3 Must-Have Apps for New Parents

I found it to be hilarious when I asked my mom for advice on items to put on my baby registry and she replied: “Girl, ask some of your friends because things have changed since I last had a baby.” She was right. There are so many new products and gadgets, and let’s not forget the all-encompassing wealth of knowledge that is Google.

As parents in this new age of technology, we have so much at our fingertips. We don’t have to solely rely on parenting books and Lamaze classes for information. We have access right in the palms of our hands.

When I took my mom’s advice and asked a few of my new-parent friends, I found that many of them parent with the assistance of apps. I’d seen posts comparing baby fetuses to sizes of fruits and vegetables but I didn’t know that there were apps for new parents that could assist in breastfeeding, diaper changes, and development. Since I was fortunate to learn this information, I thought I’d share with you all my three favorite must-have apps for new parents. You know, just in case your parents tell you to ask your friends.

Must-Have Apps for New Parents

#1: The Bump

Here’s one of those apps that I mentioned earlier that gives you weekly updates on your baby’s size in reference to a fruit or vegetable. I will say, it didn’t completely register in the beginning that I’d be toting a belly with a watermelon-sized baby inside until it actually happened! Not only is this app for new parents helpful when you’re wanting to know exactly when your baby is growing fingernails and when he’s forming lanugo (“the first hair”), it also let’s you know what to expect during milestone prenatal doctor visits.

This app isn’t just for those days when baby is in utero. Once your little one arrives, just update their birth date in the settings and you receive tons of new information about what to expect next.

What I love most about this app for new parents is the “Real Answers” feature. It allows you to submit questions and get answers from other moms. Nine times out of ten, you’re not the only one who had this question so it’s already listed and answered.      

#2: Full Term   

The second on my list of apps for new parents is Full Term. While I didn’t get a chance to use this app often, it definitely came in handy when I did need it. Can you say, Braxton Hicks?

I’ll never forget, a hurricane was on its way to the area and I was in my third trimester. The hospitals were checking pregnant women in early, just in case, but my doctor said that I should be fine. But, she did say to stay hydrated and off my feet as much as possible because bad weather is known to induce labor, especially for women as close to their due date as I was.

Before I lost power, I was watching the news and saw a story where a woman in my area had given birth by flashlight. I did not want to be her! And then they began… The contractions were coming so strong that I couldn’t stand. I opened the app and began timing them. I called the hospital and they told me to call back when they were three to five minutes apart, lasting for a full 60 seconds. With the help of the Full Term app, I was able to time the contractions perfectly and thankfully they turned out to be false.

This app served its purpose for me but I wish that I’d taken advantage of its other features such as weight tracking, kick counting, and advice on prenatal and postnatal care.          

#3: Glow Baby 

Of the apps on my list, this one is my favorite. When I first began nursing, I found it difficult to keep track of how long my son ate and from which side. Yes, he was one of those babies who only ate from one side at a time. And let’s face it, when you’re a new, sleep-deprived parent, which boob the baby ate from last isn’t the first thing on your mind.

I found this app to be helpful during those early visits to the doctor when the pediatrician would ask how many times my son ate and for how long, how many wet diapers he had, and how many dirty ones. I must confess, those first few weeks were tough and if it hadn’t been for this app, I would’ve lost it trying to keep track of so much information. I was basically a robot by the sixth week.   

There are several features that I love about this app for new parents but my favorite is definitely the ability to add different users to the baby’s profile. This helps when someone else changes my son’s diaper or feeds him. Their profile can be added and they have access to update information so that even when I’m away, I can keep track of his day. There’s also a more social feature within the app that allows you to see others’ posts about their babies but if you’re not too careful, you can get caught up and you don’t want to go down a wormhole when you could be spending time with your little one or sleeping. Ok, not sleeping, that comes a bit later if you’re lucky.     

If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend you download these apps. Oh, and did I mention that they’re absolutely free? There’s something you don’t hear every day. So save your seasoned parents some embarrassment and go ahead and download these apps for new parents. Because if there’s one thing that my mom can attest to, they most definitely didn’t have apps for new parents when she last had a baby. Sorry, mom.

Photo by William Hook on Unsplash