I am truly happy to have a Guest Writer making an appearance for us. Please welcome and enjoy this piece by Kristin Louis.
Kristin Louis is a former advertising copywriter. She’s a loving mom to two boys: oldest is 10 and youngest is 7. She recently created parentingwithkris.com, where she puts her skills to work writing about the trials and tribulations of parenting.
Having your first baby changes everything. That can include your daily routines and your family budgets. All of a sudden, your days consist of feedings, diaper changes, and a million other tiny tasks, and keeping track of all of these responsibilities can get overwhelming fast. That’s why so many new parents are turning to their smartphones and parenting apps for relief from all of the added pressure and stress. There are so many new apps available for both Android and iPhone, but these tips from Classy Mama Bear will help you find the best tools and apps for your needs and budget:
Look for Deals on Smartphone Accessories
Even if you can’t use promo codes on your new phone, you may be able to use them to pick up a few new accessories for your phone, including a protective case. Having a durable case is a must for new parents, especially with all of the spills and accidents that can occur with a baby. In addition to a waterproof and shock-resistant case, you may also want to use those Best Buy discounts to stock up on an arsenal of chargers. Having a portable charger in your diaper bag can be a real lifesaver as well, especially for those early mornings and late evening feedings.
Shop Online to Save on a New Smartphone
Many of these parenting apps require the latest operating systems and processors to operate smoothly, so be sure to include this must-have piece of tech in your baby prep list. Since your budget is likely already stretched thin, know that you may be able to use online promo codes to save money on your new phone when you shop online. Many retailers like Target or Best Buy offer some pretty sweet deals on their selection of smartphones, but you can take full advantage of these savings by combining applicable offers with special deals, a Target or Best Buy coupon, and cashback offers.
Sign Up for Free Nursing Apps & Trackers
Now that you have your new smartphone ready and charged, you can start downloading some of the latest parenting apps. Many new moms find nursing apps, including Milk Maid and Baby Tracker Nursing App, to be priceless when it comes to easing nursing worries. Nursing tracking apps, including Baby Tracker, take the hassle out of scheduling and staying on top of feedings while pumping apps like Milk Maid allow new moms to easily manage pumped milk supplies.
Download Free Family Organizing Tools & Apps
Keeping feeding and pumping schedules organized can relieve a lot of stress and pressure for first-time parents. To help keep yourself from becoming completely overwhelmed with your new parenting duties and routines, however, you also need to maintain organization in other areas of your life. Both babies and parents thrive on this sort of consistency, which is why using organizational apps like Cozi Family Organizer can be life-changing. With one convenient and free app, you can share calendars, meal plans, and so much more with your entire family.
Prep Your Home
Of course, there are a million things around your home that you’ll need to do in order to prep for your little one. For example, you might want to go ahead and put a fence up around your yard. Doing so will minimize the number of pests who can access and mess up your yard — saving you the time and stress of fixing those issues — and down the line, it will offer your child a great place to run and play. There’s no app for that just yet, but you can check out Angi fence installation options to find affordable, highly-rated options in your area. And is that crib put together yet? If the thought of trying to decipher those instructions have you wanting to cry, look for some help on TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit is also a great option for finding someone to babyproof your home.
Use Free Sleeping Apps to Improve Rest for All
What could be more important than saving money as a new parent? If you answered getting sleep, then you are 100% correct. Still, parenting studies show that new parents can expect to lose out on sleep for at least the first six years of their child’s life. That’s a somber statistic to come to terms with, but there are apps out there that can help you recoup some of those lost zzz’s. If your baby (or even you) tends to have a hard time sleeping in complete silence, turning on a white noise app like Sleep Baby Sleep could help you both relax through those nap times.
From feedings to diaper changes to family budgets, new parents already have a lot to think about. That’s why having a reliable smartphone loaded with helpful apps can be a smart move, especially for first-time parents. Using these tips may not take all of the stress away for new parents, but they can definitely make caring for a newborn and sticking to a budget easier.
Kristin Louis
