I am sharing this article from Emily Graham of the Mighty Moms blog because I know that new mothers can use all the help they can get during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As new parents, you know time has taken on a new meaning. You want time to slow down to enjoy every moment of your baby's life, and you want other parts of your life to speed up so you can spend more time with your new family. While nothing can be quite as valuable as reading books to your child, these five apps can also prove useful during your parenting journey.

WebMD Baby

What new parents don't have questions at two in the morning when their baby spikes a fever? WebMD Baby has an extensive library of medically-approved content related to baby and toddler care, and it offers tracking tools for feeding, nursing, and sleep schedules. The app makes it easy to look for answers as you pace the floor or rock your baby to sleep. Instead of combing the internet, use the WebMD Baby app to get the answers you need as quickly as possible.

Cozi Family Organizer

Many new parents find that they’re no longer as organized as they were before parenthood. The Cozi Family Organizer is designed to help fix that. Through the app, you can manage schedules and activities on a virtual calendar, create grocery lists, and share to-do lists. There's even a recipe box that lets you schedule meals directly on the calendar. Your family can also access the calendar so that everyone is on the same page with coordinated tasks.

Wonder Weeks Milestone Memories

The Wonder Weeks Milestone Memories app tracks your baby's development with pictures! Milestone Memories, a sibling to the Wonder Weeks app, follows the Wonder Weeks guide to track your baby's development for the first 20 months of life. Using pictures, you can document all your baby's firsts and put them together in a timeline of memories. Years later, you will be able to see your baby’s first reactions to food, for instance.

Baby Monitor 3g

If you have two phones, tablets, or computers, you have the start of a video baby monitor. Just add the Baby Monitor 3G app, and you can securely transfer live video from your baby's room to your smart device or computer. The Night Light feature lets you see your baby after the lights are out. The app means you don't have to fit a traditional monitoring system into your travel bags or remember to take it with you for a day with grandma.

Babytime

Babytime is a dedicated app for tracking a baby's schedule. Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed or both, Babytime tracks when, how long, and how much. Record sleeping information to track sleeping patterns to see when and for how long your baby sleeps. You will need to track diaper changes to make sure your baby is eating enough. With the late nights and frequent feedings, it is hard to remember what happened when. Babytime can make it easier by showing trends and highlighting patterns.

Protecting Your Device

You've got the phone, and you've got the apps. You're feeling pretty good about this new parent thing. Then, you drop your phone while bathing your baby. Or maybe you let your little one hold your phone while you change a diaper — until the phone ends up in the diaper. What about those counter spills or sticky hands that somehow end up on your phone? These incidents are a recipe for disaster, so consider purchasing a new case for your phone. There are several options, including slim cases for a less clunky appearance and hardshell cases that prevent your device from getting damaged during imminent falls. Not to mention, a new case will also make your phone look more aesthetically pleasing.

These parenting apps are designed for a specific purpose; there's no need to pay for an all-in-one app that falls short or is so hard to navigate that it takes forever to find what you were looking for. Any of these apps can help you make the most of parenthood and allow you to better enjoy this new chapter with your little one.

While these apps can come in handy, the most valuable tool you can have in your repertoire is books! Stock up on educational and fun children's literature such as Pam Saxelby's books.