The charity Best Beginnings is inviting you to use and give feedback on a new mobile phone app designed to support parents-to-be and new parents in the social, emotional and physical transition to parenthood and in giving their baby the best start in life. The app, designed in collaboration with Dr Mitch Blair, will support parents-to-be and new parents in the social, emotional and physical transition to parenthood and in giving their baby the best start in life.
Version 1.0 is available now and can be installed on smartphones using the following links:
- Android phone: http://bit.ly/1sBrquz
- iPhone:http://bit.ly/1nwkc4J
- or by clicking here: http://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/babybuddy-involved
Best Beginnings actively encourage you to download and use the app so that you understand its functionality and content, so you can recommend it, as appropriate to the families you support and use it in appointments.
All the content of the app has been through a rigorous approval process and endorsed by the RCM, RCPCH, RCOG, RCSLT, CPHVA and iHV.
The charity is actively seeking feedback from parents and health and social care professionals ahead of the official launch in mid November 2014 to make the app even better. You’ll be asked to give feedback in app and you can also email the charity directly.
When you register as a user of Baby Buddy app do select the healthcare professional option. This way the charity can separate out feedback from parents and professionals.
Best Beginnings would be delighted to hear any suggestions you have for additional content eg: new FAQs for the “Ask me” function via: hpapps@bestbeginnings.org.uk
If you download the app and use it you may want to rate it and write a review of it on Google Play or iTunes App Store. The more reviews there are for parents-to-be and new parents looking for help, the easier it is to decide if it’s worth downloading.
About Baby Buddy
Baby Buddy has been designed for parents to use alone but also to use in appointments with healthcare professionals. One of the aims of the app is to help make “Every Contact Count”. Currently there are about 40 short films in the app, mostly from Best Beginnings’ From Bump to Breastfeeding and Small Wonders DVDs. The charity is now making 100+ new films which will be included in the app by Spring 2015.
This first version of the Baby Buddy app is aimed at mothers and covers the period through pregnancy to when the baby is six month old. With additional funding Best Beginnings plans to make a dad’s version and take the content to the third birthday.
Baby Buddy focuses on empowering young mothers particularly, and also young parents, to improve their health choices and well-being. As well as increasing knowledge, improving confidence and enhancing bonding and attachment, the app reinforces the importance of accessing health services.
Best Beginnings has produced a set of free posters and leaflets for display and distribution in hospitals, clinics and surgeries that will raise awareness about the Baby Buddy app.
Baby Buddy has been created by the child health and wellbeing charity Best Beginnings. The app has been made possible thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund, the Tedworth Charitable Trust and the Guys and St Thomas’ Charity alongside the technical whizz of our fab app developers Despark.