Our picks

20 resources we would hand to a new parent first. Official pages lead the list; a few carefully chosen apps sit beside them.

BASIS, Baby Sleep Information Source
A Durham University project that explains infant sleep research in plain language for parents and practitioners.
Free
CDC developmental milestones
CDC checklists of developmental milestones from 2 months, with a note that they are not a substitute for formal screening.
Free
CDC Milestone Tracker
The official CDC app for tracking developmental milestones from 2 months to 5 years, in English and Spanish, with no account required for the checklists.
Free · iOS and Android
First Steps Nutrition Trust
An independent UK charity that publishes evidence-based information on infant milks and young child feeding.
Free
HealthyChildren.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics' public site for parents, written for families rather than clinicians.
Free
Huckleberry
A baby-tracking app for sleep, feeds and nappies, with optional paid sleep predictions. Check the official site for the current free tier and prices.
ICON: babies cry, you can cope
A UK programme that explains that crying is normal in babies and how adults can cope, including a short film used by health services.
Free
La Leche League International
A worldwide peer-support organisation for breastfeeding, with local leaders and a large information library.
Free
LactMed (NLM)
The US National Library of Medicine's Drugs and Lactation Database, written for clinicians and also used by parents with a professional.
Free
myNoise
A web-based generator of customisable ambient sounds, including white, pink and brown noise, with a large free library.
Free to use on the web
NHS Best Start in Life
The NHS hub for pregnancy, babies and the toddler years, with free tools and advice written by the NHS.
Free
NHS Best Start: Baby
NHS pages for the first year, covering feeding, sleep, vaccinations and everyday care, written for parents.
Free
NHS: breastfeeding
NHS breastfeeding pages, including latch, expressing and common challenges, written by the NHS.
Free
NHS: how to start weaning
The NHS page on starting solid foods, including signs of readiness, written by the NHS.
Free
NHS: newborn and baby sleep
NHS advice for parents on baby sleep and safer sleep, written by the NHS. Read it on their page rather than in a summary.
Free
NHTSA: car seats and booster seats
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official pages on choosing, installing and registering a car seat, including a seat finder.
Free
Postpartum Support International
A worldwide non-profit for perinatal mental health, with a helpline, local coordinators and specialist groups. In a crisis, contact local emergency services.
Free
Safe to Sleep (NIH)
The US National Institutes of Health campaign on safer infant sleep, with materials for families and professionals.
Free
The Lullaby Trust
A UK charity that publishes safer-sleep advice and supports families after sudden infant death.
Free
WHO: infant and young child feeding
The World Health Organization fact sheet on infant and young child feeding, on WHO's own site.
Free

When the list grows

One short email when we add to it. Nothing else.