Would you use a support app that allows parents to give each other little boosts and encouragement?

[Boldwriter90]

Hi folks 👋

I’m a father of both an 18 month old and a 4 year old (exhausted but grateful!) and I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how isolating and overwhelming the early months can be.

I have had this idea for a small, simple app where parents could give each other tiny “boosts". Whether it’s a kind word, a quick check-in, or a gentle nudge to do something positive (like “get outside” or “celebrate a tiny win”). Kind of like peer accountability meets encouragement—without guilt or pressure.

The idea basically stemmed from wishing I had a small circle of people in a similar position to keep me going when the tank’s empty. Don't get me wrong, having family / friends on hand during these times is brilliant but sometimes it's helpful to communicate with those going through similar experiences!

Does this sound useful to anyone else and would you want something like this?

What kind of support or interaction would actually make your day better?

Anything you’d definitely not want in an app like this?

Totally open to any feedback or honest thoughts. Not here to pitch anything—just genuinely curious if it’s worth exploring.

Thanks in advance for reading, and keep up the great work you’re doing as a parent 💛

Isn’t that what Mumsnet does?

Hey there, appreciate the feedback!

Mumsnet is brill for sharing advice and stories but is more a discussion board which isn't a bad thing at all!

What I’m imagining is more of a daily interaction app focused on small, intentional boosts between parents, not just open threads or anonymous posts.

Quick check-ins or mood tracking

Gentle nudges like: “Try to take 5 mins for yourself today”

Micro-support circles (3–5 parents) who can lift each other up with quick reactions or challenges

Almost like accountability + empathy in your pocket

Less about debate or info-sharing, more about helping each other push through the everyday chaos!

Again, appreciate the response :)

Gentle nudges like: “Try to take 5 mins for yourself today”

As a parent these infuriated me. Same with sleep when the baby sleeps

Greta, so while I'm taking 5 mins who's doing what I need to do.

We know we should take time, we'd love to take time but what people need is practical help.

It'd be superficial and automated, right, like as if Chat GPT had written it? Or do you mean someone genuinely engages and takes on others' problems like a counsellor?

Just not quite getting whether it's a chatbot or what. Definitely not for me if so!

Fuck no.

Sounds really patronising.

I mean if a quick platitude genuinely makes people feel better then go ahead. I would hate it and want actual solutions, but I'm not the norm!

CHAT GPT does this already.
Personallly would rather interact with humans.

I guess we had a NCT group whatsapp chat which helped. So you'd need people you knew in real life with kids of very similar ages. Similar outlook and sense of humour also helps.

Now they're older I've got a group of mum friends who know me well and can engage on a personal level. But it's all on Whatsapp again.

That’s a really fair point and thanks for saying it so directly.

You're absolutely right, reminders to “take 5 minutes” or “sleep when the baby sleeps” would perhaps feel a little tone-deaf when you’re in survival mode and everything’s on you.

I think what you said really sharpens what this sort of app shouldn’t be and is exactly why I posted this :)

Basically what im trying to explore is whether there’s a way for other parents to say, “I see you,” or even share what they actually did today that helped a bit, without judgement or pressure. Maybe what we really need is more honesty and solidarity than motivation.

Thanks again for the feedback, that's completely fair!

Isn’t this what friends are for?

Basically what im trying to explore is whether there’s a way for other parents to say, “I see you,”

But these parents might feel pressured to do this when they're under their own strain, in a setup that focuses on these sorts of high-5s. Not everyone finds this a natural way of engaging with each other.

Thanks for the response. Just to clarify, what I’m thinking of is not an app that sends generic advice or automated nudges. It would be community-driven, where real parents gently support each other by sharing what actually helped them get through a tough moment.

Isn’t that basically Mumsnet?

So would you know these people well irl or not really? Isn't this what friends are for?

Yes! Puzzled.

Fuck no. It sounds cheesy patronising bollocks, and annoying as hell.

Absolutely not. The only way an app could possibly be helpful is if it knew intimate details about my personal circumstances and family life - which I'm not going to share with an app. Even if I did, anything it says is meaningless nonsense, because there's no human connection. If it's not an automated-response app, then you're describing Mumsnet, which already exists 😂

Friends, family, and parent/toddler groups are the support network that actually helps.

I was lucky enough that when I have very young children someone in my village started a group that was basically "bring a packed lunch and have a cuppa and a chat while the kids play". Much more aimed at adult interaction than entertaining kids, and it worked so well. If you're wanting to support families with young children, starting this sort of thing may go down well.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! it looks like it's not the kind of thing people would like which is fine!

I do really appreciate the thoughts here and completely understand everything mentioned.

This was just a bit of an idea so just thought it was worth throwing out there :)

Thanks again.