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Digital Tools Help Moms Take Charge

Digital Tools Help Moms Take Charge

JANUARY 19, 2010

Mothers use tech to keep families connected

Technology usage is not immune to the lifestyle changes motherhood brings. Moms put the focus on simplicity, convenience and multiuse technologies as they look to keep their families closely linked, according to a report from BabyCenter.

More than four in 10 US online moms said they wanted technology that could help them be a better mother. Millennial respondents were much more likely than their Gen X counterparts to seek maternal empowerment through technology and more likely to say they had been helped by tech.

US Online Moms

That help might be managing the family schedule, taking care of the family’s health and wellness, recording and sharing photos and videos, and making the most of mom’s time—all top objectives of mothers that dramatically increased in importance when they had children.

Smartphones and PDAs are a boon for mothers on the go, 69% of whom use them to coordinate and schedule family activities.

Daily Activities Done via Smartphone/PDA According to US Online Moms, December 2009 (% of respondents)

Home networking and digital convergence are also helpful to moms. Forty percent told BabyCenter that technology convergence in the home makes technology more useful for mothers, and 72% said they are now more likely to use their laptop in the kitchen or living room so they can be around their children while they go online.

“Becoming technologically fluent is a must for moms juggling the ever-growing demands of household responsibilities,” said Tina Sharkey, BabyCenter chairman and global president, in a statement. “Tech brands who truly listen to moms and deliver products that empower them and make their lives a little easier will no doubt have the competitive edge in a very crowded marketplace.”