5 Apps You Need to Download as a First-Time Parent

Guest article by Josh Moore from Diaper Dads

Parenting is a huge responsibility. No doubt, it can be daunting for first-time parents who can still feel overwhelmed on a regular basis. Thankfully, there’s help when you need it. Tech has caught up with the needs of weary parents, providing resources like apps for myriad parental challenges—many of which can be a real godsend to first-timers struggling to find their footing. Here are some of the best and most affordable ones that you can leverage to make life easier.

Ready, Set, Baby!​

Ready, Set, Baby! is not so much an app but an all-around guidebook for parenting. Unlike most ebooks, the nifty app format not only makes it easily navigable but also allows for videos to be embedded for your viewing pleasure. It’s clear that this app is designed to be a one-stop-shop for all your parenting questions, and you would do well, indeed, to download it even before the little one comes. How-to videos and tips are interspersed with product recommendations, so you get all the information you need whenever you need it. And at less than $10, what’s not to love?

My Baby Today

BabyCenter is a well-known resource for all things baby. For this reason, you can be absolutely certain that the My Baby Today app will be a great addition to your parenting arsenal—not to mention since it’s free, it’s a wallet-friendly one. 

Launched in 2011, Johnson & Johnson notes My Baby Today provides daily updates and videos that provide expert advice on your baby’s development, as well as everyday tasks like feeding, bathing, and pumping breast milk. But no doubt, its best feature is its activity checklist that keeps you on top of the many development-boosting activities you should do with your baby.
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Baby Tracker Nursing

For nursing mothers, breastfeeding apps are a real must, especially for first-timers. The Baby Tracker – Nursing app is undoubtedly one of the best ones. It’s not free, but for less than $5, you can already track even the most minute details, such as when you last breastfed your baby or the length of your last nursing session. It even tracks formula feeding, too, which is great for moms who do both.
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Mommy Saver: High Contrast Baby Visual Stimulation​

Science Daily explains that exposure to the right stimulation boosts babies’ mental development. And of course, there are apps for this, too. One of which is Mommy Saver: High Contrast Baby Visual Stimulation. As the name suggests, it visually stimulates your baby with high contrast images. It even keeps it interesting with a variety of movements, shapes, and interactions. It’s completely free and doesn’t run any ads. ​

Cozi Family Organizer​

Last but definitely not least, you will need the Cozi Family Organizer to keep your family life running seamlessly, which can be a challenge when the wee ones come. For an app packed with features like a color-coded calendar, to-do and shopping lists, and family journal, it’s surprisingly easy to use, making it a truly handy app to have when you’re trying to run a tight ship. Plus, you can enjoy all its features for free, or enjoy an ad-free version for just a few dollars.

Needless to say, you’ll need a reliable and updated smartphone or tablet to run all these amazing baby apps. Again, you need not break the bank as you can always find great deals when shopping online from retailers like Best Buy. They not only offer affordable gadgets, but they also have a price matching if you can find it cheaper elsewhere, they have same-day shipping, and you can get purchases shipped for free when you spend $35. You can even enjoy further savings by throwing a Best Buy promo code into the mix.

Moms and dads face an amazing experience. Regardless if you’re doing it for the first or nth time, though, being a parent can be overwhelming at times. Make it less so with these cheap and helpful apps, and uncover the real joy of parenting in the process. 
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What about you?

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Want to see more from Josh?

You can find more from Josh at his site, Diaper Dads.