AI generated parenting advice one tap away
From a blog by Nesta and other sources
There are many apps which offer expert parenting advice and now we are seeing some offer parents AI-generated advice on any situation they are faced with, from teething to tantrums. However, how many parents who could benefit from it, afford to pay for them?
One example is the Good Inside app launched in August 2024 by parenting expert Dr Becky Kennedy. Positioned as a 24/7 Parenting Coach, it offers tailored daily tips and AI guidance to solve current challenges; understanding the child and know how to respond, helping parents stay calm & grounded in difficult moments. The advice comes in the style and tone of Dr Becky, “the Millennial Parenting Whisperer” with over three million Instagram followers.
Also an app that feels like you are asking Grandma - Granny: AI Parenting Coach. An AI parenting coach ready to tackle all the 'firsts' of raising a child. From midnight meltdowns to mealtime mishaps, Granny provides on-the-spot answers, grounded in the latest paediatric science, for a smooth parenting experience. The more you use Granny, the better it understands your family, giving personalized tips that grow with your child’s needs.
There are other examples and such parenting apps can help address common barriers that parents face in accessing trusted advice. These include stigma, being too busy to get in-person support, or not feeling like advice is relevant. Now that 98% of parents in the UK with children under three have a smartphone and internet access with WiFi, the infrastructure is there for digital parenting support to be delivered in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
However the above apps have a financial cost - the Good Inside app comes at a cost of £265 per year. Granny: AI Parenting Coach is free but has in-app purchases. So some options are certainly not financially viable for all families.
To overcome these barriers, it’s essential that local early years services such as midwives, health visitors, toddler groups and children’s centres play a role in helping economically disadvantaged parents to access the highest quality digital tools available to them.
It is still unclear whether these apps will have measurable positive effects on children’s development. However, where digital parenting programmes have been tested in robust trials, there have been some promising results. These new AI-powered tools showcase the untapped potential of digital parenting support. Parents can now have their favourite guru on permanent standby, silently waiting for the next meltdown or bedtime battle. But will such tools reach those on lower incomes, who can’t afford to pay for the service?
Read the Nesta article here.
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From a blog by Nesta and other sources, 11/06/2025