Here are just a few amazing apps I found really useful during little L’s first year:

The Wonder Weeks:

I love this app. It basically is a calendar explaining the “leaps” in the mental development of your baby. During these leaps, the so-called “wonder weeks”, your baby can be fussy, sleep poor or eat less. The app explains you in which leap your baby might currently be, how you can help your baby during this difficult period and which new skill your baby might be able to master after having gone through this specific leap. For example, Luca is currently in leap 8: the perceptual world of programs. After this leap, little L might be able to perceive a whole sequence of actions as one thing. The app sais that, after this leap, he might be able to “put things back into the closet where they belong”. Ok, so, I guess Luca has not quite mastered this new skill yet haha ;-)

Apparently, all babies experience these so-called wonder weeks at about the same age. Of course, all babies are different and have their own personality but it is somehow reassuring to know that there’s a reason for little L being cranky from time to time  ;-P

By the way, I received the book of the same title before getting the app. Best gift ever :-)

 

My Baby Today | BabyCenter

Just like “The Wonder Weeks”, this app provides you with some useful advice and interesting information about your little one’s development – for every day of your baby’s first year. You simply have to enter your baby’s date of birth and you will be able to benefit from the app’s daily updates and articles on various topics: care, health and safety, feeding, developmental milestones, age-appropriate activity suggestions etc.

This app became part of my morning routine: Each morning (until little L turned one), I read it while nursing. I especially appreciated the category “This week’s activity” that suggests a different fun and educational activity for your baby every week.

On the website www.babycenter.com, you can also subscribe to the newsletter and get the most important information about your baby / toddler per email every week.

 

Annabel’s Essential Guide To Feeding Your Baby & Toddler

First of all, I should say that I am (ok, hopefully WAS as I am trying to progress :-) ) a disaster in the kitchen. I may have studied hospitality management, but that doesn’t mean that I have any cooking skills. Unfortunately. So, when Luca started on solids, I felt a bit lost. At the beginning, it was easy (even me could do a carrot or sweet potato puree) but when little L became older and more interested in different flavors, I needed some serious cooking advice.

Besides the website Wholesome Babyfood, which is some sort of cooking dictionary to me, Annabel Karmel’s recipes helped me a lot. More than that: they inspired me haha :-P They gave me some ideas for new combinations and recipes. While her website and books are more extensive, her app is very practical and easy to use when you cook. Each recipe includes a timer for the different cooking times that are required. I tried out many Annabel Karmel recipes and Luca loved them. They are very flavorsome and tasty. Some of little L’s favorite recipes were “Easy One Pot Chicken”, “Salmon Chowder” and “Beef Casserole with Butternut Squash”.  Of course, today, Luca basically eats what we eat (with very few salt and sugar though) but I sometimes cook Annabel’s recipes for the whole family ;-) NB: Also search for “annabelkarmel” on instagram and check out even more yummy recipes.

 

Bébé somnolent (in French)

You might have lived in another big city before coming to Dubai and be used to horns, Ferraris and fireworks. Then, your baby probably doesn’t care about the noise coming from SZR or The Walk. Or you might have lived in Switzerland where cyclists are startling when someone is horning next to them – like us ;-) Then, this app comes really handy. Besides nursery rhythms and nature sounds, it includes different white noises such as rain, hair dryer, dryer etc. that help your baby fall asleep. You can program for how long the noise needs to be played an it switches off automatically afterwards. We use this app every evening for little L and it really helps him fall asleep. Not only are the noises from SZR blocked out – also all other noises coming from the living room. Ok, it’s in French but I thought I share it with you as it’s the best app for white noises I have found (there are obviously others in English :-) ).

 

Aquarius Magazine (for iPad/ tablet only)

Which trendy mama in Dubai doesn’t know Aquarius Magazine and their great mummy mornings and events? I only recently discovered their app for iPad / tablets. No need to go out and brave the heat to get the magazine anymore. You can read their latest articles on fashion, beauty, parenting and much more without even leaving your cool and cosy flat. We love :-)

 

The Entertainer

If you have kids or not, you should definitely get this app when you live in Dubai! It contains hundreds of Buy One Get One Free offers for yummy restaurants, SPAs, indoor play spaces, services (such as dry cleaning) and great activities (e.g. The Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis The Palm, Wild Wadi etc.) and even hotels across Dubai (and other Emirates by the way). Having only arrived last November, it took us some time to realize how great this app actually was, so, we got it way too late. Make sure you get yours for 2016 (actually, I think it even is still worth getting it for this year ;-) ).

 

http://www.sassymamadubai.com

If you are a trendy mum, live in Dubai and want to get the latest news about what Dubai has to offer for your little ones (and yourself!), then you should definitely subscribe to the Sassy Mama newsletter! From the best workouts in Dubai to the top food delivery & take away options and newest events highlights, the Sassy Mama website (and newsletter ;-) ) gives you amazing tips on everything a modern mama living in Dubai needs to know. Also check out their instagram account “sassymamadubai”!

 

http://www.dubaiconfidential.ae

Always wanted to know what will keep your kids happy indoors in Dubai? Which creative workshops and activities are offered during the hot summer months? Dubai Confidential is a nice website to check out to get some new ideas ;-) They also have a newsletter to subscribe to and are on instagram (dubaiconfidential).

 

Of course, there are so many more apps, websites, newsletters etc., which I didn’t mention. For example, I personally have never kept track of my baby’s weight, size, sleep and nursing times etc. using an app. I have an old-fashioned booklet for that ;-) However, I must admit that there are some great apps out there if you are rigorous enough to consistently enter all data. One other thing I can only recommend to all mums living in Dubai: read the many amazing mummys’ blogs! There are quite a lot of them. Maybe I should write about some of them in a future post ;-P