App development for kids – why is it worth building?

Digitalization has entered every sphere of our lives. Due to quarantine that happened last year not only huge corporations transferred to remote work, but also schools and universities offered new ways of studying. And the popularity of digitalization is expected to grow and influence us even more in the upcoming years. 

Gadgets and applications can be used not only for doing business or learning but also for raising your kids. Parenting applications are the new black. They transform the traditional process of raising children and make it more adapted to the new reality when we all lack time but still need to take care of a lot of things at the same time. 

Raising children implies multitasking. But is it possible to arrange everything correctly and end up having enough time for work, rest and effective communication with your kids? The answer is – yes! But only if you have a digital helper and the necessary app on it. 

So, in this article, we will share with you how parenting apps can help you, what types of them exist on the market and how to develop your own app and make it effective.  

Why should you invest in parenting app development? 

If you have a great app idea in mind, you may be wondering if it is worth your money, time and effort. After all, before investing in something, you need to be sure that the market needs this and that your solution will be of use to many people. So, we have explored the most up-to-date statistics and trends and collected some interesting figures for you. 

According to the report provided by the specialists from the University of Calgary on Researchgate there are more than 4,300 free mobile parenting-related solutions available in the Play Market. All those solutions can be found if you search by such words as mother, father, baby, child, parent, family, and so on. 

We have also looked through SensorTower and discovered that as of January 2021, there are more free parenting apps than paid ones on the market. And the data shows that most of them are either family ones used for entertainment and planning or the ones that are downloaded for monitoring kids. There are also a couple of apps for parenting control, but not so much for home learning or preschool preparation. 

So, taking into account the small number of existing solutions and their narrow specifics, we can point out the main reasons why it is reasonable to invest in your own parenting solution. 

Parenting apps market growth and projections

The parenting apps market is on a strong growth trajectory. Projections estimate its value will reach USD 4.69 billion by 2033, up from USD 0.88 billion in 2024. This upward trajectory is projected to cross US$ 984.2 million by 2031. The growth is fueled by the increasing complexity of modern parenting and a growing awareness of child development, leading more parents to seek digital support.

As reliance on digital technology continues to rise, parenting apps have become essential tools for modern families. From sleep tracking to developmental milestones, these apps provide convenience and guidance in an era when parents juggle multiple responsibilities.

However, success in this market isn’t just about innovation—building trust and credibility is crucial, especially for newcomers. Parents are selective about the platforms they use because of concerns over data privacy and app reliability. Companies that prioritize transparency and user confidence will be better positioned for long-term growth.

Market drivers and opportunities for growth

The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in accelerating market growth as more parents turned to digital solutions for guidance and support. Additionally, shifting family dynamics—such as hectic lifestyles and a rise in dual-income households—have fueled the demand for apps that assist with remote baby monitoring, activity tracking, and early childhood education.

The market is expanding rapidly, thanks in part to a steady stream of new product launches. However, growth is not without its challenges. The high cost of premium subscriptions and privacy concerns remain significant barriers for users. Additionally, keeping up with evolving technology and user expectations presents an ongoing challenge for developers.

Despite these obstacles, there are strong opportunities for expansion. Partnerships with educational institutions could open new avenues for development, offering parents more integrated learning resources. The market’s ability to adapt to technological advances will determine its long-term success.

Small competition

If you build a unique parenting solution, you have every chance of reaching the top in the mobile markets and attracting numerous users in no time. There aren’t many competitors to beat, and you can choose a narrow niche and create an app with the fullest range of features.

High demand

According to the parenting apps survey, more than 60% of people claimed that they are likely to install and use a parenting application if there is one that meets their needs. This shows that parenting apps are in demand, and people still lack high-quality solutions for raising kids.  

Additional service promotion

Healthcare institutions, preschool organizations, development centres and many more businesses can make use of parenting apps. Such solutions can help to get in touch with potential clients and offer some helpful materials. Mobile apps can be used to connect parents with specialists, educate them and help with kids’ care.

Technological innovations in parenting apps

Parenting apps have evolved beyond simple tracking tools, incorporating cutting-edge technology to support parents in managing their children’s health, development, and daily routines. From AI-powered recommendations to wearable integrations, these apps are becoming smarter and more personalized.

Role of artificial intelligence and machine learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are reshaping parenting apps, making them more intuitive and responsive. These technologies analyze a child’s developmental patterns, sleep habits, and nutrition to offer personalized recommendations. AI-driven apps also provide evidence-based parenting tips, helping parents make informed decisions.

Integration of wearable technology in parenting apps

Wearable technology is increasingly used in parenting apps, enabling real-time monitoring of a child’s health and well-being. Smart baby monitors, sleep trackers, and glucose sensors can now sync with apps, allowing parents to easily track sugar levels, sleep patterns, and feeding schedules. This level of integration provides parents with a more comprehensive picture of their child’s health.

Importance of user-friendly interfaces and customization

With busy parents relying more on digital tools, usability is key. Apps that offer simple navigation, personalized dashboards, and adjustable settings cater to different parenting styles. Customizable features allow parents to set reminders for diaper changes, track developmental milestones, and receive tailored advice based on their child’s needs.

Educational content and E-learning features

As demand for educational content grows, parenting apps are incorporating interactive learning tools. Many apps provide developmental guidelines, expert-backed activities, and gamified learning experiences to support cognitive, linguistic, and motor skill development. Partnerships with educational institutions are also expanding, offering parents more structured learning resources.

Data privacy and security concerns

Data privacy is a major concern as parents become increasingly dependent on parenting apps. They want to ensure that their children’s personal information remains secure. App developers are being pushed to improve encryption, adopt stricter policies on data sharing, and provide greater transparency on how user data is handled.

Subscription costs and monetization strategies

While many parents prefer free apps, premium features like ad-free experiences, advanced tracking, and expert consultations often require paid subscriptions. Balancing affordability with high-quality offerings remains a challenge for developers. As the market grows, freemium models and localized content strategies are becoming common approaches to monetization.

Parenting apps continue to evolve, addressing modern parenting challenges with technology-driven solutions. As smartphones become even more integrated into daily life, these apps will play an increasing role in child development, education, and family organization.

Types and examples of parenting solutions

Speaking about parenting applications, it is possible to divide them all into several groups depending on the main purpose they serve. So, among such apps, you will see: 

• Apps for women preparing for childbirth;

• Solutions for monitoring and taking care of babies;

• Apps that connect parents with specialists (psychologists or therapists);

• Apps for raising, entertaining and developing children;

• Apps for fun learning with tips for parents;

• Apps for monitoring the location of children;

• Co-parenting solutions.

• Various art and game-related apps.

Taking into account this huge variety of app types, you can build a solution that will meet your needs perfectly. On top of that, your app can become a source of regular additional income or a tool able to boost your business.

For example, if you own a clinic, children development center, or if you are a couch or childcare specialist, you can develop a solution to complement your range of services. This can be a great way to attract new clients, raise awareness of your services and business. Your parenting application may even become your fresh standalone business, like it already happened with Uber for Kids.

Parenting apps can be called a unique category of solutions due to their extreme multifunctionality. It is possible to control dozens of things with the help of one single application. Kids can be educated, entertained, controlled and taken care of by remote specialists. What can be greater than this? It is literally hard to imagine how our parents coped with us without various digital helpers that have now become irreplaceable. The niche of parenting apps is a developing one, so if you enter it, you have all the chances to become a leading app provider. 

To help you get even more inspired to build your own app, we have surfed the Internet looking for the most interesting and successful parenting applications of different categories. And without further ado, let’s speak about them. 

Cloud Baby Monitor 

Image source: Cloud Baby Monitor

This application is appreciated and used by parents all over the world. It is available not only for iOS and Android devices but also for Apple TV and Apple Watch, which makes it extremely convenient. The app is full of various useful options, among which you can see:

• Night clock and night light;

• Noise and motion alerts;

• Option to monitor a child from multiple devices or to monitor multiple children from one;

• Live video and audio of a baby;

• Collection of white noises and lullabies and the ability to create your own playlist.

So basically, Cloud Baby Monitor is a secure video monitoring solution that helps parents stay busy with their things while the baby is resting in its room. The parents will not miss a thing and will hear everything that is happening. The solution works either over Wi-Fi or 3G. It is protected by encryption, so parents can be sure that the video and audio are received only by their devices.

The technologies used by the app include voice recognition, live video streaming, and IoT for adjusting the light without disturbing the sleeping baby. 

Photomath 

Image source: Photomath

To teach children is hard, and that is why all moms and dads will appreciate a solution like Photomath. This is a real-life saviour when you try to teach your child math. You can scan any equation by taking a picture of it and get an answer with instructions on how to solve it. The app even can recognize handwritten text which is extremely great. On top of that, it has some extra features like:

• Animated instructions;

• Smart calculator with intuitive keyboard;

• Graphs for visualizing math problems;

• Step-by-step explanations.

Photomath is extremely smart and fast; it has an interesting design and an advanced set of options. It is available for use on iOS and Android devices.

Technologies used by Photomath: text recognition, picture recognition, AI and machine learning. 

Cozi Family Organizer

Image source: Cozi Family Organizer

Sometimes, it is hard to keep everything in synch and under control. Parents have their own list of tasks, and they need to take care of kids’ lists, too. That is why there should be more such apps as Cozi Family Organizer! This is a very convenient and visually pleasing scheduler where you can keep all your to-dos and appointments in perfect order. You can even write a list and share it with another family member in the blink of an eye.

This is a real must-have for every family – no matter how big or small. It is connected to your calendar and available on both mobile stores, + it offers a web version. Cozi Family Organizer was approved by numerous parenting centres.

How to develop an app for parenting: Altamira Tips

Based on our experience, we can say that the development of a mobile application is a complex procedure that requires numerous specialists and steps. So, it is crucial to get prepared and understand what tech you need to hire and what processes will be completed during the development. 

For example, here at Altamira we have a range of specialists who are responsible for your parenting app creation. The list of our tech takes includes:

• Business Analyst who will help you shape your idea, do market research, identify technology stack and write specifications for your future app. 

• Mobile developers who will write high-quality code. You may need either Android or iOS developers (or even both) depending on the operating system you will build your app for. 

• UI/UX designer who is going to be responsible for the look of your solution. Every element, starting with the app buttons and ending with the loaders, will be created by this professional.

• QA engineer who will perform various tests to check the quality of code, the presence of bugs and errors, the connectivity and compatibility of services and many more. 

• Scrum Master under whose supervision the development will be performed. This specialist will take care of all organizational moments and make sure that everything is done in time and that no deadline is missed.   

Now that you know what specialist you should cooperate with, let’s clear out how to proceed with the development of your parenting app. 

Perform pre-development stage 

Once you’ve hired a team like Altamira, you need to proceed to the pre-development stage and prepare for the app creation. At this stage, you and our Business Analyst will do research on your competitors, define the main feature set of your app, select the most suitable technology, think about the design concept and many more. 

In the process of the discovery phase, you will formulate your project vision and get:

• Project Vision Document,

• Specifications Document,

• wireframes and mockups

Also, the Business Analyst will perform a detailed estimation of your project and identify all possible development risks. So if something goes wrong, it will be possible to quickly fix it and perform an app release on time. Risk mitigation is crucial, and we take good care of it. So, if you cooperate with Altamira, you can be sure that your project will be released on time and within the set budget.  

Good to know

To find out all the crucial steps of the discovery phase and why it is so important for every project, read our article. It will help you to understand what real benefits you will get and why it is preferable not to skip this stage.

Let our team take care of coding 

High-quality, errorless code is what makes a perfect parenting app. If you are planning to build your solution for both iOS and Android devices, then you will need two separate developers who will perform coding, integration of third-party services, etc. 

Also, you need to understand that it may take longer to build an Android app since there are a variety of devices, screen sizes and operating systems. And it will require more effort to build an app that will look and perform well on them. 

You may also consider developing a cross-platform app that will perform like a native on both iOS and Android operating systems. For example, here at Altamira, we offer Flutter app development services. Such a solution will cost you less than a native one but will be no worse. 

Think about the design

An app design is no less important than high-quality code. If your app is not convenient or some elements are not visible or readable, then you’ll probably lose some part of your potential audience. Therefore you need a professional designer who will take good care of the app color scheme, its elements and logic. 

An experienced UI/UX designer like the ones we have in our team can make your app exquisite, presentable and also user friendly. Speaking about parenting apps, it is crucial to remember that the parents do not have much time to play with an app and figure out how it works. They need it to be intuitive and easy to use. And that is exactly what user experience is for. And we know how to make your solution user-friendly and yet have a trendy design. As proof of our expertise, we’d like to share with you our Awwwards page with honourable mentions and examples of our great designs. 

Check everything before release

Testing (automatic and manual) is an important step of app development and it is performed by professional QA engineers. If your solution has any issues, chances are that it will not even be accepted by mobile stores like Google Play or App Store. 

So everything should be carefully checked – starting with the app performance and ending with checks related to the power consumption of the device while using your app.

Nice advice

We know that submission of the app to the mobile stores can be challenging. Here at Altamira, we help our clients to place their mobile apps in the App Store and Play Market. We prepare all necessary information, screenshots and documentation. If you are interested in the procedure, then check out our article.

Improve and maintain 

To keep your app users interested and to stay competitive in the market, it is crucial to constantly improve your parenting app and make it better. While maintenance will allow you to keep your solution running, stable, and timely resolve any issues, the improvement of the app will help you encourage users’ loyalty and engagement.

To understand what your app users would like to see in new versions of the app, you may monitor comments in stores or add feedback options to receive people’s reviews. 

How can parenting apps earn money? 

Taking into account the wide variety of parenting apps that you can build, it is reasonable to think about the monetization strategy beforehand. We would not recommend you develop a fully paid solution because it is harder to gain a user audience with it. Not so many people are ready to pay for something unknown that they barely tried using in practice. 

So, among the most popular app monetization strategies, we’d advise you to pay attention to the following.

Paid options

If your app is related to healthcare or learning, then it would be perfect to offer some additional features or services for payment. Let’s say you have an app for monitoring the kids’ development and health condition. This app may have an option to contact the doctor and discuss some matters. While the app is free, the consultation will be paid for.

Advertising

You can leave in your app a place for ads – banners, interactive videos, or else. Advertise the goods and services that can be of interest to your end users – parents. You can advertise toys, development centres, parenting guides or coaches, and many more.

Subscription

If your parenting app is related to kids’ learning, development, entertainment or else, then a subscription would be a perfect strategy. App users will pay a certain amount of money on a monthly basis to access the most interesting options of the app and to get fresh content to help them in parenting.

To wrap it up

Parenting apps only start getting popular and there are a lot of aspects that they still don’t fully cover. Therefore such solutions can be a great niche to invest in. There are not so many of them in both markets (iOS and Android), and there are some types of these apps that only started emerging. And while the competition is not so tough, you have all the chances to enter the market and become the leader.

Parenting apps are good not only for a start-up business model but can also complement your existing successful business. Healthcare, teaching, development centres and many more institutions can make such solutions a real source of a closer connection with clients and make it an additional money maker. 

Speaking about the development of such solutions, it is necessary to mention that outsourcing would be the best choice from a financial perspective. The development team will offer you a full range of app-building services and make sure that the solution meets all your needs and expectations.

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