Five great apps for new mums to help when family and friends may be far away.
In the news this week was an app that rates restaurants, cafes and shops on their suitability for breastfeeding mothers. The Feed Finder app has been developed on Tyneside, UK, and allows users to post Tripadvisor style reviews on five key issues – comfort, hygiene, privacy, baby facilities and affordability.
This got us thinking about other apps that can help make new mothers’ lives easier. For expat mums who usually lack a nearby support network of friends and family, apps can help with everything from feeding schedules to getting baby to sleep.
Here are some of the best:
Total Baby – iPhone, iPad, iPod touch ($4.99)
This app tracks everything on your baby’s schedule. Keep up with bottles, pumping, nappies and sleeping schedules. Parents can log vaccines, growth, doctors visits and more and it can also be adjusted to handle up to six children. Great for parents who like charts and reminders!
aSleep Kids edition – iPad, iPhone ($0.99)
Complete with 15 lullabies and a timer to help little ones drift off. You can choose which lullaby to play, the volume and the duration, you can also opt to keep your screen lit to act as a nightlight.
If lullabies are too disruptive then you can download the WhiteNoise app. This plays background sounds such as a vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, or a heartbeat to help baby sleep. It comes with a timer and will reactivate the noise if crying is detected.
iBabyVideo – iPhone, iPad, iPod touch ($12.99)
Create an account at ibabyvideo.com on a PC with a webcam in your baby’s room then download the app to your phone or tablet and stream the video. You can invite other family members to view the video stream, perfect for grandparents back home!
Baby Care Plus – Android ($1.99)
Similar to Total Baby this Android app tracks your baby’s schedule so you can manage routines efficiently. It even syncs to Facebook and email so you can easily share baby updates with friends and family back home.
WebMD Baby – iPhone, iPod touch, iPad (FREE)
From the popular health website, this app is specifically designed for new parents. Tailored to your baby’s age, you can access a wealth of trusted, doctor-approved advice on health and wellness. It also comes with a personalised baby book for recording memorable moments.