Parents turn to mobile apps for infant sleep routines in Bodø, Norway

Little Henrik is fast asleep in his stroller outside their home in Bodø, but establishing good sleep routines for infants in their first year can pose challenges for parents. Many new parents are turning to mobile apps for guidance on everything from sleep habits to parenting methods.

Kaja Melå Imøy, a mother of two, finds the app Napper particularly helpful when she is alone with her children. Introduced to the app by fellow parents with positive experiences, she initially downloaded it two months after the birth of her second child in April. “At first, it didn’t seem very effective, but lately, we’ve noticed it works quite well,” she says.

The app utilizes artificial intelligence to suggest optimal sleep routines based on input like the child’s birth date, weight, height, and feeding method. After two weeks of usage, the app provides recommendations on sleep schedules and durations. Imøy acknowledges the potential placebo effect of the app, but emphasizes that such an effect shouldn’t be underestimated.

Despite her satisfaction with the app’s capabilities, Imøy expresses concern about the reliance on mobile technology for infant care, indicating she may only use it for a few more months.

Espen Janson, the app’s creator, claims that Napper has about 80,000 daily users, with nearly a quarter of Norwegian parents of children aged 0 to 18 months having downloaded it. He dismisses concerns that these applications could lead to increased screen time around children, asserting their goal is to simplify parenting.

In contrast, the Norwegian Midwives Association advocates for a more natural approach to parenting by encouraging parents to recognize and respond to their baby’s signals without reliance on apps. They urge patience in developing sleep routines, suggesting that trusting one’s instincts can also yield effective results.