I’m a Mom Who Uses ChatGPT for Help—Here’s What I’m Learning

How usually ought to I wash my toddler’s sweaters? Can you suggest a sugar-free muffin recipe? What’s the distinction between a pteranodon, a pterodactyl, and a pterosaur?

Lately, I’ve been directing all questions like these to ChatGPT, and I’m getting solutions in seconds. While I method its responses cautiously, I’m not ashamed to confess that synthetic intelligence (AI) has turn into an sudden addition to my parenting village. 

With hundreds of thousands of weekly ChatGPT customers, I’m actually not the one dad or mum checking in with a chatbot. One 2024 examine discovered that about 71% of fogeys had used ChatGPT, and greater than half used it particularly for parenting, together with to seek out methods and actions for his or her youngsters.

“Given how quickly these tools have been adopted everywhere, it’s safe to say that a huge and growing number of parents are using them,” says Nicholas C. Jacobson, PhD, a computational psychologist and affiliate professor of biomedical knowledge science, psychiatry, and laptop science at Dartmouth College.

But earlier than all of us turn into too comfy, it’s essential to weigh up the details. So this time, as a substitute of asking AI, I put the inquiries to the consultants. They agree AI will be useful to oldsters however say some warning is required.

The Ease of Chatbots for Parents

One of the most important developments for 2025 is the rise of the AI-powered chatbot. If you haven’t downloaded an app but, otherwise you nonetheless assume AI is a 2001 movie starring Haley Joel Osment, we’ll assist you catch up.

A generative chatbot is an AI utility that simulates human dialog by producing text-based responses in actual time. ChatGPT is likely one of the main chatbots (and my private go-to). It can reply questions, draft and edit content material, analyze textual content, and generate photos.

ChatGPT customers have nearly doubled from 400 million weekly ones in February 2025 to nearly 800 million in June 2025, and it’s believed to be the quickest rising app of all time.

While ChatGPT is likely one of the higher identified mainstream chatbots, builders are more and more focusing on dad and mom with merchandise like AI Chat for Parents and Parent GPT. And for these wanting extra, apps akin to Familymind, Milo, Goldee, and Claude Pro transcend AI-powered dialog. They act as a digital assistant for fogeys, providing AI-powered household administration, to-do lists, and scheduling. 

As an overtired, overstimulated mother, deferring low-risk parenting queries to know-how seems like a no brainer for me. ChatGPT is fast, normally constructive, and is out there in any respect hours of the day.

Claudia Hoetzel, dad or mum coach, early childhood educator, and proprietor of House of Parenting, says some dad and mom discover it simpler to ask a chatbot a query somewhat than reaching out to a companion or coach. I get it—AI received’t choose me for asking questions I’m fairly positive I ought to already know (whats up, laundry 101). 

What Parents Are Using AI For

AI isn’t simply answering questions—it’s redefining parental help. Here’s why some dad and mom are making chatbots a go-to.

Getting fast solutions

Chatbots can come to assistance from dad and mom in search of reassurance from the depth of the trenches. That’s very true for fogeys of infants who’ve tons of questions all through the day. 

“New parents have shared that they use AI chatbots to better understand their baby’s behaviors, support sleep and feeding routines, and enhance their connection with their newborn,” says Sophie Pierce, PsyD, a medical baby and adolescent psychologist. “Others flip to AI for decoding pediatrician notes, monitoring developmental milestones, or addressing behavioral challenges.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, AI can turn out to be useful in moments when unsure or annoyed dad and mom want a fast resolution. It can provide them a way of construction or readability.

“Parents often turn to AI when faced with urgent, emotionally-charged moments, like ‘my child won’t go to bed’ or ‘my child won’t leave the house in the morning,’” explains Hoetzel. “These high-stress situations can trigger a strong desire for quick fixes, especially when parents are exhausted or overwhelmed.”

As a busy mother of two, I discover chatbots significantly intuitive and handy for recommendation on the go, particularly on these days after I really feel like I’m pouring from an empty cup.

Mental well being help

Parents are additionally more and more turning to chatbots for psychological well being help. Dr. Pierce says chatbots generally is a significant early step for burned-out dad and mom.

“Parenting can be incredibly overwhelming—so much so that even when parents know helpful tools or strategies, they may struggle to access or implement them,” she says. “This overwhelm can also reduce their capacity for creative problem-solving. In those moments, turning to an AI chatbot may offer a way to break through the fog and begin addressing a challenge more effectively.”

Yoky Matsuoka is the CEO of Panasonic Well, a well being and wellness-focused initiative inside Panasonic that develops AI-driven applied sciences to enhance well-being. She’s additionally a mother of 4 and makes use of chatbots day-after-day.

“When I have faced challenging times as a parent and daughter, it has been helpful in suggesting concrete ideas to support my personal wellness, such as going for a run or meditating when I am feeling stressed,” Matsuoka shares. “While I know these things, it is helpful to be reminded of the value of simple activities of self-care.”

But AI ought to by no means substitute skilled assist—though research present some dad and mom belief ChatGPT over docs. Experts urge dad and mom coping with signs of a psychological well being situation to talk with their well being care supplier.

Day-to-day wants

Beyond parental help, chatbots generally is a goldmine of inspiration. I’ve turned to chatbots to brainstorm child-friendly actions, to weigh up stroller choices, and to suggest theme park itineraries. 

Dr. Jacobson says he is aware of of fogeys additionally utilizing AI to seek out recipes for choosy eaters and getting assist to simplify a posh matter.

Additionally, Matsuoka says she’s saved hours of analysis and journey planning by utilizing AI to seek out lodging, eating places, and family-friendly actions. She provides that chatbots have additionally helped her draft notes to the youngsters’ lecturers, enhance e mail tone, and translate paperwork.

What Are the Risks With AI Chatbots?

While chatbots like ChatGPT may sound like a web-based superhero, Dr. Pierce says they’ll each assist and hinder parenting. For some, chatbots assist “get the ball rolling,” reactivating problem-solving expertise when these really feel out of attain, she says. 

“On the other hand, parents are already inundated with vast and often conflicting information about parenting approaches,” says Dr. Pierce. “AI chatbots can sometimes add to this overload, amplifying confusion or self-doubt. As with all tools, their impact depends on how, when, and why they’re used.”

Dr. Jacobson, who in 2019 launched Therabot, a generative chatbot that makes use of AI to supply evidence-based psychological well being help, is nicely conscious of dangers to oldsters who rely closely on chatbots for recommendation. 

“General-purpose models aren’t trained on validated parenting science,” he says. “Their advice can be generic, wrong, or reflect the biases in their training data–i.e. the open internet. The AI doesn’t know your child, your family, or the situation. It can’t replicate the clinical judgment of a doctor or the deep, intuitive knowledge a parent has.”

What’s extra, a dad or mum’s reliance on chatbot know-how may intensify anxiousness signs in some. “Engaging in reassurance seeking and getting it can worsen one’s anxiety,” says Dr. Jacobson.

Also, over-reliance on AI instruments might contribute to additional isolation for these already struggling, warns Dr. Pierce.

“Real-world support systems foster creative problem-solving, perspective-taking, and belonging,” she says. “Without that, some parents may internalize AI-generated advice in ways that make them feel more inadequate or disconnected from their intuition.”

How to Safely Parent With AI

Like most areas of parenting, introducing instruments like AI into the combination is all about steadiness. Experts consider AI instruments will be useful for gathering fast info. 

“It’s a way to access basic facts at the moment when time or mental energy is low,” says Hoetzel. “Used as a starting point, it can offer accessible guidance or ideas that parents might explore further. But it’s not a replacement for experience, intuition, or professional support.”

Dr. Jacobson agrees, saying, “Treat AI as a brainstorming partner, not an expert. Use it for ideas, but ensure that you don’t over-rely on it for medical or mental health topics. Always filter what it says through your own common sense and what you know about your child—you’re the real expert.”

For Dr. Pierce, context is crucial.

“The information it provides may be general or based on broad patterns, rather than tailored to individual factors, such as personality, coping capacity, support systems, or cultural background,” she says. “While chatbots can be helpful for ideas or perspective-taking, ultimately parents benefit most when they attune to their own intuition and lived knowledge of their child.”

Don’t neglect about defending your privateness both. “Don’t share sensitive family information unless you’re really comfortable with that,” provides Dr. Jacobson.

As for the way forward for AI, the potential is limitless. What we want now’s extra analysis to steer us within the subsequent path.

“The technology is moving so fast,” says Dr. Jacobson. “We really need the science to catch up so we can understand the effects and build the right kinds of safeguards.”