Baby Comfort Guide - A psychoeducational app for parents of children with crying, sleeping, and feeding problems

Early child regulatory problems are characterized by self-regulation difficulties, which may manifest as fussiness, prolonged crying, problems with sleep-wake regulation and/or difficulties with feeding/eating. Affected families often experience high levels of stress. Furthermore, these problems can also have a negative impact on the healthy development of infants and toddlers.

The newly developed “Baby Comfort Guide” app is intended to provide affected parents with early support and can thus supplement established counseling services. The app was developed by the Chair of Social Pediatrics of the Technical University of Munich in cooperation with the University of Warwick (UK) and the Crying Baby Outpatient Clinic of the kbo Kinderzentrum Munich, and funded by the initiative “Geunsd.Leben.Bayern” by the Bavarian Ministry of Health and Care.

The app contains scientifically sound information on crying, sleeping, and feeding. In addition to informational texts and videos, parents receive tips on how to deal with their child appropriately and are provided with relaxation and stress management strategies for everyday use. An emergency plan offers support in acute situations of excessive demands. A diary function allows the documentation of the child's behavior. By providing information on professional treatment options and access to a comprehensive directory of suitable counseling centers, the app is intended to encourage affected parents to seek professional support at an early stage.

The effectiveness of the app was tested in a randomized controlled trial and optimized following the evaluation of target group feedback.

You can find free access to the app in the common app stores: