From pregnancy, to delivery, to taking care of your new baby here are five must-have apps for the dad-to-be!
written by Tanni Haas, Ph.D.
Daddy Up
(Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play)
As a man, you can be forgiven for not knowing what it’s like to be pregnant. After all, YOU aren’t the one who’s pregnant. But do yourself a favor and get Daddy Up. This app has all the advice you could possibly want about what it feels like to be pregnant and what you can do to support your wife through the many changes she’s going through. It’s written by other dads who’ve been through this, so they know what they’re talking about. The app has a journal log to jot down your thoughts and feelings as you and your wife go through this journey together.
Contraction Timer
(Available at: Amazon Apps; Apple Appstore)
When the time is up, you want to be ready: ready to get your wife to the hospital or birthing center ASAP or if you’re having a home birth, to let the doula start begin with her support. Contraction Timer can help you with that. This awesome app lets you time your wife’s contractions and record the length of each one and the intervals between them. You can add notes to describe each contraction such as their intensity, which is very useful if you’re going to the hospital or birthing center and would like to update the OB/GYN or midwife.
Hatch Baby
(Available at: Amazon Apps; Apple Appstore; Google Play)
Once the baby arrives, your life will change radically and forever. Suddenly, you’ll need to keep track of a whole host of things, including your baby’s feedings, diaper changes, and sleep. You’ll be very tired, but Hatch Baby can help you stay organized and on top of things. This app lets you record and track all your baby-related responsibilities, which will help you learn about your baby’s patterns.
CDC’s Milestone Tracker
(Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play)
It’s great to stay organized with all the things you need to do for your baby, but how do you know that your baby is developing as it should? Milestone Tracker is a development-tracking app that has been developed by the highly respected Centers for Disease Control. The app has a comprehensive checklist that lets you see if your baby is reaching various milestones, advice on what you can do to stimulate your baby’s development, and suggestions about where to go if you’re concerned about how your baby is doing.
Life of Dad
(Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play)
Sometimes, you prefer not to read about what it’s like to be a dad, but instead to connect in real-time with other dads and share your experiences. When you get that urge, download Life of Dad. Known as the social network for dads, this app lets you speak directly to other dads around the world. You can talk to them about anything having to do with being a dad, as well as any other things in your life.
Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.
