When you were a kid, your parents probably relied on guidance from relatives and parenting books, but in today’s world of rapidly changing technology there’s a new resource: the smartphone app.
Here are some of the best parenting apps for each stage of development sure to make parenting just a bit easier.
Best apps for pregnant moms and newborns
BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker & Baby App
Cost: Free
Available at: Google Play & App Store
Take pictures of your expanding bump and turn them into a time-lapse keepsake video or check out what your baby looks like each week with fetal development images and videos. There’s also an online community of moms navigating parenthood together. An added bonus is info for parenting newborns.
Cloud Baby Monitor
Cost: $3.99
Available at: App Store, Mac App Store, Google Play
You can turn an iPhone into a video baby monitor with the ability to talk to your little one, play white noise and turn on a night light. Typical baby monitors will run you at least $30 or into the hundreds, so save a few bucks and download the app. You can even sync it to more than one phone so your partner can keep an eye on the baby, too.
Spotify
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Google Play, Microsoft Store
To get the best lullabies for your sleepy baby, don’t turn to specific lullaby apps – instead, download Spotify for access to hundreds of lullabies, with singing or without. The artist Nursery Rhymes 123 has a number of albums like “Classic Nursery Rhymes” or “Sleep, Baby” to keep your baby entertained or get them ready for bedtime. You can download the free version (and sit through an advertisement here and there) or shell out $9.99/month for ad-free music and the ability to download songs to your phone for when you don’t have Wi-Fi.
Best parenting apps for toddlers
ABC Kids – Tracing & Phonics
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Google Play
For kids ages 5 and under, this app is designed to help your toddler learn phonics and letters of the alphabet. The app is colorful and entertaining, and since it’s set up like a fun online game, your child won’t even know he or she is learning.
Tinybeans
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Google Play
Trying to find a balance between oversharing on Facebook and keeping friends and family aware of your child’s latest milestone? Enter Tinybeans, an easier way to share pictures of your little one with friends and family. The app functions as an online baby journal, where you can capture and document your child as he or she grows. It’s free for the basic features, but for a fee you can make a photo book of your most precious memories.
iHeart Radio
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Google Play
A Disney Junior playlist, complete with all the songs from Muppet Babies, Vampirina and Sophia the First, has been compiled by the people at iHeart Radio. With song lists you and the kids will enjoy, this one will grow as your child’s musical influences change. The app is free, but if you want bonus features like skipping songs or playing songs and albums on demand, there’s an additional monthly fee.
Best parenting apps for big kids
Yuggler
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store
Not only does this app pinpoint children’s activities in your area, it also lets you keep track of past experiences you liked, and you can bookmark things for your family to try in the future.
Screen Time Parental Control
Cost: Free
Available at: Google Play, App Store
This app lets you control how much screen time your child is allowed. You can also monitor his or her device remotely and look through the web and search history, too. For an upgrade to $3.99 per month, you can set daily time limits, use the app on unlimited devices for more than one child, implement a bedtime and school time app blocker, as well as receive daily email summaries of your child’s usage.
Chore Pad
Cost: $4.99
Available at: App Store
The rave reviews on this app promise it’s worth every penny. Sporting an engaging design, these charts offer fun themes, instantly regenerate each week – and changes are a snap. They also feature sounds and animations. It’s got a nifty reward system too – and even eight trophies to collect for time for sticking with those tasks. Created with input from parents and teachers. Currently only on iOs.
Best parenting apps for teens
Life360
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Google Play
This app promises parents peace of mind, especially for parents of new drivers and teens who forget to let you know they went out with friends after school. You can even set up an automated message that sends whenever your child’s phone (and your child, hopefully) get to school or basketball practice. The basic app is free, but for $29.99 per year, you unlock the 30-day location history and unlimited places.
Google Calendar
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Google Play
You might already have a Google Calendar app downloaded, so why not use it to simplify your life with a teenager, too? Create a shared calendar for you and your teen to keep track of dentist appointments, baseball games, after-school activities and anything else. Watch as “I forgot” becomes an excuse of the past.
RoosterMoney
Cost: Free
Available at: App Store, Amazon, Google Play
For teens on the younger side without a job, RoosterMoney offers a great way to teach money management skills. Kids can track allowances or birthday money from grandma all within the app and watch as a progress bar fills as they save for a new thing on their wish list.
