NEW Mumsnet Baby Bundle app sponsored by Nurofen for Children feedback thread: see how testers are getting on NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the MN testers who are trying out our snazzy new app for all things new baby.

The app is available in iTunes here

"Helping new parents through the first two years of parenthood, Mumsnet Baby Bundle sponsored by Nurofen for Children is the mobile toolkit that has it all! Mumsnet Baby Bundle is a one-stop app for new parents looking for information, support and a place to keep track of everything to do with their baby, from feeding patterns and nap times to measurements and doctors’ appointments. It’s packed full of free features to make your first experience of parenting as stress-free as possible."

There are several elements available for free on the app - and the pro version is available for a free trials for 7 days - after this free trial period ends, users would have an automatic enrolment into monthly auto-renewable subscription at £1.49/month (can be cancelled at any time)

Testers - please share with us below:

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
What else would you like to see in the app?
How easy or difficult was it to use?
Any other comments?

All testers who take part and who add feedback as requested, will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £300 John Lewis voucher. Don't forget to also add your review here

Thanks and good luck

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

As a second time parent, unfortunately I was fairly disappointed with the app. I was hoping for more developmental information/advice. With a toddler on the loose, I don't get time to document her feeds, sleep, nappies and I suppose I don't have the same anxieties I had with my first. If I was a first time mum, I think it would have been quite useful as I was more routine driven and obsessed with when he last fed and how long he slept for. I like the little icons and it's fairly similar to how a fitness app works when you press the central button to log something. However, even as a first tine mum, the novelty may well wear off by the time he was 6 months??
I did like the health reference and check-up planner as it was useful. The newsfeed had some good articles, but again, mainly for first time parents. Some articles had broken links which was frustrating.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
As a first time mum I think I would have used the nappy/sleep/feed tracking function in the early days. I'm not sure that I would use it so much second time around as j would probably feel more relaxed about tracking everything.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
Definitely for first time parents, loads of good advice,the tracking function is useful and also the section about when appointments are likely to happen and what they are for. This does vary hugely depending on where you live tho and that should be made clear I think.

What else would you like to see in the app?
Agree what other posters have said about a way to keep a record of medication and maybe also recording any illnesses etc.

How easy or difficult was it to use?
For the most part straightforward but couldn't get the monitor function to work.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

I liked the tracker for feed/sleep, I would have used it a lot when my baby was first born, it's better than the other tracker apps I have seen and used.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?

Yes, it's got lot of useful content.

What else would you like to see in the app?

A map type function that could let you find baby friendly places/changing facilities /things to do ect

How easy or difficult was it to use?

I gave up with the code from mumsnet in the end as it wouldn't work for me. It's very easy to install if you don't have to do that and easy to navigate and use.

Any other comments

I would pay for this app as I found it really useful!

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

I've mainly used the feeding and nappy change tracker - as a mum of two month old twins they've become part of our feeding routine now and I'd be lost without them - no more trying to work out if they're due a feed again now or not! My little ones also went through their first virus and immunisations just as I got the app and the ability to add extra notes in a 'medical' category has meant I can keep track of temperatures and calpol doses much easier.

Would you recommend it to other parents?

First time parents and parents of multiples definitely - it would be a must have for sanities sake. Though it's extremely helpful for making sure your little ones patterns are on track no matter what baby number you're on.

Why?

For first time mums it's a one stop shop for peace of mind. My mum showed me old paper scraps she tried to keep track of things on for me and they were so confusing! So handy to have it on your phone too so you can simply show your GP or HV their patterns when required. Lovely to track their growth etc too and the graphs in the red book are mind boggling!

What else would you like to see in the app?

In addition to the growth charts I think it would be a lovely idea to have a section where you can upload a picture of your LO with each week that passes. It would be great to be able to look back at how they looked at each weight/length/week all in the same place - and perhaps record something sweet they did that week too. Having two - I think it definitely helps to have something to remind you how lovely they can be when they're screaming at you in stereo!

How easy or difficult was it to use?

I've found it very easy to use except for one thing.

Please PLEASE change the slider on the amount of milk that's been drunk! It's so sensitive I spend 2 mins each feed just trying to get the right amount (even longer if I'm having to comfort a colic-y crier at the same time!). I've used similar trackers before that simply allow you to type in how much they've had and at what time, I don't see why this wasn't implemented on this app too?

Any other comments?

Overall I think it's an excellent app but would be tempted to revert back to the old app tracker for my sanities sake if the slider remains the way it currently is.

Currently in hospital with DS, so my review will be delayed. Hope that's ok.

Haven't had a chance to use all the features yet as my DD has been ill.
I have found the app really useful while my DD has been ill to keep a record of her feeds, nappies, sleep and medication times which I could then show her G.P. The G.P thought it was a great idea too.
Not sure I would use the tracker normally as DD is 7MO now and I'm over the whole paranoid new mum stage and a bit more laid back now. Great if they are sick and you need to keep an eye on things.
I did find the app easy to use. I liked the health reference and parenting guide, but most of the info is easily available on Mumsnet already.
There are features which I wouldn't use such as baby monitor & family sharing.
Overall there are pros and cons for the app. Great to get as a freebie and I think I will use it. I don't think I would have purchased it at this stage, though maybe if it had been around when DD was a newborn I would have considered purchasing it.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
The sleep timer and the feed timer. To be honest, DD is 8 months and is my second child and I don't use it regularly, but I'm terrible for chucking her a bottle or a crust/fruit/veg when she gets hungry rather than a proper meal of solids. It's a bit of a reminder to wean her properly.

I'm also struggling with a touch of PND at the moment so it's been useful to read through the parenting guide. Even as a second-time and fairly confident parent there are useful things to remember or learn in there. I haven't had PND before so that alone has been helpful to read.

I'd love the baby monitor to work, as I was actually searching for an app which works like that recently, but it keeps crashing and I haven't been able to get it to load.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
Yes, for first time parents or parents of newborns who are establishing breastfeeding/routines. I used to type in all the feeding info into a note on my phone when establishing breastfeeding with DS, it was tedious and time-consuming. Then I used a Philips Avent app but it was also a bit more fiddly than this app. This is quick and user-friendly and I like the health appointments feature to let you know what's coming up and when.

What else would you like to see in the app?
I think a photo timeline would be a good idea. The Avent app I had before allowed you to add a photo of "first bath" "first tooth" and so on.

Actually, teething. I'd like a teething tracker. For at least the first few. The baby books you do for their first year all ask about it and I remember the whinginess/drooling but not when the teeth came through!

How easy or difficult was it to use?
Very easy.

Any other comments?
Sleep-timer - logging naps already taken. I'd prefer an hour dial in there rather than just minutes because she's a good sleeper and if she sleeps for two hours and 22 minutes I'd like to not have to work that out in minutes, because brain-space is not always up to the task and it takes ages to scroll that far. I'd also like to be able to log start and finish times (and have the device calculate the length of nap). The first thing I do when DD wakes is check my watch and the second thing is get her up - I don't get to my phone immediately to end the timer so that facet is useless.

At the moment I'm reading through the parenting guide and it keeps crashing back to the homepage, so there are some reliability issues.

That's it. I'm going to read the content, but I don't think I'm going to need to use it on an ongoing basis, so will probably not download it once the beta testing period is over.

I couldn't get it to work with TestFlight straight away but after a few days I did and here's what I thought.
I was given a trial of this app and loved it. It's welcoming and informative and just perfect for every mum and dad to keep track of their baby's wellbeing. It has handy features like the trackers such as: feeds,nappies, sleeps, pumping if you're breastfeeding, and notes. All of which are great for keeping an eye on how your baby is doing. The feed tracker is really useful when breastfeeding because it remembers which side you fed on last (something I regularly forget!) it's so handy to have a timer too so you can tell your gp/ health visitor how much they're feeding and when or how many nappies they've had etc. It's lovely that you can add a picture of your baby too and it makes it feel all that more personal. I added notes and pictures too. Such as the first time we went to buy my babies first shoes.
It also comes with a guide to baby's health conditions or concerns which is great to have handy if your baby is suffering with something.
There's a brilliant growth tracker where you can input baby's measurements and see how big they're getting! Such a great idea and a lovely visual way to keep track.
You also can input baby's check ups and appointments which is amazing. I love to be organised but I'm not always organised! This helps you keep up to date with what's coming up in your busy baby's schedule.
Overall I loved this app. I'd recommend it straight from birth. It's amazing and really does help you out when you need to keep an eye on what baby is doing.
The news feed is full of wonderful tit bits and advice to keep you occupied during them night feeds and beyond. It's a wonderful app and an essential for all new parents.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

I quite liked the quick links to health advice and the summary of check-ups etc, though that's info that I can easily access elsewhere on the web. The family sharing section is good - I can imagine that this facility would make the feed tracker etc very handy if you were using a childminder or handing over care to a grandparent regularly, so they could quickly check what had happened earlier in the day.

Would you recommend it to other parents?
First-time parents who regularly share care with others, yes.

Why?

Think this would be the group that would find it most useful.

What else would you like to see in the app?

Links to local info, e.g. local breastfeeding counsellors or NCT groups?

How easy or difficult was it to use?

Easy

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

A couple of months ago I got myself in a bit of a tizz about sleep routine etc and this was exactly the sort of app I was looking for. However that worry had well and truly passed by the time I was able to test this app. So I think if you wanted to document various aspects of a baby's routine, this app is ideal and easy to use. I was also impressed by the amount of different tools available on there, eg growth chart and general info (weaning, injections etc).

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?

I would definitely recommend it if the parent is looking to document routine, growth etc.

What else would you like to see in the app?
Another user mentioned an option to add a weekly pic of your baby to see development over time. I agree this would be a nice touch as part of the free version.

How easy or difficult was it to use?

Very easy and user friendly

Any other comments? NA

I think this app would have been amazing when I had my first baby. Second time around I don't really bother tracking feeds or nappies etc.
I also couldn't get the baby monitor to work, this is one of the features I was excited about.

I'd like to be able to input naps manually when I've forgotten to start the timer. If there is a way to do this I've not figured it out.

More information on routines at each stage would be useful. I'd like to get my 3 month old into some sort of routine and it would have been good to find advice on the app.

I did like the parenting and health guides. They were great handy little references.

I wouldn't pay £1.49 a month for the pro features. I think a small one off payment to buy the app would be more reasonable.

I'm not sure whether my trial has registered as I never input a code anywhere?

I have had an email requesting my feedback but have never received any emails telling me I had been chosen to take part.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
The tracking of feeds, changes, weight etc would be very useful in the early days. My baby is currently 5 months so I don't track these now (although I have still been putting his weight in) but it would definitely help with a newborn.

Would you recommend it to other parents
Yes
Why?
It's a useful app with plenty of tips & information for new parents. I had downloaded many of these apps when my little one was born but they all had different aspects of them that I needed. This app is everything in one (& isn't American based like others) so is really helpful!

What else would you like to see in the app?
To be honest, it has absolutely everything a new parent would need from an app but there could be weekly/monthly notifications sent from the app to let parents know what there baby should (or can) be doing now like Babycentre.

How easy or difficult was it to use?
It was pretty easy to use however needs a currency converter so that you can add baby's weight in lbs not just kg.

Any other comments?
Babies get there head circumference measured at birth and 6 weeks. The trouble is, when I was adding just weight the head circumference would go down to 0 which is obviously not the case. You need to separate all the information so it doesn't correlate with each other as parents won't always have ALL the measurements together.

I think the app is great. It would have been really useful when my baby was a newborn and I was tracking everything religiously, perhaps some mums of older baby's still track. I loved reading the information sections, it'd be great to have more info that's relevant for older babies (my lo is 10mo) but I'd definitely have loved this when he was a newborn. I had trouble saving any info for my baby, I was able to set up his profile with name and dob but couldn't put in his weight without also putting in his length and head circumference which is info I don't have. Our hv has always only measured his weight so the growth tracker didn't work for me. I like the idea of being able to share information with medical professionals but think this would need a bit more thought and tweeking first!
I would certainly recommend to anyone expecting a baby for those early days and weeks!

Thanks for letting me test this app. I have a 9-week old who is a reluctant feeder so found the tracker useful. I found it VERY annoying that I was continually asked to "sign in" when using the app - and even when not using it - but I think this was a function of TestFlight rather than the app itself...

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful? The tracker/log was the most useful. I use it for feeds and meds (reflux meds generally and calpol after jabs). In the first couple of weeks I would've used it for nappies too. I can't imagine feeling the need to log solids though?
Would you recommend it to other parents? Why? I don't really know how it compares to other tracking apps but its free, it works, so yes, why not.
What else would you like to see in the app? Perhaps it's just me but as I have an infant with complex medical issues and a LOT of appointment if would be very useful to have somewhere to record appointments, both scheduled and maybe even notes from appointments.
How easy or difficult was it to use? Easy and intuitive
Any other comments? I didn't find anything other than the tracking/logging part useful, I looked at the guides and found them pretty useless. I like the idea of the monitor but it would involve leaving a "sacrificial" device in the babies room so not that helpful to us.

For the feed logging: I didn't mind that it defaulted to breastfeeding the first time, breast is best and all, but I did find it annoying that it defaulted there everytime - maybe there should be a section in settings to set which default you want.
I found the slider to set how many mls was tough to use and not accurate enough for me. When your baby is taking small amounts you need smaller measurements, 5mls rather than 10mls. In theory a slider is a good idea but since it is hard to fine tune it would've been useful to be able to be able to type it in.
Conversely I found the timer/clock too detailed. For formula feeding it doesn't really matter to the minute, 10 mins, 15 mins, even 30 mins would be detail enough.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

The health reference is probably the most useful bit for me as it's just quick to look up things rather than google it.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?

No because it's too simplistic - tbh I don't know if many mothers would use it to write down feeds and changes. Also a lot of it is what you'd write or find in the red book and I wouldn't be bothered to write those details twice.

What else would you like to see in the app?

If there was an app that replaced the red book done by the nhs (or partnered with them) that would be handier. You could schedule in appointments online and get updated news personalised to their medical info. Also, a live chat to midwives or health visitors would be helpful.

How easy or difficult was it to use

Easy.

Any other comments?

No

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

I really liked the logging of feeds part of the app.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why

I will Recommend the app to first time parents particularly those who Are very anxious. I would have used it much more if it was available when my baby was newborn as I recorded the information on scrappy bits of paper and this is handy because it is all in one place.
What else would you like to see in the app?

More developmental information and perhaps more activities to try
How easy or difficult was it to use?

I found it quite difficult initially but once over the setting up problems it became much easier.
Any other comments?

A useful app for the very early days and weeks.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
I liked being able to track feeding and sleep patterns. Parenting guide great for first time parents, health section also very handy.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
Yes, particularly for a first child because it's got all the information you need on one app

What else would you like to see in the app?
A section for 'firsts' like rolling, sitting etc.

How easy or difficult was it to use?
Fairly easy. Would have preferred to input weighs manually rather than scrolling through every time. Did not like the growth chart which I thought would be my favourite part, don't know if I've done something wrong but when I input the information the line goes to zero between every weight so it's difficult to follow. Couldn't figure out how to use the baby monitor but I have a monitor anyway so didn't make much effort trying to figure it out.

Any other comments
Like a previous poster I would rather pay a one off fee rather than a subscription. Would happily pay £4.99 for it

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

Having everything in one place is great, and the health and development information is great.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?

Yes, I would, as everything is in one place. It would be particularly helpful in the early weeks when everything is settling down and the midwives are demanding to know numbers of nappies etc.

What else would you like to see in the app?

Already seems to be plenty.

How easy or difficult was it to use?

Relatively easy to use.

Any other comments?
No

This app is easy to use and really informative. I think the activity bit is great when you're sleep deprived and trying to remember which breast you fed from last, and it can be handy to know how many wet/dirty nappies they've had.
I like the ability to add notes with pictures, and the quick link into the mumsnet forums.
The idea of the monitor is good, but in practice I couldn't get it to load. It's handy having the common illnesses information at your fingertips rather than having to google.
I do wish I could add more than one baby so I could keep all my children's info in there. I also think it would be nice to have dedicated 'first' section to add dates of first smile, laugh, food etc, with photos.
But all in all a good app that I would definitely recommend.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
The health tracker is great.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
I would definitely recommend it to first time parents. My youngest is almost 6m now, and it would have been so useful at the beginning to track everything.

What else would you like to see in the app?

How easy or difficult was it to use?
Pretty straightforward but I could not get the monitor to work.

Any other comments?
Great app, good luck with it all!

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?
I think I would have found the feeding timer useful, but every time I opened the app it wanted me to login to my iTunes account and so it slowed the whole process down, which meant I didn't use it that frequently.

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
No, I don't think so. There's nothing in the guides that you couldn't find online. I definitely wouldn't pay a monthly subscription for it.

I didn't share any information about my baby as I wasn't sure how it would be used.

What else would you like to see in the app?
Something with some interaction would be nice. Even if it was an interaction symptom spotter- the health checker on the app assumes you already know what the problem is.

How easy or difficult was it to use?
It wanted me to login to iTunes every time I opened the app. I'm assuming that's because it's a free trial and wouldn't happen if I were a paying subscriber, but it was pretty irritating.

Other than that, I found it easy to navigate.

Any other comments?
I might pay for this app if it were less than £1, but it's not worth a monthly subscription.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

My baby is now 6 months old but the trackers would have been very reassuring in the early days as it's easy to lose track of when baby last fed or had a nappy change! I also liked the growth tracker, the parenting guide and the health reference. Very useful for first time mums that worry about everything!

Would you recommend it to other parents? Why?
I would recommend it more to first time mums and especially those that like to be organised. If they're anything like me they would forget to track feeds and nappies and then that part of the app becomes a bit pointless!

What else would you like to see in the app?
There is nothing that I currently think of that should be included.

How easy or difficult was it to use?
Very easy and self explanatory to use!

Any other comments?
I really liked the information it included about baby slings and the fact that it mentioned both traditional and baby led weaning and advised waiting until 6 months.

Incidentally, I'm using this with my second born whilst trying to juggle a toddler's needs. This time round, I don't feel the need to record the length of feeds or which breast I fed from; I'm playing it all by ear a lot more.

It's probably more suitable for first time parents.

What aspects of the Mumsnet Baby Bundle app did you find most useful?

I liked the links to articles on mumsnet, although a couple of the links didn't quite work for me.

I liked that it had everything in one place. The pages looked clean and quite straightforward.

What else would you like to see in the app?
The feeding section could be improved by being able to edit the start time of a feed while timing it. I don't always remember to press go at the start of a feed, nor to edit the entry at the end.

How easy or difficult was it to use?

Pretty easy. It would be nice if you have the option for metric or imperial measurements when you're setting up a new baby.

I'd say this app is most suited to new first time parents, who feel the need to track all of the activities of their baby. I find that I worry much less second time around.