I’m a Mother Who Makes use of ChatGPT for Assist—This is What I’m Studying

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

These days, I have been directing all questions like these to ChatGPT, and I’m getting solutions in seconds. Whereas I method its responses cautiously, I’m not ashamed to confess that synthetic intelligence (AI) has change into an surprising addition to my parenting village. 

With tens of millions of weekly ChatGPT customers, I’m definitely 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 search out methods and actions for his or her children.

“Given how shortly these instruments have been adopted in all places, it is protected to say that a large and rising variety of dad and mom are utilizing them,” says Nicholas C. Jacobson, PhD, a computational psychologist and affiliate professor of biomedical information science, psychiatry, and laptop science at Dartmouth Faculty.

However earlier than all of us change into too snug, it’s vital to weigh up the info. So this time, as a substitute of asking AI, I put the inquiries to the specialists. They agree AI may be useful to oldsters however say some warning is required.

The Ease of Chatbots for Mother and father

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

A generative chatbot is an AI software that simulates human dialog by producing text-based responses in actual time. ChatGPT is without doubt one of the main chatbots (and my private go-to). It could possibly reply questions, draft and edit content material, analyze textual content, and generate pictures.

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

Whereas ChatGPT is without doubt one of the higher recognized mainstream chatbots, builders are more and more focusing on dad and mom with merchandise like AI Chat for Mother and father and Dad or mum GPT. And for these wanting extra, apps similar to Familymind, Milo, Goldee, and Claude Professional 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 looks 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 Home of Parenting, says some dad and mom discover it simpler to ask a chatbot a query reasonably than reaching out to a accomplice or coach. I get it—AI gained’t choose me for asking questions I’m fairly certain I ought to already know (good day, laundry 101). 

What Mother and father Are Utilizing AI For

AI isn’t simply answering questions—it’s redefining parental help. This is 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 dad and mom have shared that they use AI chatbots to raised perceive their child’s behaviors, help sleep and feeding routines, and improve their reference to their new child,” says Sophie Pierce, PsyD, a scientific baby and adolescent psychologist. “Others flip to AI for deciphering pediatrician notes, monitoring developmental milestones, or addressing behavioral challenges.”

Maybe unsurprisingly, AI can come in useful in moments when unsure or pissed off dad and mom want a fast resolution. It could possibly supply them a way of construction or readability.

“Mother and father usually flip to AI when confronted with pressing, emotionally-charged moments, like ‘my baby will not go to mattress’ or ‘my baby will not go away the home within the morning,’” explains Hoetzel. “These high-stress conditions can set off a powerful want for fast fixes, particularly when dad and mom 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.

Psychological well being help

Mother and father 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 may be extremely overwhelming—a lot in order that even when dad and mom know useful instruments or methods, they might wrestle to entry or implement them,” she says. “This overwhelm also can scale back their capability for inventive problem-solving. In these moments, turning to an AI chatbot might supply a method to break via the fog and start addressing a problem extra successfully.”

Yoky Matsuoka is the CEO of Panasonic Nicely, 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’ve confronted difficult instances as a dad or mum and daughter, it has been useful in suggesting concrete concepts to help my private wellness, similar to going for a run or meditating when I’m feeling careworn,” Matsuoka shares. “Whereas I do know these items, it’s useful to be reminded of the worth of easy actions of self-care.”

However AI ought to by no means change skilled assist—despite the fact that research present some dad and mom belief ChatGPT over medical doctors. Specialists 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

Past 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 advocate theme park itineraries. 

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

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

What Are the Dangers With AI Chatbots?

Whereas chatbots like ChatGPT would possibly 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 abilities when these really feel out of attain, she says. 

“Then again, dad and mom are already inundated with huge and infrequently conflicting details about parenting approaches,” says Dr. Pierce. “AI chatbots can typically add to this overload, amplifying confusion or self-doubt. As with all instruments, their impression is dependent upon how, when, and why they’re used.”

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

“Basic-purpose fashions aren’t educated on validated parenting science,” he says. “Their recommendation may be generic, improper, or mirror the biases of their coaching information–i.e. the open web. The AI does not know your baby, your loved ones, or the scenario. It could possibly’t replicate the scientific judgment of a physician or the deep, intuitive data a dad or mum has.”

What’s extra, a dad or mum’s reliance on chatbot know-how might intensify nervousness signs in some. “Participating in reassurance in search of and getting it could possibly worsen one’s nervousness,” says Dr. Jacobson.

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

“Actual-world help methods foster inventive problem-solving, perspective-taking, and belonging,” she says. “With out that, some dad and mom might internalize AI-generated recommendation in ways in which make them really feel extra insufficient or disconnected from their instinct.”

Find out how to Safely Dad or mum With AI

Like most areas of parenting, introducing instruments like AI into the combination is all about stability. Specialists consider AI instruments may be useful for gathering fast data. 

“It is a method to entry fundamental info in the meanwhile when time or psychological vitality is low,” says Hoetzel. “Used as a place to begin, it could possibly supply accessible steerage or concepts that oldsters would possibly discover additional. Nevertheless it’s not a alternative for expertise, instinct, or skilled help.”

Dr. Jacobson agrees, saying, “Deal with AI as a brainstorming accomplice, not an professional. Use it for concepts, however make sure that you do not over-rely on it for medical or psychological well being matters. All the time filter what it says via your individual frequent sense and what you realize about your baby—you are the true professional.”

For Dr. Pierce, context is important.

“The data it gives could also be basic or based mostly on broad patterns, reasonably than tailor-made to particular person elements, similar to persona, coping capability, help methods, or cultural background,” she says. “Whereas chatbots may be useful for concepts or perspective-taking, finally dad and mom profit most after they attune to their very own instinct and lived data of their baby.”

Don’t neglect about defending your privateness both. “Don’t share delicate household data until you are actually snug with that,” provides Dr. Jacobson.

As for the way forward for AI, the potential is limitless. What we’d like now could be extra analysis to steer us within the subsequent route.

“The know-how is shifting so quick,” says Dr. Jacobson. “We actually want the science to catch up so we will perceive the consequences and construct the appropriate sorts of safeguards.”