Parenting is possibly the most challenging “job” of all. The journey of raising a child is turbulent, and the parenting path comes with various twists and turns. The phrase “parenting does not come with a manual” holds its merit, as most parents today feel that they are mostly “winging it,” especially during the first six months of their parenting journey. Today, technology helps parents stay more informed, assisting in ways of reducing stress and anxiety.

Technology has revolutionized the way we live, work and communicate. It has made our lives easier, efficient and more convenient. In recent years, technology has helped parents navigate the challenges of everyday life. From creating a sense of community, to receiving guidance, and gaining access to educational and emotional support, technology in parenting apps has raised awareness on good parenting practices and has granted more security to parents.

There are, however, challenges that parents face due to technology. For example, according to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, their findings indicate that “two-thirds of these parents say that parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago” citing social media and smartphones among the leading reasons. 

Aside from the risks that social media, smartphones, and technology in general may pose to parents and parenting, there have been several technologies created to help parents by providing them with information, a community, and guidance. According to a Parenting Apps Market Report, the market size for parenting apps is surprisingly substantial at $472.4 million in 2021, and is expected to nearly double by 2028, rising to a total of $788.8 million. Attesting to this are findings from a research paper on parenting apps, which found that since 2019, there are 4,300 free parenting apps, with more apps that have been developed since then, and possibly parenting apps that require a fee.

The above-mentioned research paper denotes that not every parenting app was eligible for evaluation, as some were heavily invested in advertisements, and some were not providing actionable advice. However, there are some parenting apps that have a strong presence globally, and there is one in Cyprus already offering women and parents the support they need. The most important point to note, however, is that technology is an enabler to help parents, and it is not meant to be used or viewed as a replacement for a parent’s intuition.

While technology brings new challenges to parenting, there are apps designed to help parents navigate the boundaries of their child’s access to technology, ensuring that the knowledge and information they are absorbing is conducive to their child’s upbringing.

In today's fast-paced world, parents are constantly juggling multiple responsibilities while trying to keep up with their child's activities and wellbeing. 

The Kids360 Parenting app provides parents with a one-stop solution for managing their child's digital device usage. With features like screen time limits and content blocking, parents can ensure their child's safety while using technology. Parents can set up the app to notify them when their child reaches or leaves certain locations, allowing them to keep track of their child's whereabouts.

The practice of monitoring children’s phone usage has been a taboo topic for some time. From finding a balance, to outright “banning” access to smartphones, parents have been implementing their own ideal practices to keep their children from accessing potentially harmful information, or spending long periods of time on their phones. Setting screen time limits is a prominent method, helping families establish times that are “tech-free” such as during dining hours or generally throughout nights on weekdays.

Ensuring the digital safety of a child is significant, but a more immediate necessity after pregnancy is a mother’s need to heal her body and possibly remediate postpartum depression (PPD). Fiit Mum is a fitness app designed specifically for mothers, helping them stay fit and healthy while managing their busy schedules. The app offers a variety of workouts that are tailored to different fitness levels and schedules, allowing mothers to customize their workout routines to fit their needs.

The app offers a wide range of workouts, from high-intensity interval training to yoga and meditation, providing mothers with the flexibility to choose the type of workout that suits their mood and schedule. Additionally, the app features a community aspect, allowing moms to connect with other like-minded individuals for support and motivation.

Exercising during and after pregnancy is an important factor in a mother’s recovery period. Studies have proven the positive and significant effects that exercising has in overcoming PPD, and is a strong alternative to pharmacological solutions. In this sense, the application of technology through apps is there to help mothers plan their times for exercising and setting reminders to ensure that their workouts are completed.

While these apps have their strengths, they only offer support and guidance for a specific stage of pregnancy and childcare. Cyprus, however, is home to a parenting app rising in prominence that is focused on creating a reliable community, providing guidance for pre, during, and post-natal occurrences, and hosts vast amounts of information for parents to learn from and contribute to, if they choose to.

With parental support apps, parents can access information about healthcare, childcare, and education from anywhere in the world. They can learn about new products, services, and resources that can help them in their daily lives. They can also connect with other parents who share similar experiences and challenges. Parental support apps have been on the rise since 2018, showing a 170% growth of app development between 2017 and 2021. Among these apps is one in Limassol, Cyprus, called Soula.

One of the most significant benefits of technology for parents is the access to information. Findings in 2021 indicate that in Cyprus, 57% of women and 67% of men who are caring for children and adolescents rely on their relatives and parents for information and support. Seeking help and guidance from relatives is a cultural phenomenon with strong presence in Cyprus, which is why the island ranks the highest in this context in Europe. The ability to seek guidance and help from relatives is great, but with a growing foreign population whose families are abroad, they require other means of receiving help with parenting. 

Soula.care, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is an assistant for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum versus pregnancy, maternity, and beyond. Founded by Natalia Miranchuk who is a mother of two, has led maternity projects for over 15 years. She developed Soula to help moms around the world “bloom into the mom you are” by leveraging artificial intelligence to provide personalized support for women and parents before, during, and after pregnancy, all the way through to early childhood. Since 2019, Soula trains and uses AI to source the best advice from experts across the world. By leveraging the power of AI, Soula also checks in on mothers to ask them how they are progressing, engaging in conversation and helping them feel more informed, safe, and secure.

The app offers features such as daily health tips, virtual coaching, access to healthcare professionals, and a community of users for support and advice. Soula.care aims to empower parents to make informed decisions about their health and well-being during this important time in their lives.

In a conversation with Natallia, she further explained, stating that:

“Most of the products are made for moms as a tool to give birth to a healthy baby. Almost none raise attention to the feelings of a pregnant person or a mom. To her level of joy, fulfillment and satisfaction with the journey. Soula is a safe space. Your personal advocate who is always standing for you. No matter what. With no judgment. With love, care and support. 24/7 A big mama to help the women to bloom into the moms they are. As everything they need is already inside them. They just need some care and support to unfold it.”

It is clear that a factually objective parenting manual does not exist. However, through the help of technology, parents have greater access to information, guidance, and finding other parents, establishing a sense of community. Technology is not meant to replace human intuition. It exists as an enabler to help set reminders, structure routines, and access information. With Soula, parents have access to conversational AI, support groups, and troves of information to help them through conversations with the application.