Bringing app baby
THE INTERNET OFFERS A TON OF TIPS AND TOOLS FOR THE PARENTS OF TINY TOTS. ELLEN DANIEL ROUNDS UP THE APPS AND SITES THAT CAN MAKE LIFE THAT LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR NEW MUMS AND DADS
POST-BABY life can be anything but spontaneous. Rare nights out must be pencilled in weeks in advance so a babysitter can be booked before someone else nabs them.
However, a new app could make spur-of-the-moment outings a possibility once more.
The brainchild of two London dads, Bubble is an Uber-style app that aims to make finding a reliable babysitter “easier than ordering in a takeaway”, according to founder Ari Last.
The concept is simple: the app connects parents with trusted, local babysitters who are available immediately. By connecting you to background-checked babysitters who have been hired and reviewed by your friends, it offers peace of mind, too.
Browse through profiles, choose a sitter, and, with 40% of requests made through Bubble successfully processed inside 24 hours, parents can enjoy pre-baby spontaneity once again.
Co-founder Adrien Murdoch said: “As parents, we know that when it comes to finding a babysitter, nothing is more powerful than a personal connection, and with our app, users can quickly tap into their wider network of trusted sitters.”
Bubble is one of many digital resources to help mums and dads finding their parenting feet.
From the ever-popular Mumsnet to the new Tinder-style app for setting up playdates, here are six of the best...
1 CLOUD BABY MONITOR
NO need to buy a high-tech video baby monitor when this app turns your phone into a cheaper alternative. The £3.99 app, available for iPhone, streams video from a phone or tablet placed near the baby to another device, allowing parents to check on them from another room throughout the night.
Cloudbaby monitor.com
2 PEANUT
LAUNCHED by the founder of dating app Bumble, Peanut matches nearby mums with similar interests. Whether it’s arranging playdates or coffee dates, Peanut is all about making it easier to connect, helping to combat the loneliness that can sometimes come with being a new mum. It’s available for iPhone.
Peanut-app.io
3 BABYCHANGE
DEVELOPED by NCT, this app (available for iPhone and Android) makes the lives of parents on the go that little bit easier by mapping changing facilities. Parents can search for nearby facilities and even rate them on cleanliness.
NCT.org.uk
4 WEBMD BABY
BEING a new parent can be a nerve-wracking time, but with easy access to a wealth of physician-approved advice, Web MDBaby offers peace of mind. The iPhone and Android app also has a feature that allows you to track your baby’s feeding, sleep and growth. Webmd.com/ webmdbabyapp
5 MUMSNET
THE popular parenting forum now has an app, available for iPhone and Android. Whether you’re looking for advice or simply want to chat with other parents, you can now be part of the conversation wherever you are.
Mumsnet.com/apps
6 SOUND SLEEPER
OFFERING a range of audio tracks, including white noise, car rides, and nature sounds, Sound Sleeper helps soothe your baby to sleep. With a wide variety to choose from, the iPhone and Android app can be used for newborns, toddlers and even tired parents.
Parents2parentsapps.com/soundsleeper