Being a new parent in the age of Google puts a lot of information into your hands— much more than even just a few decades ago. Instead of having to call a pediatrician or thumb through a book, you can just ask Alexa to find resources to answer some common questions:
How much spit up is too much?
How do I calm a colicky baby?
How often do I give my newborn a bath?
How do I tie a babywearing wrap?
With the power and speed of technology, many new parents have a wealth of ideas and activities at their fingertips. From Nested, here are a few ways smartphones can be extraordinarily helpful for first-time parents:
Ensure you have digital space
It doesn’t take long to realize that pics and videos eat data. Becoming a new parent might be the right time to purchase a new smartphone so that you get the best quality media and access to the right apps. The latest iPhone, for example, has a dual-camera system, plus the fastest chip ever in a smartphone and all-day battery life. If you’re worried about your expensive smartphone getting damaged, you can choose from a wide selection of different cases, including those that provide some protection against exposure to water.
Document memories
Taking photos and videos of all those precious moments can help you cherish your memories and bring you closer together as a family, and an app like TinyBeans can be just the ticket. You can gather all your photos and videos in one spot, and the app even offers some helpful advice on gear and parenting hacks. It’s a great app for journaling and sharing milestones in a visual way, and you don’t need to worry about running out of space since everything is stored and shared safely and securely through the app.
Share spontaneously
Sometimes special memories are created in an instant, and you don’t want to miss out on recording or being able to share those experiences. Qeepsake is a terrific app for helping you record and share those moments with friends and family. You can spontaneously add memories, milestones, and photos on the fly, and share them text-style with others. Then you can create a Qeepsake book to reflect on annually, semiannually, or as often as you’d like!
Track developmental changes
Understanding the developmental growth your baby is going through will show you how best to comfort and encourage them. That’s where an app like The Wonder Weeks app comes in handy. Not only does this app, supported by decades-long scientific research, help you prepare for the developmental “leaps” your baby will make every few weeks, it also shows you activities you can do to support and encourage that growth. The app integrates with your calendar, preparing you well in advance for “stormy” times when you can expect your baby to be fussier and grumpier than usual.
Keep your new life organized: Being a new parent means establishing new routines— a whole new normal, in fact. Family organizer apps like Cozi can help you manage your new lifestyle so everyone is on the same page when it comes to doctor’s appointments, feeding times, and other important schedules. Apps like these can also help you with meal planning, setting up chore charts, and keeping track of daycare and babysitters.
Monitor your baby: Whether she is sleeping in another room or happily playing solo in her crib, new parents want to keep an eye on their wee one at all times. Apps like the Cloud Baby Monitor give you the power to safeguard your child with the ease and convenience of your smartphone. Though leaving a baby alone unsecure is never a good idea, letting your child rest alone and giving her opportunities for independent play can teach her very valuable skills.
Teach your baby language: Babies can understand language long before they can make sounds with their mouths. You can teach your baby to communicate even if they don’t have verbal language down by teaching them sign language. Parents report their child using signs like “more,” “all done,” “please,” “mommy,” and “daddy” in infants as young as six months old. Apps like Baby Sign and Learn Lite can explain what signs to teach when your child is ready, and how to teach them.
As your baby grows, so will your confidence and your ability to rely on your own intuition as a parent for decision-making. But the app world can help you get educated, track milestones, monitor safety and learn new activities to stimulate growth and play. Take the time to explore these apps to find ones that enrich and empower your new life as a parent.