Babies born in 2016 and beyond will enter a very different world from their parents. The glow of smartphones may serve as a surrogate night light, particularly during middle-of-the-night feedings. Parents can use this time wisely to consult parenting apps and websites designed for the life-changing experience before them.
BabyCenter
Owned by Johnson & Johnson, this hub for expectant and new parents is rich with info on conception, pregnancy and early childhood. Track your baby’s – and, later, toddler’s – development via regular email updates.
CineMama
New from the March of Dimes is this free app with a cute name and clever purpose: Snap weekly photos of your baby bump and the app compiles the weekly progression into a movie set to a soundtrack you choose.
BabyBump
This free app comes with a number of tracking tools to monitor kicks, and later, contractions. At any moment, the app tells you the week and day you’re at in your pregnancy as well as how many more days until you’re due. The app also includes a social networking component to connect with other parents.
Babierge
This “baby concierge” makes travel with a baby or toddler less daunting. Find Babierge trusted partners (currently in cities in eight states – here, in Kalamazoo) that deliver, set up and retrieve safe rental gear. Also great for grandparents hosting out-of-town grandchildren who don’t want to invest in costly baby equipment.
Baby Pics
This free baby photo editor app incorporates handcrafted artwork and personalized typography to create sweet digital images. Users simply snap or import a pic, pick your editing options, save and share to social media.
iBaby Feed Timer
Available for $4.99, this app helps nursing moms track when baby eats – and for how long. It also gives feeding reminders and indicates which side baby fed from last. Plus it tracks sleep schedules, weight gains and a range of other baby stats.
RetailMeNot
While not new, this free app can be a boon to the baby budget. The app offers online and in-store savings to more than 50,000 retailers including Carter’s, Babies R Us, Target, Gymboree, Diapers.com, Pampers and Buy Buy Baby.
FirstCamera
This free app let fledging photographers snap photos to their heart’s content – and the resulting pictures are saved to the app vs. your camera roll. Kids can embellish their handiwork with moustaches, glasses and speech bubbles.
The Bump
From getting pregnant to choosing a baby name to cord blood donation, this site tackles it all with articles and tip lists.
New Dad – Pregnancy for Dads
After setting their partner’s due date, dads receive info on baby’s development and how mom might be feeling. With more “news to use,” the app also includes a “keep your wife happy” widget with tips submitted by dads the world over.
