Babies learn faster than a speeding bullet. They soak up everything that’s around them like a sponge, and they’re ready to explore the world with all five of their senses by the time they’re three months old. You can help your baby get the most out of this exciting time by providing stimulating experiences, and perhaps even more importantly: by getting some rest yourself.
These apps are designed to support your baby’s development while you take a well-deserved nap.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Newborn Development
Whether your due date is fast approaching or you’re already enjoying parenthood, you’ll know that it can be tricky to keep track of everything in your life – and that’s okay. The good news is that there’s no shortage of baby apps for new parents. With clever apps to help you record life’s memorable moments, track important milestones, help you remember which side you last fed on and more, all you need to do is tap ‘download’ and away you go. To guide you in the right direction, the Momatu team has rounded up 13 of the best baby apps that new parents should know about.
You’ll wonder how you ever survived without them…
Best baby apps to use while pregnant
- Ovia Pregnancy Tracker
Ovia Pregnancy App screenshot from an iPhone of a the apps home page
Tracking your bump is exciting. But comparing your bump’s growth to everyday objects is even better – which is why Ovia is one of the most-loved apps out there for expecting parents. Maybe you’d rather track your baby’s growth next to a variety of vegetables? A small animal? Parisian pastries, perhaps?
Whatever appeals most, you’ll love having something to look forward to each week.
Available for iOS and Android.
- BabyCentre
For all the pregnant mummas out there, BabyCentre is the go-to app for all the essential tips, tools, checklists, and other features to help you and your partner along the way. Most importantly, all health information is approved by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board (so you can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands).
“When I was pregnant, I really enjoyed the helpful community and forum feature inside the app where you can connect and chat with other mums-to-be.” – Quinnie, Momatu team.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Pregnancy +
Pregnancy + is everything you’d expect from the name: all things pregnancy-related, plus more. Another go-to app for expecting mums, Pregnancy + rightfully claims the title as one of the top pregnancy apps in the world (and for a good reason). Keep track of everything from weight changes to doctors appointments and get valuable info about changes week-by-week all in the palm of your hand.
“It was a while ago now, but my wife loved the Pregnancy + app, and I also enjoyed how they would send me updates every week about the progress on the baby based on the due date.” – Pece, Momatu team.
Available for iOS and Android.
Best baby apps to use after the arrival of your little one
- Feed Safe
If you enjoy a glass of wine when you’re feeding, you might want to shuffle around your home screen to move this app to the first page. This clever creation from the Australian Breastfeeding Association – developed in consultation with researchers from Curtin University, Western Australia – helps you calculate the time until there is no alcohol in your breastmilk. Simply enter when you had your first drink, and the app will let you know when you’re good-to-go and ready for a feed.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Baby Sparks
Did you know that during the first years of life, a child’s brain creates more than one million new neural connections every second? And for that very reason, BabySparks was designed to share expert-created, customised daily play programs.
With a whopping number of development activities and milestones that you can track, you’ll also find helpful videos that cover more challenging topics like safely teaching your baby how to roll over.
Available for iOS and Android.
- The WonderWeeks
The Wonder Weeks homepager screenshot for iPhone
The Wonder Weeks homepager screenshot for iPhone
There’s not much this app leaves out, and it’s no surprise that (almost) all of the Momatu parents listed this a ‘must-download’ app. When the tough times and sleepless nights come into play (thanks to the periods of change or increased fussiness), The Wonder Weeks app allows you to understand better your baby’s mental development; tracked against leaps and bounds.
Featuring the complete Audiobook of the Wonder Weeks, a calendar-sync option to keep tabs on everything and a comprehensive diary to follow for you to take notes, you won’t regret adding this app to your device.
“When the baby is going through growth spurts or mood changes, I use The Wonder Weeks to keep track of it all and why he behaves differently.” – Devinda, Momatu team.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Huckleberry
Huckleberry App homepage screenshot
There’s no way we were excluding Huckleberry from this list. Not only is the design a treat for the eyes, but Huckleberry also helps new parents find their groove when it comes to building up good sleep habits.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Mind the Bump
Mind the bump screenshot of app
Smiling Mind and beyondblue have teamed up to create a mindfulness Meditation tool for both expecting parents and new parents. Written by psychologists and psychiatrists, this app helps to manage stress, assist with building connections or manage change.
Your mind will thank you for it.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Baby Tracker
There are other baby tracking apps. But Baby Tracker is in a league of its own. With just a few one-handed taps, you can keep track of feedings, sleep schedule, nappy changes, growth records, essential medical information and more. Above all, it’s almost like a central homepage for your baby, but better.
Other features worth shouting about include the use of Siri for voice prompts and the option to switch on ‘dark mode’ to give your eyes a rest.
“I love how the data from Baby Tracker shows a trend of my baby’s wake time and nap time so that I can plan visitors and outings. Genius!” – Quinnie, Momatu team.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Growth: Baby and Child Charts
Growth app store screenshot with a growth and percentile chart for new parents
Forget about leaving a pencil mark on the inside of the laundry door. With Growth: Baby & Child Charts, you can accurately track your child’s growth, calculate exact percentiles and ensure they’re growing at the right place. While Growth: Baby & Child Charts might not be the most attractive app in the mix, it earns bonus points for it’s user-friendly design and functionality.
Covering everything from the Fenton gestational age charts for pre-term babies through to BMI and weight tracking for adults, this simple yet powerful app is a must-download.
Available for iOS.
- Sleepiest
Sleepiest App homepage screenshot from iphone
Making sure you get enough sleep each night is easier said than done. But with Sleepiest, it’s win-win to help your baby or yourself try to fall asleep thanks to the selection of bedtime stories or meditations to help you make the most of every chance you can catch some zzz’s.
“I used the app sleepiest in the intention of helping Dustin sleep better, but I ended up using it more for myself. The white noise options are great!” – Quinnie, Momatu team.
Available for iOS.
- Audible
As a new parent, sometimes, you just need to pop in your headphones and enjoy the company of an audiobook – and that’s where Audible comes in. While it might not make up for the lack of sleep, it will help you get through the long nights.
Available for iOS and Android.
- Momatu
We saved the best until last, of course. However, if you’re unfamiliar with who we are or what we’re all about, allow us to explain. With more and more families taking conversations offline (away from social media), Momatu is the place for you to privately share the excitement of your family’s journey.
To get started, just add your favourite photos and videos to your baby’s timeline and watch it come to life. But the best part, is you can invite loved ones to view your timeline, chatting about the moments that matter together in one place, even when you’re apart. The best part is watching your collection of memories grow; creating something to look back on and cherish for years to come.
“I’ve been adding to Olivia’s timeline since she was born and she’s now 22 months old. It’s like my little vault of memories that even Olivia loves to look at. We’ve had to ban Momatu from her – she’s obsessed with it!” – Aaron, Momatu team.
best apps for babies under 6 months
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…and 6 of them are FREE!
There is great debate over the use of ‘screens’ with children under the age of 2. Beyond 2 years old, the debate shifts to how much screen time is too much screen time. If you don’t believe in screen time before 2, then this post may not be for you. From our perspective, we believe the debate should center more around what type of screen time you are offering and whether or not you are sharing in the experience with your child. In today’s modern era, technology can enable great learning opportunities at every age, not to mention, displace weighty books and handfuls of toys in the diaper bag when you are on the go.
Apps for Babies and Toddlers
Both my girls have been exposed to technology from an early age. We live 1,900 miles away from my family in Texas, and we use FaceTime to talk to my parents, grandparents, sister and nephews multiple times a week. It enables my girls to have a face to face relationship with long distance family, who they would otherwise only see 1-2 times a year. Big M has ‘read’ MerMer books and given her virtual tours of her Pretzel Log Cabin over FaceTime. Lil’ M likes to sing songs and nursery rhymes with my Mom over the phone. They have learned how to use them from observation. Lil’ M takes my iPhone and pretends to order pizza. Both girls could unlock my iPad and open and close apps by 18 months old. My 3 year old knows how to command Siri to “Play Frozen soundtrack!” while we are driving down the highway.
As with many things in life, the key is always moderation and parental supervision. My girls share an iPad (which is my husband’s old one), and we have restricted it so they can only access the apps we put on it. They cannot buy more apps, make in-app purchases or go on the web. My husband and I are the keeper of the iPad and dole out its usage: it is commonly used in the bathroom, on long car rides or flights, and on blustery afternoons or sick days when we can’t get out to play. At restaurants or in the cart at the grocery store, I have definitely handed over my iPhone to pacify a hungry or cranky child until the food arrives or we get through the checkout. So yes, our kids have had screen time before 2 years of age, but always in moderation and always with parental guidance and supervision. Oh, and we protect the iPad from destruction with this iGuy Case… it comes in lots of colors, they make versions to fit iPads 1-4, as well as the newest models. And biggest selling point, Lil’ M still hasn’t managed to destroy it or the iPad, or remove the iPad from it!
Birth to 12 Months
Apps for babies? Yes, I used apps with my babies. I found all of the apps below to provide stimulating, development-stage appropriate images and activities, and, most importantly, I played them with my child.
High Contrast Patterns and Shapes
This app features graphic, full screen black and white images in a slide show set to music. As newborns, babies can only focus 8-12 inches away from their face, and they prefer high contrast, black and white images while their brain is still learning to discern colors. This app was a great replacement for image cards, and found it provided an appropriate level of stimulation for tummy time: soft music to get their attention and lift their head and great, slow changing images for them to focus on.
Peekaboo Barn
This is a simple app that features a barn with open and closing doors. You hear an animal sound, the barn shakes, and when baby taps the doors, they open to reveal the animal inside and the animal’s name is said. Repeat. Lil’ M made about 10 animal sounds before she could say just about anything else other than Mama and Dada. It also reinforces object permanence, just like playing Peekaboo does.
Fisher Price Apps
Fisher Price has a host of free apps that are great for tiny hands. Most teach basic cause and effect – touch the screen and a sound plays or an object appears. Our three favorites: Giggle Gang, Shapes & Colors and Where’s Puppy’s Nose? With Giggle Gang, you can even record your little ones own laugh for playback.
12 – 24months
By 12 months, both my M&Ms began to get the cause and effect of the touch screen – and they loved to push the button and open app after app. They became more interested in apps that called for their interaction – whether they played familiar songs they could sing along with, or more advanced cause and effect. And all of these Big M still enjoys using at 3.5, though she has found new favorites too.
Interactive Alphabet
Interactive Alphabet is a great one to grow with your child. It has a ‘Baby mode’ that automatically moves from one letter to the next, allowing your child to interact with the different images for each letter. The ‘Explore mode’ allows navigation to be more self-directed. It also sings the alphabet. Big M still uses this app to type words (guided by lit letters on an onscreen keyboard) and her latest favorite, ‘Trace’ which teaches her how to write her letters by following the blinking light with her finger.
Kids Doodle
The girls like this one because it is a very simple, easy to use drawing app. Vibrant, neon colors change automatically every time you lift your finger, and move it across the black background. There are a few brush stroke options, and you can play back your drawing like a movie. Best of all, it’s FREE with only a narrow ad banner across the top.
Make It Pop
Even I enjoy this one – Make It Pop features 5 games in one app, all of which featuring popping sounds, from popcorn, to balloons, bubbles and firecrackers. Each game also features one of the following: numbers, letters, shapes, colors or size vocabulary. The graphics are beautiful, and it’s simple enough for Lil’ M to play without frustration, while engaging enough that Big M still likes to play it as well.
Zoo Train
Zoo Train also features multiple games in a single app. This is one of the first apps I can remember Big M actually “playing” (doing more than just banging around on the screen). She would build train after train and watch it drive through the various backgrounds. She also liked to play the whistles, which sing familiar songs, like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Row Your Boat. By 2, she could do all the simple picture puzzles, and now she still plays with it to build the train track puzzles and build the word puzzles.
Our Favorite Sing-Along Apps
The next four apps all feature beloved children’s songs, complete with animation and interactive graphics. TabTale makes the first two, which also feature other interactive games. Note that they are free to download, but require upgrades for the full song and all the games. Old MacDonald and Itsy Bitsy are made by DuckDuckMoose. We LOVE all their apps – they also provide some comedic relief for adults, while still being age appropriate for toddlers.
Fish School
Another app by DuckDuckMoose… we told you we LOVED their apps. Fish School was another one of Big M’s very first apps that she really interacted with and got the hang of right away. It has several modes – the play mode let kids drag fish around, make them bigger with a cute little kiddo voice narrating their actions. It also teaches letters, numbers, shapes, colors, has a matching game and a game to discern differences. The girls love their graphics too.
Elmo Calls
And last but not least, in this age group, Elmo Calls. Lil’ M said Elmo pretty much right after she said Mama and Dada… and she doesn’t even get to watch Sesame Street very often because Big M dictates show time most mornings. This is a great one to have on your phone. You can also search for specific topics – like going to the doctor or brushing your teeth – and have Elmo call to encourage your little one about it. There is also Cookie Calls, if your toddler is more of a Cookie Monster fan.
Come back to see us next week when we share our favorite 21 Apps for Preschoolers! You can also find recommended music apps from our guest post, Music for Little Ones, by Brian, a twenty year music educator. Do you use the iPad or iPhone with your baby or toddler?
If you enjoyed this post, you can find all our favorite iPad & Technology posts from around the web on our like-named Pinterest board.
Conclusion
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