Even More 'Mommy Apps'

If you're like me, you can't seem to live without your mobile device. Whether it's an iPod, iPhone or Android, these small pieces of technology seem to have taken hold on our lives in a way we never expected. What's good for us is that a lot of other companies and websites have followed suit, making a lot of programs and applications that can help make our mobile-obsessed lives easier. If you're a busy mom, you know how helpful this can be! I've taken the liberty of listing a few of the 'mom-essential' apps I've found.

They're not all 'mommy-specific'; sometimes we need some mindless entertainment. You spend so much of your time focusing on everyone else, so why not take just a little bit of time out for you?

On to the apps:

1) BabyBrain This app allows you to keep a log of everything you want (or don't want!) to keep track of for your baby. Diaper changes (and what was in them), sleep schedules, feeding schedules and types (breast vs. bottle), etc. are easy to make note of. This is very helpful for a mom-on-the-go who is trying to get her baby on a schedule. Since you can keep track of multiple babies at the same time, this is especially helpful for long car trips! It's $4.99, but the four-star rating tells me it's worth it!

To help with sleep-

2) Relax Melodies. This is a free, five-star-rated app that allows you to choose from 46 different settings-rain, the ocean, flute, white noise, etc-that can help you and/or your family to relax. You can make a list of your favorites for easy access, as well as creating a 'mix tape' to play them on a continuous 'loop'. Once you've picked a sound, you can program it to play at varying volumes to help you get to sleep (or wake up) slowly. It's very helpful when you're away from home and not used to the sounds (or lack thereof). If you are like me and fall asleep to an oscillating fan, that noise setting can make you feel a bit more 'at home'. Since it's free anyway, it's not like you're out any cash if you don't like it.

For basic information-

3) WebMD. If you like the website, you'll love the app! Like the site, you can check your symptoms to find suggestions and information approved by physicians. It also has a first-aid guide, which can be very helpful if you have an emergency and need guidance. It can even point you toward the closest doctor and/or pharmacy using just your location service! The App Store search also leads you to specifics like WebMD Baby, WebMD Allergy, WebMD Pregnancy, etc...all free.

And now, for the 'mindless entertainment'...

4) Candy Crush Saga! I'm totally addicted to this game. It started on Facebook, but now 'there's an app for that'. It can be 'synced up' with Facebook to make it easier to keep track of your progress and share things such as extra lives or moves with your friends. It's basically 'Bejeweled' with candy; you line up three candies of the same kind to clear them, or line up more to make 'special' candies. It can be pretty challenging and frustrating at times, but it's fun. Oh, and, it's free. You can buy power-ups, but you don't have to.

Have fun!

Helpful 'Mommy' iPhone/Android Apps

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The digital age has brought us many things. Some of these things are good, others...not so much. I could certainly do without those You-Tube video ads that come up every time we visit certain web pages or those email chain letters we get about a hundred times a day. One thing I couldn't do without, however, is my iPod. Sad, I know, but I'm far from the only person these days who is beholden to a small electronic device. If you're constantly using your Android or iPhone/iPod anyway, you might as well find some apps that are actually helpful. Here are some apps I've found that can make things a lot easier for busy moms. Each is available for both Apple and Android unless otherwise stated.

First, there's the First Aid app from the American Red Cross. In addition to instructions on how to handle a natural disaster, it has a very extensive and interactive symptom database. Basically, you'll put in a symptom-say, burns-and it will tell you what to do in simple language. It's great in an emergency, but it also has interactive videos and quizzes to make learning first aid fun. You can learn more about the app here.

You know how your kids will say they don't have to use the bathroom, but are about to burst ten minutes later? This is fine at home, but what about in public? Charmin addresses this concern with its SitOrSquat app. You put in some search terms such as changing tables, and the app takes your location and tells you which public restrooms are nearby. This is very helpful because there are many businesses that do not have a public restroom and, even if they do, they might not be clean or comfortable. Each restroom will have a 'rating' given by other users to help you decide exactly how badly you have to go! You can learn more about it here: http://www.charmin.com/find-public-restrooms.aspx

If you're concerned about how much time your child spends on the web and/or what sites he visits, you can install SurfBalance. Using this app, you can sort through sites in various categories and block the ones you don't want your kids to see. In addition to this, it tracks your child's internet usage and allows you to set time limits. If they come across a blocked site, they can ask permission to view it and send you an email so you can approve or deny each request. Your child might consider this a bit too controlling but, in this day and age, it's necessary. You can learn more about it here: http://www.surfbalance.com/index.html

If you're on the go and want to keep track of your budget, HomeBudget can help. By showing all of your expenses in detailed categories, it allows you to input exactly how much you spend and compares it to the budgetary limits you've already set. You can learn more about it here: http://anishusite.appspot.com/

As you can tell, mobile devices are good for more than just entertainment. These apps can be so helpful that you'll wonder how you ever got along with out them. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but they are certainly worth any cost and time spent.