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How do you keep track of everything as your children grow

12 replies

locksygal · 27/01/2026 07:44

Hi all, I’m doing a bit of personal research around the mental load of organising things for children and would really appreciate some honest views. This isn’t a pitch or promotion — I’m just trying to understand whether this is a real problem or just something I personally feel.

As children grow, there always seems to be something to plan, buy, remember or research — gifts, clothes, school needs, activities, things you’ll “need later”, etc. I’m curious how others actually manage this day to day.

A few questions if you’re happy to share:

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly re-deciding or re-researching the same things for your children?

How do you currently keep track of ideas, purchases or things you’ll need in future?

What part of buying or planning for your children do you find most frustrating or time-consuming?

Do you find yourself repeatedly asking friends or forums for recommendations (e.g. gifts, age-appropriate things, what’s worth buying)?

Does this feel like a one-off issue (e.g. baby stage), or something that keeps coming back as children get older?

And honestly — if there were one place to keep track of this sort of thing over time, do you think you’d realistically use it, or would it be something you’d forget about?

All perspectives welcome, including “this wouldn’t help me at all”! Thanks in advance — really appreciate any insight.

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Millindugu · 27/01/2026 07:48

If it really was a helpful ‘one stop shop’ for organising then yes I’d find it useful. It’s the remembering to enter all the info into it to begin with in order to be reminded… if I remembered to do that on my, for example, phone calendar, I wouldn’t be in the situation

mindutopia · 27/01/2026 08:20

I don’t find any of this particularly difficult at all. I don’t really research things or store information about family admin anywhere other than my email or I write it down in my paper diary as notes or things to do.

This is where I organise my own life and my professional life. I wouldn’t want some extra separate system for the children because it’s all one process for me. The way I do it now is very simple.

toomuchgoingonhere · 27/01/2026 08:25

A calendar organiser on my phone that we all access is the first point of organising. I have a teen. Parties, birthdays, exams they all go in the calendar. I use mumsnet for research and advice like health worries, or teen worries, even Christmas present ideas. If someone comes up with an app to do all of these things I think I wild use it.

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Angeloom · 27/01/2026 08:30

I don’t need a separate thing to keep track of children things because all the life things are kept track of in the same way. A separate children things tracker would be a burden. We put stuff in the calendar and research/get stuff as a when it’s needed.

HushTheNoise · 27/01/2026 08:33

Google calendar and keep notes.

Screamingabdabz · 27/01/2026 08:38

You treat it like any other project you have going on like: work, maintaining cars, maintaining a house, keeping up with family etc.

You need to keep a strict calendar or diary, plan ahead, seek appropriate sources of advice when you need to and delegate where necessary. I wouldn’t ask other mums, or mumsnet, where they get their car serviced or if they know a good plasterer - but I might ask a child related question.

I think the key point here is this shouldn’t be all on mums. Dads need to take responsibilty too.

LaundryScales · 27/01/2026 08:39

From my perspective you seem to be over thinking it.

A calendar (of what ever kind) for key dates of appointments. School events, parties etc.

Some online research around February for activities to cover school holidays.

Chatting to other parents often provides good ideas for activities and events.

A quick look at Amazon or Wicked Uncle for age appropriate gifts.

It’s really not that time consuming.

Mum292939 · 27/01/2026 08:49

HushTheNoise · 27/01/2026 08:33

Google calendar and keep notes.

Use the same here, plus a shared shopping app.

I don’t want an app with lots of extras. I want a calendar that keeps track of my schedule and a simple checklist. Even categorising is too much - I just want a list of priorities I can switch up.

We used to live abroad, then we moved back to the UK and I had to find schools for my SEN child plus apply for DLA, blue badge, etc, then we bought a house and moved - the admin for the last few years has been unbelievable. I just need an app where I can look at the first five things and decide “what’s next?”. A lot of it is still in my head and I remember to do it just in time, the list gives me some comfort that there is a backup so I don’t have to remember every single thing.

Google calendar is also great because some email invites/tickets can be saved directly there.

GiantYorkshirePud · 27/01/2026 08:58

I use my notes app on my phone (a ‘to do’ list), literally everything gets put there - grocery list, presents to buy, toys to buy, diy jobs in the house etc. It keeps it simple.

in terms of age appropriate toys, i found this overwhelming at first but now I just buy what I think she will enjoy and she can grow into it if shes not quite ready. Quick look on amazon or tiktok can help too.

any events i immediately put them in my phone calendar, although i’m planning to get a real calendar to go in the kitchen.

BobbieTables · 27/01/2026 09:35

I don't think another app would help me tbh. I think shared calendar is good, and the school app is useful (secondary school). I just buy every junior school kid basic Lego and give every secondary school kid a tenner unless my kids have opinions then I leave it to them to sort out.

Kalarne · 27/01/2026 10:04

I mainly use a shared free calendar app and unshared free notes app. I wouldn't want a standalone app as I'd worry that I'd build up years of notes with it and then they'd introduce/increase prices and I'd be stuck with it because all my data would be there (have had that with different notes apps). I feel pretty well organised with what I have. I do plan ahead a fair bit (I have a list going for Christmas 2026 because I buy gifts all year around). I don't tend to ask about children's preferences tbh as generic age appropriate gifts are safer.

The most time consuming research is the more technical things that a layman might not know about, eg I need to buy equipment for a residential, and a musical instrument, but for that I'd look at camping and music forums and websites, not other parents.

ImFineItsAllFine · 27/01/2026 10:36

I think having an app that put everythnig in one place would be duplication of effort tbh. I've already got apps/places that cover most things:

We get food shopping delivered, so groceries go straight into the basket on the relevant app (currently Tesco)

Amazon wishlist for storing info on most non-food purchases (even if I don't end up buying from there)

Google Keep notes for any random lists/thoughts/research not tied to a specific shop/website

Browser bookmarks for interesting web pages I might want to go back to

Google calendar for dates/reminders

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