Thank you to Caseapp.com for sponsoring this post. As always, all views and opinions are 100% mine.

Yes, yes, I know that women for centuries got by just fine without all the technologies available to us moms these days. However, I truly don’t know what I would have done without my iPhone, laptop and particularly the apps that made life SO much easier and much less stressful for me as a new mom.

I want to share the top 10 apps that I personally used and think would benefit any new mom + will continue to be useful as your baby grows; I’m still using all of these apps now and Taylor is almost 1.5. All of the apps listed are available in the iTunes App Store and I’m almost certain all are also available for Android phones as well. I hope one or more of the apps I share will make YOUR life as a new mom a little easier or sweeter!

On to the top 10 apps for a new mom …

1. 1. White Noise App – I personally used the Sound Sleeper app and could often be mistaken for a walking thunderstorm with Taylor in her stroller during those early months when she would only fall asleep to fairly loud “rain” (read my other 4 tips for newborn sleep in this post). Whatever works, whatever works…It’s also useful to have white noise on your phone when traveling if you don’t want to bring along a bulkier sound machine; This brings me to the next app…
   2. Baby Monitor Annie – You have to have another person set this app up on their phone as well, but once that’s taken care of it’s easy to then utilize your phones as the camera and receiver – just like you would for a baby monitor. We did this a couple of times when we stayed at my parents house and didn’t pack our monitor.
   3. Starbucks App – I used this embarrassingly too often to order + pay for my coffee ahead of time if I knew I was already going to be out and about near a Starbucks. Sometimes I would make a trip out of walking there from home (we used to live about a mile away). It’s the little accomplishments, like getting out for a coffee with a newborn, that makes a new mom proud! If you have a baby prone to fussing while not in motion like mine was, then you don’t want to be waiting in line and then for your drink if it can be avoided. Stroll in, grab coffee, stroll out. It’s not lazy, it’s GENIUS.

1. 1. LifeCake – this is an app you can start using from your baby’s first day in the hospital through their first day in college if you really wanted to be a Mamarazzi like that. You can grant access to as many friends or family as you want. It’s nice because you can post pictures every day if you want, and not have to worry about privacy and/or annoying everyone else on your Facebook feed that isn’t immediately related to your little, photo-overload worthy cutie. Anyone you add can then see and comment on photos you post, which are labeled by their day and month of age. This app is especially useful if you have parents/grandparents who don’t live nearby and want to see their grandchild and share in their day to day. We added our parents and siblings, who don’t live in our immediate area, and it’s been a great way to stay connected. LifeCake will also put together a photo book of your photos for an additional cost.

1. 1. Wonder Weeks – have you ever wondered why your baby or toddler is more fussy than usual over a period of days or weeks? Well, wonder no more with this app! You create a profile for your baby and then have access to a personalized weekly calendar of their mental development that keeps you informed of their leaps, when you can expect fussy behavior, and why!
   2. Web MD Baby – this is an app I discovered after the newborn days but wish I’d had sooner! Not only is the app a feeding, diaper and sleep tracker, but also a great resource tool; The Baby 101 section has hundreds of articles and resources on everything you’d want to know about your new baby, from colic to skin care.
   3. Facebook – so this app (and the next one) you could access through your laptop or computer, and probably already have BUT are you a member of the Facebook Groups Precious Little Sleep and Breast, Bottle & Beyond?? I cannot tell you how many times admins and members of these groups came to my rescue, even in the middle of the night. See the evidence of this below! I probably would have thrown in the proverbial breastfeeding towel if it weren’t for the support of the community in BB&B, as well as my friend who also happens to be a lactation consultant. You can read my interview with her + her top tips for breastfeeding mamas in this post. You do have to request to join both groups, but I am sure you’ll be approved!
   4. Pinterest – Forget Google, THIS is my (almost) All Things Motherhood search engine. I spent a TON of time on Pinterest when I was home on maternity leave and nursing newborn Taylor all the time. I’d sift through articles, read, then pin the best ones related to sleep, feeding, new mom hacks/advice, inspirational quotes, postpartum, and basically all things new mom (like thousands). I would love to save you the trouble of doing all of that, so just follow me on Pinterest and check out the pinned posts on all my new mom related boards!
   5. BabySparks – Developmental Activities & Milestones – I love having this app to give me ideas of activities to help Taylor develop in the seven critical areas: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive, Speech, Sensory, Self-Care, and Social Emotional. The app includes information regarding development from month to month (from 0 to 2 years old), as well as specific activities that you can do with your baby. Each activity has a demonstration video as well as a detailed how-to description. You can also search for your specific need/s, which for us was Tummy Time/rolling!
   6. Instacart – This just might be THE most useful app for new and/or pregnancy moms, especially in those first postpartum weeks. You know, when all+ of your energy is taken up trying to take care and sustain a little life, and the last thing you can think about doing is getting out of the house to go grocery shopping? If Instacart is available in your area you can order groceries from your local store via Instacart, then one of their shoppers will pick them up for and deliver them to you at the time you specify. Say whaaaat?! This was a lifesaver for me as a new mom, particularly when I went back to work and didn’t want to spend any of my non-working time doing anything except being with T! My referral code is ALATIMER14 – you’ll get $10 off your first order and I’ll get $10 too! You can then share your own referral code with friends and get $10 in InstaCart credit.

So, let’s talk about my iPhone case and Laptop Skin for a minute; how cute are they? Both are from Caseapp.com. You have the option to create your own custom cases and skins, which I had every intention of doing, Â but I honestly couldn’t get past how stinking cute their ready made patterns were! Is it weird that I chose a laptop skin that matches my downstairs decor/color theme?? Okay, I didn’t think so. : )

I think I picked the cutest patterns ever, but check out all of the options here yourself,  and let me know which one you like best! You can use code TAYLORMADE20 to receive 20% off your order at Caseapp.com, valid until October 21, 2017.

Are there any Apps you would recommend for new moms or moms with toddlers? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Other Taylor-made Mama posts you may be interested in:

• 12 Things I Never Understood About Moms Until I Became One
• Maternity Leave Routine For Mom and Baby
• The Ultimate 1st Birthday Party Planning Guide – Free Printable Checklist!
• How To Solve Your Baby’s Teething Problems!