Breastfeeding apps

Making the decision to breastfeed your baby is one of the best decisions you will make as a parent. While breastfeeding is natural, it is not uncommon for mother's to experience challenges with it. If you are having trouble breastfeeding, talk to your midwife or a lactation consultant. In addition, internet websites and smartphone apps have also become a popular resource to guide parents in their children's feeding and nutrition.

App reviews: breastfeeding apps

The following are New Zealand apps.

App		Features	Clinical review
Mama Aroha		Education and information about breastfeeding and advice on how to solve potential problems New Zealand app Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Mama Aroha app
Breastfed NZ		Education and information about breastfeeding and advice on how to solve potential problems New Zealand app Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Breastfed NZ
Lact app		Education and information about breastfeeding and advice on how to solve potential problems Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Lact app
BURP		Breastfeeding and child-friendly spaces locator  Country of origin: New Zealand Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about BURP
Feed Safe NZ		Information about alcohol and breastfeeding Alcohol-free breast milk timer Country of origin: New Zealand Available from Google Play and iTunes Cost: free Read more about Feed Safe NZ

Breastfeeding apps - help me choose

There are a variety of apps aimed at supporting breastfeeding mums. These apps differ in their features and functionality and choosing between the apps is challenging because many of them have been developed without any input from healthcare professionals or undergone objective assessment. A study by Taki et al(external link) considered the following 8 attributes to be desirable when assessing the comprehensiveness of infant feeding websites and apps i.e. do they include and provide accurate information on: 

• Encouraging and supporting breast feeding
  • Breastfeeding as the physiological norm
  • Protection and promotion of breastfeeding
• Initiating breastfeeding
  • Breastfeeding education for parents
  • Physiology of breast milk and breastfeeding
  • The first breastfeed
• Establishing and maintaining breastfeeding
  • Difficulty establishing breastfeeding
  • Factors affecting establishment of breastfeeding
  • Monitoring an infant’s progress
  • Maternal nutrition
• Breastfeeding – Common problems and their management
  • Maternal factors affecting breastfeeding
  • Infant factors affecting breastfeeding
• Expressing and storing breast milk
  • Expressing breast milk
  • Feeding with expressed breast milk
  • Storage of expressed breast milk
• Breastfeeding in specific situations
  • Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
• Infant formula
  • Preparing infant formula
  • Using infant formula
  • Special infant formula
• Introducing solids
  • When should solids foods be introduced
  • What foods should be introduced
  • Foods and beverages most suitable for infants or that should be used with care
  • Healthy foods in the first 12 months ( continued exposure and opportunity to sample a wide variety of healthy foods)

Related topics

Common breastfeeding problems
Baby – all topics
NZ Health App Library
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app

References

1. Taki S, Campbell KJ, Russell CG et al. Infant Feeding Websites and Apps: A Systematic Assessment of Quality and Content(external link). Interact J Med Res. 2015 Sep 29;4(3):e18.