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21 apps for parents
Make your life as a parent a little easier with these helpful apps!
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Grocery Gadget
Grocery Gadget is a great app for managing and economizing your grocery shopping. It lets you create a dynamic, reusable shopping list in which you can transfer ingredients from whole recipes in a pinch, among other things. You can also share your list with other family members so they can add or delete items. The app also allows you to sort your items, utilize eCoupons, scan barcodes, manage your spending, calculate taxes and more.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, $2.
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Clip Mobile Coupons
There are several apps on the market that help shoppers find coupons. But most of these are US-based. The best coupon app for Canadians is Clip Mobile. It lets you find, store and redeem coupons from your favourite Canadian shopping and dining destinations. You can even show the stores the coupon right on your smartphone ― and start saving!
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
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Kytephone
Kytephone will bring parents peace of mind. This helpful app turns an Android into a kid-friendly phone with limits on game-time and restrictions that block calls from strangers. Plus, Kytephone has GPS tracking so parents can help keep little ones safe with real-time results. The best part? You can switch back to "Parent Mode" if the Android is a family phone.
Where to Buy?
play.google.com, FREE
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Sit or Squat
Ever been on a road trip with a panicky preschooler who’s got to go to the washroom now? Well, this is the app for you (for all of us!). Sit or squat lets you find the nearest washroom whenever your little one has to go now. Just enter your postal code et voila! The nearest washroom is just a click away (not quite close enough, but still…).
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE -
HomeBudget
Track your expenses with this nifty app that lets you log, manage and budget your monthly spending, bills, income and more. The app even allows you to store photos of your receipts ― which is a plus for products with warranties. And, bonus, you can sync the app with other devices in your household at no extra cost.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca $5. (A free “lite” version is also available.) -
WebMD Mobile
Now you never need to leave home without your trusty WebMD database. Search for your child’s symptoms, find pharmaceutical info, treatment possibilities, discover first-aid must-haves and local listings right on your mobile device.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE -
Potty Chart
Potty training just got easier with this handy app that helps you get clever with your reward system when paper charts and stickers just won’t do. You can even reward your child for using the potty when you’re away from home. The app also offers effective tips on everything from training strategies to potty-refusal remedies. Need a little something extra? Well, this app actually simulates a running-water sound to help your child get the job done!
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, $3 -
Showtimes
Showtimes is probably the best app out there right now for spontaneous Canadian movie lovers. Got a sudden urge to see a movie? Or maybe it’s started raining, and the kids’ soccer game is cancelled? Showtimes will allow you to find which movies are playing, when they’re playing and where. The app will even provide you with a map to the theatre, the running time of the movie (which is important for younger children), the movie’s rating, links to reviews and more.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
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Epicurious
This award-winning app features recipes gathered from cookbooks, magazines, top chefs and restaurants. Get inspired by the collections the app offers ― from Fast Breakfasts, to Dishes Kids Love, among others. Search the app easily by ingredient, meal type, dietary limitations, special occasions, keyword and more, and add ingredients to the app’s shopping list feature, store your favourites for easy access, or have recipes emailed to you.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE. Also compatible with Android. -
iHomeopathy
Never fear, iHomeopathy is here to help you with your homeopathic needs. No need for hefty books or sifting through Google results, this app provides the parent-friendly info you need for treating everything from children’s bumps, bruises to everyday illnesses with natural, homeopathic remedies.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, $4 -
BabyBrain
Got BabyBrain? Most of us sleepless parents do, so this highly acclaimed app is ideal for helping us log our baby’s activities so we don’t forget them. Keep track of when you feed or change your baby, for example, when your baby had tummy time or his last nap, medications, fevers, reactions to foods ― the possibilities are endless, and the data space is unlimited. The app works for multiple babies, too, which is obviously good news for parents of twins!
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, $3
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iEmergency ICE Family Pro
This trusted “in case of emergency” app allows you to keep all your family’s emergency contacts (including photos) and medical information in one place. The app also allows you to download a medical ID card that stores more information than an ID bracelet.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, $3 -
AllRecipes Dinner Spinner
Not sure what to cook for dinner? Spin it on the popular AllRecipes Dinner Spinner app. Simply select the ingredients you have in your fridge and spin up a yummy meal. There are lots of options, including what type of dish you want to create, how much time you have and more. Includes scrumptious photos and a handy search feature that all help make this spinner a winner for families.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE -
Skype
Going travelling? Now you’re just a Skype away from your kids. Skype also lets you make free long-distance calls to keep out-of-town friends and relatives close.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
Also compatible with Android. -
IsWhen
When’s Passover this year? Easter? Looking to schedule time off from work? Look no further, IsWhen will let you know when all of the holidays occur. This simple app will tell you the date of every holiday or event ― including Canadian Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Hanukkah and solar eclipses and more!
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
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AroundMe
AroundMe is the perfect tool for parents on the go! It’ll help you locate any destination, both locally and abroad ― malls, movie theatres, parking, restaurants, hospitals, gas stations, grocery stores and more. Its bonus mapping feature allows you to send routes to your friends.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
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The Weather Network
Planning a camping trip? A weekend at the cottage? Skiing trip? Bike ride? The Weather Network app lets you predict the weather up to a week in advance. Never get stuck in the rain without your kids’ funky umbrellas again.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
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Barcode Reader
When you want to buy something, and you have two screaming kids tugging at your purse, you need Barcode Reader ― now. It allows you to scan a barcode and instantly get price comparisons (in Canadian currency, once you set it up) among Amazon, eBay, Google product searches, WalMart.com and more. The app also allows you to create wishlists and send them to friends (hint, hint!).
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE. Also compatible with Android -
CraftFinder
Attention craft lovers! This app is a must-have for you. It gives you access to Disney’s FamilyFun library of family craft ideas suitable for a range of ages, from preschoolers to tweens. You’ll find holiday crafts, seasonal crafts and quick crafts to occupy the kids for hours. The app also lets you create shopping lists for the craft store, and it helps you organize, share and keep tabs of your projects.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
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iAllowance
No need to smash that piggy bank ― keep it for decoration. iAllowance lets you manage your kids’ finances while teaching them about making, saving and spending their money. The attractively designed app also lets you track chores, create multiple accounts, sync data among various phones, implement parental controls and much more.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, $4
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Lose it!
Still clinging on to that baby weight? Lose it! is a proven, highly-acclaimed app that will help you shed those extra pounds. Use it to create attainable weight loss goals, log your nutrient intake, create calorie budgets for the day, log your food and exercise against your calorie budget and more. The app features an extensive database of food and activities, to which you can add your own concoctions, meals and recipes to make things even easier.
Where to Buy?
iTunes.ca, FREE
Soon to be compatible with Android.
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wmcgeoch says ....
All of the apps listed are for the I-Pad and I-Phone. Are there not any comparable apps for Blackberry products?
Lauri (not verified) says ....
Great List....wish Measuring Up app was on it as well.....so many people are using it to buy their kids clothing and never needing to take them with them. Fabulous when you are traveling or when the grandparents want to buy something other than a gift certificate for a birthday.
MsNieke (not verified) says ....
Since becoming a parent, I often download kids apps to my tablet and download some apps just for working purposes for me. lol.
btw, as a parent.. I always enjoy to use gadgets with my little one specially for his learning puposes. I downloaded a lot of edu apps & story books for him such as "ABC Day" a fun ABC flash card or "iStoryBooks" :)
Erin W (not verified) says ....
Jen P - try Grocery IQ. Its free, at least it was when we got it. And multiple people can use the same account so that you and hubbie can be working off the same list. PLus there's a desktop version.
Jen P (not verified) says ....
im disappointed in this list... most of these aps are $3 or more... i dont have that money to waste on aps... more good free ones would have been nice.
Jen P (not verified) says ....
im disappointed in this list... most of these aps are $3 or more... i dont have that money to waste on aps... more good free ones would have been nice.
Calgovin (not verified) says ....
I am very surprised that the App for Mint.com is not included in your list. I've been using it for a year now and I have it on both my phone and tablet.