October 12, 2025
Written By: Lindsay Kuula
Those first weeks after bringing E home felt like a beautiful blur. Between late-night feedings and trying to remember which side I nursed on last, I quickly realized my brain wasn’t going to cut it alone. I needed backup.
In the days leading up to giving birth, my Instagram algorithm was FULL of content geared to helping me survive my first few weeks after giving birth. Some felt triggering and scary, others made me cry happy tears, bubbling up excitement to meet my little boy.
Alongside this content came sponsored ads from apps or products that had apps claiming they would solve many problems. I downloaded dozens of apps to help track poops, time feeds, turn on lights, set up routines. The list was endless. Some apps fell to the wayside, and some apps were life giving and set me up for success, and some apps I’m still using a year later.
Why I’m Reviewing Baby Apps for New Parents
Before E arrived, I spent years as the head of growth at a family tech company. I lived and breathed user experience, app performance, and what actually makes technology helpful for families. I have high standards for latency, intuitive design, and features that actually help when you’re holding a screaming baby at 3 AM.
Now, over a year into motherhood, I’m sharing the baby apps for new parents that worked for me and passed the UI test. Some apps I didn’t continue use, but they were great apps, and many of those are listed below too.
What You Need to Know About Baby Apps
Every baby, mom, dad, and caretaker has different needs. These are the apps that worked for us with a full-term, healthy baby. Some of these apps might create more anxiety, and if you’re noticing that, you might want to revisit if the app is essential.
The right baby apps for new parents can be total game-changers. The wrong ones? They just add to the mental load.
My Top Baby Apps for New Parents That Made the Cut
Huckleberry: The All Things Tracking MVP
What the app does: Huckleberry tracks everything—feedings, diapers, sleep, pumping sessions, and medications. But what makes it unique is the SweetSpot feature. Using AI, it predicts when your baby will be ready for their next nap based on wake windows and previous sleep patterns.
How I used the app and my feedback: I didn’t use the SweetSpot feature much, but I used all the tracking features. R E L I G I O U S L Y. I used it for feeds, pees, poops, pump sessions, bottles, baths, wake windows and medicine. It reduced my anxiety as a new parent and helped provide my pediatrician and lactation consultant accurate information when they asked. I’m a huge data girlie, so this felt more helpful than harmful to me.
Cost: Free for basic tracking; Premium ranges from $12-15/month for personalized sleep plans and expert sleep consultants. Learn about their different plans here.
Pros and cons:
- Pro: If you’re using the app strictly for tracking purposes, the free version is robust. (No tracking features are paywalled, which I appreciate). The categories you can track include:
- Sleep
- Nursing (Has a timer that is super easy to set when your hands are full, and can track each side if you want).
- Bottle
- Solids
- Diaper (Can choose pees, poops, and even the texture and color)
- Potty
- Pumping (Total ounces, and which breast)
- Activity (Tummy time, outside play, etc.)
- Medicine (When we had the frenectomy, it helped keep track of time medicine was given).
- Growth
- Temperature
- Pro: The interface is incredibly intuitive, even at 2 AM when you’re half-asleep
- Pro: The details for tracking were well thought out.
- Pro: The SweetSpot predictions are extremely accurate once the app learns your baby’s patterns
- Con: Tracking is manual, you have to stay on top of entering all the information.
- Con: Some parents find the data overwhelming, especially during those early exhausting weeks
Nanit App: Our Baby Monitor
What the app does: Pairs with the Nanit camera to provide HD video monitoring, sleep tracking, breathing wear monitoring, and sleep insights. Creates time-lapse videos of your baby’s night and tracks sleep patterns automatically.
Cost: You can use it free with Nanit camera purchase; but there are a few different plan options you can choose from depending on what matters to you as a parent and you can learn more here. You will automatically receive a free trial of Nanit Insights, and they have it set up to charge you again after 6-months. So if you don’t want to pay for it, ensure you’ve cancelled.
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Automatically tracks sleep without manual logging
- Pro: Breathing wear gives peace of mind for anxious parents
- Pro: Time-lapse videos are adorable keepsakes
- Con: Subscription needed for the most valuable insights
How I used the app and my feedback: I loved my Nanit camera as a first time Mom. The breathing band and insights gave me such peace of mind, and having the ability to go back and watch the video history if something that happened in the middle of the night is so helpful.
I love that Nanit will show you how long your baby has been asleep for, and summarize the nap and night sleepings. Like how many wake ups, coughing, standing, etc. I love that you can set the sensitivity of notifications, and select what type of notifications you want to receive. I currently have standing and crying on, so I know when it’s time to go grab him after he wakes up.
I do want to note, now that I have a toddler, Nanit’s features aren’t as useful.
I did feel personally attacked by Nanit in the first few months, as they send you a detailed plan each Monday of how your baby slept in comparison to others. “Teach E to learn how to fall asleep on his own” was the constant “tip” and seeing how many visits a night I was doing vs. other parents made me feel a bit like I was failing at his sleep instead of what I was actually doing, and that was being responsive and nurturing to my baby.
Hatch Sleep App: Control Your Sound Machine from Another Room
What the app does: Controls Hatch Rest or Rest+ sound machines remotely. You can adjust volume, change colors, set programs, and create custom sleep routines, all from your phone. But, you can also tap the top, and it will turn on, or cycle through preprogrammed options.
Cost: Free with Hatch device purchase ($70-130 for the sound machine). They do have a payed plan if you want more custom features.
Pros and cons:
- Pro: No more tiptoeing into the nursery to adjust settings
- Pro: You can set programs to automatically change throughout the night
- Pro: Works as both white noise and a toddler sleep trainer clock
- Pro: Has a red and green light so in those early hours, you can teach your toddler that they can only come out of their room once the light turns green!
- Con: App occasionally has connectivity issues
How I used the app and my feedback: The hatch rest was essential in those first few weeks as it provided sound, and also a dim, red light when I was getting up and nursing to help not fully wake the baby. It allowed for me to see where I was going and what I was doing, while not stimulating our baby to wake up. We currently use it and have a few different steps (like volume levels) depending on if we’re taking a nap or going down for bed.
Clock App (iPhone Native): The Unsung Hero
What the app does: This is just your standard iPhone clock app, but it became essential for tracking all our reminders and windows when other apps felt like too much work.
Cost: Free (comes with iPhone)
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Already on your phone, no download needed
- Pro: Simple timer function requires zero brain power
- Pro: Doesn’t track your data or require an account
- Con: Doesn’t sync with caregivers
- Con: No data tracking or pattern analysis
How I used the app and my feedback: I used the timers for feeding windows (every 3 hours in the first few weeks) and my medication (C-section Momma). I loved that you can name each timer so as an example, I was offsetting ibuprofen and Tylenol, and each 6-hour timer was named, helping me not take the wrong one!
SNOO App: Smart Bassinet Control
What the app does: Controls the SNOO smart bassinet, tracking every sleep session and automatically responding to your baby’s cries with motion and sound. If your baby starts crying, it will automatically start moving back and forth a bit quicker, and the volume increases helping to soothe the baby.
Cost: Free with SNOO purchase ($1,700 or $159/month rental), but I recommend paying for the premium features of the app because there are a few features that aren’t included that are essential IMO for use of the Snoo.
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Automatically logs all sleep data
- Pro: Weaning mode helps transition out of the SNOO
- Pro: Sleep insights show patterns you might miss
- Con: Some parents report connectivity frustrations
How I used the app and my feedback: We used the Snoo for the first 4 months of our baby’s life, and the app was essential. The free version of the app does the bare bones and is great. It will automatically soothe and you can see the reports from the night before. We had premium for the first month and last month. The first month we used premium for the responsiveness settings, which I think is important. This means how many levels the Snoo will go up to soothe your baby, how high the sound volume is, etc. And then for the last month we used premium too for weaning mode. This is where the Snoo will stay still unless the baby starts actively crying. Which if I were to do it again, I probably would use weaning mode as my baseline, instead of the constant slow back and forth movement, to help my baby learn to sleep still. Our overall transition to his crib wasn’t terrible, but I’ve heard horror stories of parents having a motion dependent baby for sleep, and the transition is horrific.
Lovevery App: Developmental Play Made Easy
What the app does: Provides age-appropriate play ideas, developmental guidance, and activity suggestions that align with your baby’s stage. Pairs with Lovevery Play Kits but works independently too.
Cost: Free with Lovevery Toy Subscription, otherwise $12.00 a month.
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Takes the guesswork out of playtime
- Pro: Research-backed developmental information
- Pro: Short, realistic activity suggestions for exhausted parents (some video too!)
- Con: Some content is locked behind Play Kit purchases
- Con: Can feel like another thing to “do right” as a parent
How I used the app and my feedback: I love this app so much. Having a brand new baby I had no idea how to engage him in playtime, and what was appropriate for his age. The multitude of ways they suggest using their toys is incredible, and months later, there are still ways they suggest how to play with previous month’s toys, for your child’s current age.
When you open the app, “this week’s focus” is the first thing you see, which provides the top area you can prioritize and focus on for your child that week. You can also go back to the previous week, or jump forward to next week.
There’s also a search bar, and their database is EXTENSIVE for new parent questions. I was using it often for “should my baby be doing x while playing”, and the resources were excellent.
I’ll be doing a more in depth review of Lovevery as a whole, but I highly recommend this app as a great resource, and their toy subscription, to me, is worth it’s weight in gold.
CDC Milestone Tracker: Free Developmental Peace of Mind
What the app does: Provides developmental milestone checklists based on CDC guidelines. You can complete checklists, access tips and activities, and generate summaries to share with your pediatrician.
Cost: Free
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Completely free with no ads
- Pro: Based on official CDC guidelines
- Pro: Easy to share progress with doctors – most pediatricians follow CDC guidelines
- Pro: “When to Act Early” section helps identify concerns
- Con: Can trigger anxiety if your baby isn’t hitting milestones “on time”
- Con: Less engaging than other milestone apps
How I used the app and my feedback: This was more helpful than harmful to me, because I had a healthy relationship with milestones. It helped me know what to expect from my child’s development, while also allowing grace if he was on the later side of things, and then discussing with our pediatrician at our appointments. We were asked most of the CDC questions at checkin, so it did help to know what our child should be able to do without having to think through it on the spot.
Google Home App: Hands-Free Everything
What the app does: Controls all your smart home devices, including lights, thermostats, cameras, and more. Voice commands through Google Assistant make nighttime routines easier.
Cost: Free
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Has voice commands and can be used through app
- Pro: Can control multiple devices at once
- Pro: Works with most smart home brands
- Pro: Can set up routines and automations that work best for your life and schedule.
- Con: Requires smart home devices
How I used the app and my feedback: The smart home options are endless here. But we mostly used the google nest home for lights. We had a routine set up that we could turn on all the very dim lights in those first few groggy weeks. We’d say “Hey google, start nursing” and bam, Google would turn on two specific lights in the nursery and living room so we could do our diaper change and I could nurse. This simple hack was truly a lifesaver at 2am.
We have a few Google Home Nests and then a few wifi enabled outlet plugs. Do yourself a favor and buy a few of these. They are amazing and work perfectly with Google home.
The Wonder Weeks: Understanding the Fussy Phases
What the app does: Tracks your baby’s mental developmental “leaps” and predicts fussy periods. Provides information about what’s happening in your baby’s brain and suggests activities to support development.
Cost: $4.99 /month, or $9.99 for 3 months or $34.99 for 24 months, which is all leaps.
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Helps explain sudden fussiness or sleep regression
- Pro: Gives you a heads-up about challenging periods
- Pro: Includes developmental activities for each leap
- Con: Some experts question the science behind the leap theory
- Con: Can create anxiety or confirmation bias
How I used the app and my feedback: The confirmation bias is real here, but it did help me process and understand fussier periods of time. I didn’t find it as helpful in the first 6-8 weeks of life because my child was a newborn, and generally fussy a lot of the time. But once he hit 4-8months, there would be periods of fussiness that felt like it would come out of nowhere… and whether it was confirmation bias or real, it did feel validating that he was going through a leap, and made the fussiness more tolerable. Because, when there’s a name for it, there’s grace for it.
Wonder Weeks Hack: You can find much of this information online for free if you don’t want to purchase the app. Several parenting blogs and forums share leap schedules and tips. If you purchase even just 1. month and add to your personal calendar (I use google calendar), and when your subscription expires, you still have the leaps in your calendar. So, i’ll just randomly see one day, “E’s entering leap 10” — and then I can search online for what leap 10 entails, and that information is out on the internet.
Libby: Your Free Audiobook Library
What the app does: Connects to your local library card and gives you access to thousands of free audiobooks and ebooks. Perfect for those long nursing sessions or walks with the stroller.
Cost: Free with library card
Pros and cons:
- Pro: Completely free with no subscription
- Pro: Huge selection of titles
- Pro: Makes you feel like you’re doing something for yourself during feeds
- Pro: Helps to not doom scroll during feeds
- Con: Popular titles often have waitlists
- Con: Borrows expire, which can be annoying mid-book
How I used the app and my feedback: This was so helpful to me for middle of the night feeds. I would have my headphones next to my nursing chair and pop 1 in, then start my audiobook for the next 30 or so minutes. It was such a great way to pass the time, where I didn’t feel like I was just sitting around doing nothing (because sustaining life isn’t enough right?) or doom scrolling through social media. I listened to so many fun novels, that the rolling out of bed at 2:45am felt a bit easier knowing I had a good book waiting.
I would also listen to audiobooks on walks, or when I was cooking, etc., You can also checkout ebooks too, so. you’re not limited to audiobooks on the app. And what’s so cool is you can actually open them through kindle if you want. But for me, i found it easier to listen, as my hands were literally full most of the time.
How to Choose the Right Baby Apps for New Parents
With hundreds of options available, here’s how to narrow down which apps deserve space on your phone:
Start with one tracking app. Don’t try to use three different trackers. Pick one that feels intuitive during your hospital stay and stick with it. You can always switch later.
Only download apps you’ll actually use. That app tracking diaper colors might seem interesting, but if you won’t check it, skip it. Your phone storage (especially knowing there will be 5,000 new photos you’ll be taking week one) and mental energy are precious.
Test apps during free trials. Many premium baby apps for new parents offer free trials. Use that time to see if you actually open the app daily or if it just collects digital dust.
Share access with your partner early. Make sure any tracking apps sync properly between caregivers from day one.
Give yourself permission to delete. If an app is causing more stress than help, delete it guilt-free. There’s no award for using the most apps.
The Bottom Line on Baby Apps for New Parents
After nearly a year of testing dozens of apps, here’s what I’ve learned: the best baby apps for new parents are the ones you actually use consistently.
Your perfect app lineup will look different than mine. Maybe you’re someone who thrives on data and wants Baby Connect’s detailed reports. Maybe you need Peanut to find your village. Maybe you’re perfectly happy with just your phone’s clock app.
The goal isn’t to download every app on this list. It’s to find the baby apps for new parents that make your life genuinely easier, not just add to your digital clutter.
What are your favorite baby apps for new parents? Did I miss any game-changers? Let me know in the comments!
View comments
+ Leave a comment