The digital age presents challenges for young parents but can also offer many benefits. Mobile applications are constantly being developed, and upgraded, to address a whole range of parenting needs – all readily available at one’s fingertips.
For those who have young children, and are looking for apps that could simplify your life and keep you organised through the chaos of parenthood, here are nine tried-and-tested recommendations by team makchic.
1. For sleep: Sound Sleeper
You won’t have to scroll through different types of white noise to find the one that best calms your child: the carefully chosen sound patterns on this sleep app have been designed through physics and musical science to give everyone a good night’s sleep.
The sound self-activates upon first cry, too, so you might not even have to drag yourself out of bed to soothe baby back to sleep.
Send your little one to dreamland within minutes with Play Mode; stay asleep with Listen Mode; and develop healthy sleep habits with Sleep Tracking Mode.
This app is free, with an option for paid upgrade. Available on Apple and Android.
2. For development: Kinedu
Kinedu has partnered with experts at Stanford University to support your child’s development with science-based play activities.
Check out personalised games and things to do based on your baby’s developmental needs, and keep track using progress charts in each growth area such as sleep, language acquisition, breastfeeding, and nutrition.
From live-play and one-on-one coaching sessions to group chats and expert-led classes on various topics, you will always be equipped with a plan to nurture your baby’s development.
Free, with paid upgrade option. Available on Apple and Android.
3. For parental control: Wondershare FamiSafe
Parents should rightly be concerned with their children’s screen habits and keep an eye on their digital consumption. While it’s not feasible – or recommended – to constantly look over your kids’ shoulders, parental-control apps come in handy in this regard.
To that end, FamiSafe is an ideal solution for keeping your children secure online. This all-in-one app features screentime control and location tracking, family links for parents, activity reports, website filtering, game/pornography blocking, as well as suspicious-photo and text detection on social media.
Three-day free trial upon sign up, with a further subscription thereafter. Available on Apple and Android.
4. For organising: Cozi
Ever missed a school event because you got your dates mixed up, or bought the same grocery item because you forgot your partner said they would get it?
There’s a reason Cozi was called a “must-have” app by America’s “Today” show for a more coordinated life! Keep your family in sync with a shared calendar, reminders, grocery list, to-do list, and more.
Free, with option for paid upgrade. Available on Apple and Android.
5. For breastfeeding: Baby Tracker
This is a comprehensive yet simple breastfeeding tracker so you can log feeds, diaper changes and sleep patterns with a quick one-handed tap.
Monitor all feeds, feeding time per breast, and pumping totals with the inbuilt timer and settings for nursing, formula, solids, or any combination.
The baby tracker will also take note of baby’s growth by plotting on a graph or chart every few days or weeks, so you’ll know if your little one is eating and growing well.
Free, with paid upgrade available. Get it on Apple and Android.
6. For meal planning: Recipes For Kids
Cracking your head over meal prep? Feed your kids – and everyone else in the household – with nutritious, healthy meals by Recipes For Kids.
From starter plates to wholesome dinner meals, search and find recipes by ingredients and tags; create shopping lists from these ingredients; and save your favourites so you can even access them offline.
Free, with option for paid upgrade. Available on Android.
7. For toilet training: Potty Whiz
If you’re SO over changing dirty nappies and hunting for diaper deals, or feel your child is ready to move to the big potty, Potty Whiz is here to help ease the transition.
Log activities and take note of the times your tot sits on the potty, informs you of their need to go, wipes and flushes, consumes fluids, or has a pee-pee or poopy incident.
The training timer also provides reminders to bring your little one to the toilet, with no internet required.
Free, with paid upgrade available. Find it on Apple and Android.
8. For more development tracking: Growth Book – Baby Development
Created by doctors who wish to provide detailed, accurate information that is also easy to understand, this app aims to make sure your child’s growth and development are on the right track.
Find simplified growth charts by the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, as well as developmental milestones, food trackers, and vaccination and health tips.
The app caters to parents with kids aged 0-5, and offers options for live and personal virtual consultations with doctors, too!
Free, with paid upgrade available. Get it on Android.
9. For artwork storage: Keepy
If your storeroom has been overtaken by boxes of your child’s drawings and schoolwork, this is the app for you. Preserve your kid’s childhood masterpieces and memories virtually so you can stay organised and keep your house uncluttered.
The platform even allows voiceover stories about each photo, so you or your little one can make comments to enhance each memory. Share all your uploads privately with loved ones, who will even be able to leave voice, video or text comments on these keepsakes.
Free (up to 7 memories a month), with paid upgrade option. Available on Apple and Android.
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This article was written by Elaine Yeoh for makchic, a Malaysian-based online site for chic, curious, and spirited parents. makchic has been providing trustworthy and authentic family-related content since 2013. For diverse stories of parenthood that inform, support and uplift all families, visit makchic.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (X).