If it takes a village to raise a child, these MVP (most valuable parenting) apps are community members you can rely on.

By guiding you through challenging moments, such as navigating tantrums and tricky topics, Good Inside helps you gain parenting proficiency through one five-minute lesson a day.

MVP feature: Daily decks provide science-based tips on how to respond if your Deeply Feeling Kid has a hard time losing. “Know This, Try This” cards provide practical strategies for dealing with challenges, such as the “Mine!” stage.

Parenting win: Proactive reminders provide much-needed perspective on challenging days. Getting a notification that says “Your kid is having a hard time, not giving you a hard time” might be a day-changer.

Maple’s shared family calendar ensures you stay on top of school events, birthday parties, sports practices and assigned chores (sorry, kids).

MVP feature: Use the timeline view to see everyone’s schedule. Seamless integration with iCloud and other calendars lets you nimbly navigate scheduling conflicts, such as basketball games and drama club pickups coinciding with work commitments.

Parenting win: Create a family folder for your weeklong road trip or backyard campout to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. Packing list, assigned tasks, itinerary, budget – track the whole lot.

While everyone’s experience of motherhood is unique, there’s no need to go it alone. Peanut facilitates meaningful connections with mums, mums-to-be and hopeful mums who offer shared experience and understanding.

MVP feature: Find community in your local area for in-person coffee and playdates. In-app community groups help those at similar stages of motherhood find support.

Parenting win: Use Incognito Mode to anonymously ask questions or seek advice on sensitive matters such as fertility treatments or child behaviour concerns.

By making it incredibly easy to log feeding times, naps, diaper changes and more, comprehensive tracking app Huckleberry helps parents of babies and toddlers stick to a steady schedule.

MVP feature: SweetSpot uses your child’s sleep logs to predict the ideal time for a nap (before they’re overtired). Customise wake windows and easily track remaining nap time with Live Activities.

Parenting win: The app is filled with thoughtful touches. The nursing timer and pumping tracker, for example, offer left/right options.

Solid Starts aims to help you raise a healthier (and less picky) eater. Introduce solid foods with confidence by learning the best ways to cook, cut and serve foods based on your child’s growth stage.

MVP feature: The app’s How to Serve database of more than 400 foods provides video demos and charts showing the safest ways to prepare meals for every age. A whole strawberry, for example, is fine for babies 6 to 8 months old if it’s too large to fit entirely in their mouth.

Parenting win: The First Meals section is full of ideas and recipes for iron-rich foods, quick breakfasts, dinners the whole family can enjoy and make-ahead lunches. When you reach your daily cleanup threshold, check the section on minimal-mess meals.

Known for its stage-based Play Kit subscription boxes, Lovevery is full of activities that meet your child where they’re at in their development.

MVP feature: DIY activities involve common household items, so spending on new toys isn’t essential. The Sticky Kicking Play activity calls for painter’s tape and a baking sheet. It’s designed to desensitise feet in preparation for walking.

Parenting win: Subscribers unlock access to Lovevery’s team of child-development pros, who provide quick and thoughtful responses to questions on all aspects of childcare. You’ll also see questions other parents are asking on topics such as overstimulation, language and screen time.