Top 12 cool tech products for parents

You are going to be a parent?
You happen to love cool gadgets?
Your friends are expecting a child?
You don’t know what to buy to these trendy people?

Fear not, I bring you a list of amazing tech gifts for parents, conveniently divided between the crucial stages of becoming a parent.

Conception

You all know how it’s done? No no, not the stork story. The story of two humans.

1. DNA test

Why not test yourself and your partner before planning a family?
23andMe offers simple genetic testing that among other things tests your carrier status for mutations linked to 40+ inherited conditions. Results may trigger a discussion with your doctor about additional testing options and allow you better insight into health of your future family. There is a discount if you order 2 tests.

If everything is fine, conception just magically happens.
Unfortunately, many couples are affected by fertility problems and struggle to conceive. Before turning to IVF or similar methods, couples might want to try our next gadget.

2. Ovulation tracker

DuoFertility uses a small sensor that you place under your arm. It continuously collects data and wirelessly communicates with an app on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Smart algorithms learn from your cycles as well as the cycles of others to accurately identify your most fertile time up to 10 days in advance. Company behind it claims that DuoFertility can significantly increase chances of natural conception and for most users has been shown to be as effective as a cycle of IVF.

Alternatively you might want to try:

• wink
• YONO

While we wait for a smartphone that can perform pregnancy tests, and it seams it might be coming sooner than you think, why not use this advanced digital pregnancy test.

3. Digital pregnancy test

Not only does Clearblue claim that their Digital Pregnancy Test with Weeks Indicator is the first and only test that is as accurate as an ultrasound scan at dating pregnancy, but it also has a digital display to show the results.

Its Smart Dual Sensor ™ not only tells you in words if you’re ‘Pregnant’ or ‘Not Pregnant’, also tells you how far along you are.

Pregnancy

So you are pregnant. What now? Well, you should have thought about that earlier 🙂

A new person is growing in your belly. Cool and weird at the same time.
Apart from occasional checkups from midwifes and doctors, you can’t really hear or see the baby. That is if you are not using some of the following gadgets.

4. Wearable fetal monitor

Modoo is a device that enables mothers to monitor and record fetal heartbeat and movement at anytime and anywhere. Mothers wear it on their belly and it continuously transmits collected data to their smartphones. You cannot actually buy modoo today, but you can support their campaign at indiegogo and get yourself a discount when the device ships in early 2016.

Alternatively you might want to try:

• UnbornHeart Fetal Doppler
• fetalbeats

But why stop with sounds, when you could actually be looking at your child.

5. Personal ultrasound device

Ultrasound technology has been advancing extremely fast, and getting cheaper at the same time. So if money is no option, you can spend around 6000 to 9000 USD and buy your own portable ultrasound. Such devices are offered by Siemens, MobiSante, and GE.

It really isn’t rocket science. You won’t be doing any measurements or similar advanced staff, but you are still fully capable of moving the probe across your belly. And when you don’t need it anymore, you can donate the ultrasound to your nearest hospital. Like I said, if money is not an issue 🙂

Scanning at home can give you a two dimensional image, which is great. But not as cool as 3D or 4D scan.

6. 3D/4D ultrasound scan

3D ultrasound scan produces three-dimensional images of your baby. 4D means basically the same. You get the same three-dimensional images, but in real time, without the lag associated with the computer constructed image in classic 3D ultrasound. 3D ultrasounds are an amazing experience for parents, but can also be very beneficial in determining the sex of the child or detecting anomalies.

So now that you had your 3D scan, why not make a sculpture?

7. 3D baby sculpture

Interestingly enough, after a 3D scan your doctor can export a digital file from the ultrasound machine, which is then imported into a 3D printer. And voila! You have a unique 3D sculpture of you unborn baby.

Birth

The idea of giving birth might be scary. Will everything go OK? Will it hurt like crazy?
Control the pain with these two products.

8. Calm app

Studies have found that women trained in meditation are better able to control their anxiety and discomfort during delivery. Calm is a very popular smartphone application that can easily introduce you to meditation and help you relax. Its basic version is free, but it also offers paid modules that might be helpful both prior and during the delivery.

If the power of your mind is not enough, you might want to try TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).

9. TENS Machine

TENS machine sends electrical impulses via adhesive pads placed on your back. These impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles during delivery. Most importantly it is not harmful to you or the baby.

Parenting

Congratulations! You are now responsible for another human. Don’t freak out!
OK, you can freak out a bit.

10. Wearable child monitor

MonBaby is a baby monitor that snaps onto child’s clothing and continuously monitors breathing movements, body position (on the back or on the stomach), fall detection, and proximity removal. All this information is of course sent instantly to your smartphone.

Alternatively you might want to try:

• mimo
• Sproutling
• Teddy The Guardian

11. Video monitor & security device

Canary is a cool video camera that allows you to monitor in real time what is happening in your home or in your child’s room. Not only does it offer high quality video and audio, night vision included, but it also monitors air quality, temperature, and humidity to keep an eye out for potential health issues.

Alternatively you might want to try:

• Piper
• Dropcam
• Withings Home camera

Once you get over the paranoia, it’s time to go out. You’ll need a stroller, and they are just boring, aren’t they?

12. Smart stroller

Well not any more. 4moms has decided to finally bring strollers into 21st century.
Their innovative origami stroller folds on its own with the push of a button and also include unique features like an LCD dashboard, headlights, and cell phone charging. Talk about strolling in style.

There you have it. Twelve gadget that make it cool to be a parent 🙂
Have you used any of these? Please share your experiences
Know of any other cool gadget for parents? Please do let us know.

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Ivor Kovic

Emergency physician, blogger (ivor-kovic.com), innovator (ivormedical.com), researcher (researchgate.net/profile/Ivor_Kovic), speaker (youtu.be/Q-E-B3Pc8mk)...

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