Becoming a parent and taking care of a baby for the first time can be very overwhelming. Making sure they eat every two hours, have regular bowel movements, and sleep enough (but not too much) is a full-time job. Let’s be real, if there’s an app that can help even the slightest bit, it’s worth looking into.
We’ve found some hidden gems in the app world that are helping moms through their pregnancy, tracking baby activities, building baby books, helping with sleep, and so much more. So we put together a roundup of the best baby apps.
The Best Apps for New Moms
- What to Expect Pregnancy+Baby
- Baby Tracker by Nara
- Glow Baby
- Baby Monitor Bibino: Nanny Cam
- Napper: Baby Sleep Tracker
- The Short Years Baby Book
- Solid Starts
- AppClose
1. What to Expect Pregnancy+Baby
Looking for a good pregnancy app? This is probably the most well-known free app for all things pregnancy-related. With What to Expect, you can follow along on your pregnancy journey with baby-sized comparisons and a visual countdown for each week leading up to your due date. Wondering how big your new baby is? This week, it could be as big as a Kiwi!
Moms-to-be also love the daily tips and insights into what you’re feeling according to where you’re at in your pregnancy. Think you’re feeling those first kicks? The app will tell you if what you’re feeling could be kicking, or maybe just some gas instead. Don’t worry, the kicks will come (a bit too hard sometimes). We’re definitely marking this down as one of the best pregnancy apps!
Best for:
- First-time moms
- Week-by-week development of baby
- Preparing for prenatal tests and screenings
Not best for:
- Experienced moms
- Tracking outside of baby growth
Available on: iPhone and Android
2. Baby Tracker by Nara
An overall amazing tracker for everything baby. You can log feedings, diaper changes, sleep, medication, baby’s growth and more. And that’s just the beginning–there’s also a timed breastfeeding and pumping feature, a shared hub for family members, and the ability to set reminders for things like the next time you feed, pump, or take medication.
This app even tracks mom’s postpartum recovery—something most apps are missing. You are important too, and it’s easy to forget about yourself in the midst of the newborn phase. Moms can track their own activities like water intake, sleep, mood, and journal entries to make sure they are taking care of themselves too.
Does your baby have their own routine? Baby Tracker by Nara is also great at personalization. You can add your own unique routines into the schedule like tongue-tie exercises or tummy time and save them as a permanent toggle.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Logging all baby activities
- Tracking mom’s postpartum recovery
- Multiple babies
Not best for:
- Community support
3. Glow Baby
Looking for an app that does it all AND makes tracking easier? This is it. The Glow Baby app has an easily accessible top banner bar for all your tracking needs so you can click and record in seconds. This all-in-one baby logging app keeps track of everything you need: naps, feeds, solid foods, milestones, diaper changes, and pumping sessions.
Moms also love the community tab in the app–it’s like social media without the hassle of setting up a full profile. You’re able to join different groups based on what you’re interested in and make new parent friends. Having trouble getting baby to latch? There’s a breastfeeding group for that. Struggling with postpartum anxiety and depression? You can chat with one million other members in the group who might be going through the same thing or just want to offer support.
The personalized summary feature is the real kicker here. Get a complete PDF roundup of all your baby’s data. Everything you need to know about their activities and development is right in your pocket and easily shareable with your provider.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Finding a close-knit community
- Easy & fast tracking
- Personalized summaries of your baby’s data
Not best for:
- Detailed sleep logging
- Tracking mom
4. Baby Monitor Bibino: Nanny Cam
Waking up a sleeping baby is the last thing you want to do. But what happens when they fall asleep on the couch and you really have to pee? This app is for modern moms who need a baby monitor wherever and whenever. You can quickly turn two iPhones and iPads into a single baby monitor and go do what you have to.
This nanny cam has two-way video and audio, lullaby songs, a white noise machine, and enhanced visibility for low-light conditions. It’s perfect for camping trips, vacations, babysitters, and anywhere you can’t bring your at-home full monitor setup.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Monitoring baby on the go
- Families who travel
- Busy moms
Not best for:
- Moms who only have 1 smart device
- Locations with no WiFi or data
5. Napper: Baby Sleep Tracker
Who knew you’d need help with something as simple as sleep? Figuring out if your baby is overtired, under-tired, or just the right amount of tired is no joke. This life-saving app uses data, science, and a little bit of algorithmic magic to predict your baby’s naps and bedtime.
Napper is the solution for many moms on figuring out short naps, frequent night-wakings, and never-ending bedtime routines. The best part of this great app is getting a personalized sleep schedule based on your baby’s natural rhythms – literal gold.
You’ll also have access to a library full of sleep sounds including white noise, lullabies, and nature noises that play while your little one sleeps. Help is here—and healthy sleep habits are only a download away.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Tracking sleep
- Babies with irregular sleep schedules
- Tired moms
Not best for:
- Babies who sleep great
6. The Wonder Weeks
When you first become a parent, the harsh reality of baby growth milestones (which can cause regressions) hits you in the face, hard. For example, your child might be experiencing a mental leap if they seem extra clingy and cry more lately. The Wonder Weeks app is here to save the day by guiding moms through the 10 huge leaps from birth to 20 months old.
This app gives an overview of each mental milestone sharing tips, tricks, and insights into what’s going on in your baby’s head. Find out when a leap will start, and when it will end. There’s even a countdown timer to anticipate when a leap will finish for your own mental health.
Leaps can be one of the most stressful times for moms–but having a tool like The Wonder Weeks app to show you how to support your baby can make the days a little easier.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Babies 0- to 20 months old
- Regressions
- Tracking baby’s mental development
Not best for:
- Babies older than 20 months old
7. The Short Years Baby Book
A baby book is one of those cute, fanciful ideas you might come up with when you’re pregnant and nesting. But once the baby is here and the tiredness hits you, extra sleep starts to sound more important than spending hours scrapbooking. Introducing The Short Years Baby Book app: your solution to creating that stunning baby book with ease, even when you’re super busy with stacks of to-do lists.
This app makes it easy to grab your phone and record all the little milestones that happen oh so quickly. Feeding, watching tv, taking a break while baby sleeps? Open up this app to answer the prompted questions and upload photos right from your camera roll. Fill it in as you go and when you’re done, this app will turn your text and photos into a beautiful baby book that gets mailed straight to you!
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Creating keepsakes
- Recording milestones
- Busy moms
Not best for:
- Moms who are die-hard scrapbookers
8. Solid Starts
Switching from milk to solid food is a big transition for mom and baby. You’re going from giving your baby only milk for the past several months to making grocery lists for them. It can be a little intimidating and scary for first-time moms. But don’t worry, the Solid Starts app is your new foodie best friend teaching you how to safely introduce foods to your baby. Need some extra reassurance? Several doctors, feeding specialists, swallowing specialists, and dietitians worked together on this app!
Quickly search its database with over 200 foods and immediately feel confident about how to prepare and feed your little one at each stage in their life. Wondering how you should cut up grapes for your 9-month-old? Solid Starts has answers. Solid Starts is your #1 tool for starting solids and doing it right.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Baby-led weaning (BLW) help
- Transitioning away from milk or purees
- Moms nervous about starting solids
Not best for:
- Puree-only babies
- Babies under 6 months old
9. AppClose
This app caters to those who share custody of their children. Easily navigate and track your co-parenting communications, tasks, appointments, events, and expenses for reimbursement obligations. AppClose even has a texting feature that cannot be altered or deleted, making it perfect for legal complications.
Sharing and saving important baby-related information such as allergies, medications, childcare contacts, and measurements is easier than ever. One of the best parts? Exporting all of your records is done with a tap.
Available on: iPhone and Android
Best for:
- Divorced parents
- Split custody families
- Sharing important child-related information
Not best for:
- Married couples
- Single household families
Important Reminders for New Moms
Becoming a new parent is an incredible and life-changing experience, but it can also be overwhelming and sometimes really exhausting. Luckily we live in a world where there are tools and apps for almost everything to take some of the pressure off.
But even the best apps for new moms can’t solve everything in your parenthood journey. Prioritizing self-care, being open to support, and communicating with your healthcare team are crucial components moms need to take seriously. If you need help, never hesitate to ask.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting, and it’s okay to make mistakes and learn as you go. With time and practice, you will find your groove again.
