service providers (Google, Cloudflare, Amazon) may store data outside the UK/EEA. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through Adequacy Decisions or Standard Contractual Clauses.

10. Data Security

We use reasonable security measures including HTTPS/SSL encryption, but no online method is 100% secure.

11. Data Retention

We keep your data only as long as necessary:

• Cloudflare logs: Retained briefly for security and troubleshooting.
• Google Analytics data: Up to 14 months from your last activity
• Consent records: As required by law.

12. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

• Access your data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Restrict processing
• Object to processing
• Request data portability
• Withdraw consent
• Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): https://www.ico.org.uk/

Contact us to exercise these rights (except for managing cookie consent via our tool or complaining to the ICO).

13. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under 13 (or higher age thresholds where applicable). We don't knowingly collect data from children.

14. Links to Other Websites

Our site contains links to other websites. We're not responsible for their privacy practices. This policy applies only to our website.

15. Policy Updates

We may update this policy periodically. The latest version will be indicated by the "Last Updated" date.

16. Contact Us

For questions or to exercise your data rights:

Email: [email protected]