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

How typically 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?

Currently, 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 thousands and thousands of weekly ChatGPT customers, I’m actually not the one dad or mum checking in with a chatbot. One 2024 research 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 youngsters.

“Given how rapidly these instruments have been adopted all over the place, it is secure to say that an enormous and rising variety of dad and mom are utilizing them,” says Nicholas C. Jacobson, PhD, a computational psychologist and affiliate professor of biomedical knowledge science, psychiatry, and laptop science at Dartmouth Faculty.

However earlier than all of us change into too comfy, it’s necessary to weigh up the info. So this time, as an alternative of asking AI, I put the inquiries to the consultants. They agree AI might be helpful to folks however say some warning is required.

The Ease of Chatbots for Dad and mom

One of many largest developments for 2025 is the rise of the AI-powered chatbot. When you haven’t downloaded an app but, otherwise you nonetheless assume AI is a 2001 movie starring Haley Joel Osment, we’ll enable 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 will possibly 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.

Whereas ChatGPT is likely one of the higher recognized mainstream chatbots, builders are more and more concentrating on dad and mom with merchandise like AI Chat for Dad and mom and Father or mother GPT. And for these wanting extra, apps equivalent to Familymind, Milo, Goldee, and Claude Professional transcend AI-powered dialog. They act as a digital assistant for folks, providing AI-powered household administration, to-do lists, and scheduling. 

As an overtired, overstimulated mother, deferring low-risk parenting queries to expertise appears like a no brainer for me. ChatGPT is fast, often optimistic, and is offered 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 moderately 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 (hey, laundry 101). 

What Dad and mom 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 folks 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 little one 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 annoyed dad and mom want a fast resolution. It will possibly provide them a way of construction or readability.

“Dad and mom typically flip to AI when confronted with pressing, emotionally-charged moments, like ‘my little one will not go to mattress’ or ‘my little one will not go away the home within the morning,’” explains Hoetzel. “These high-stress conditions can set off a robust need for fast fixes, particularly when dad and mom are exhausted or overwhelmed.”

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

Psychological well being help

Dad and mom 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 might be extremely overwhelming—a lot in order that even when dad and mom know useful instruments or methods, they might battle to entry or implement them,” she says. “This overwhelm can even cut back their capability for inventive problem-solving. In these moments, turning to an AI chatbot might provide a method to break by way of 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 by day.

“When I’ve confronted difficult occasions as a dad or mum and daughter, it has been useful in suggesting concrete concepts to help my private wellness, equivalent to going for a run or meditating when I’m feeling harassed,” 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—regardless that research present some dad and mom belief ChatGPT over docs. Consultants 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 children’ lecturers, enhance e mail tone, and translate paperwork.

What Are the Dangers With AI Chatbots?

Whereas chatbots like ChatGPT would possibly sound like an internet 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. 

“However, dad and mom are already inundated with huge and sometimes 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 affect depends upon 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 folks who rely closely on chatbots for recommendation. 

“Normal-purpose fashions aren’t skilled on validated parenting science,” he says. “Their recommendation might be generic, mistaken, or replicate the biases of their coaching knowledge–i.e. the open web. The AI does not know your little one, your loved ones, or the state of affairs. It will 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 expertise may intensify anxiousness signs in some. “Participating in reassurance in search of and getting it could actually worsen one’s anxiousness,” says Dr. Jacobson.

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

“Actual-world help techniques 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.”

Easy methods to Safely Father or mother With AI

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

“It is a method to entry primary info in the mean time when time or psychological power is low,” says Hoetzel. “Used as a place to begin, it could actually provide accessible steering or concepts that folks would possibly discover additional. However it’s not a substitute for expertise, instinct, or skilled help.”

Dr. Jacobson agrees, saying, “Deal with AI as a brainstorming accomplice, not an knowledgeable. Use it for concepts, however be certain that you do not over-rely on it for medical or psychological well being matters. At all times filter what it says by way of your individual widespread sense and what about your little one—you are the actual knowledgeable.”

For Dr. Pierce, context is vital.

“The knowledge it gives could also be basic or primarily based on broad patterns, moderately than tailor-made to particular person elements, equivalent to character, coping capability, help techniques, or cultural background,” she says. “Whereas chatbots might be useful for concepts or perspective-taking, finally dad and mom profit most once they attune to their very own instinct and lived data of their little one.”

Don’t neglect about defending your privateness both. “Don’t share delicate household data until you are actually comfy 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 expertise is transferring so quick,” says Dr. Jacobson. “We actually want the science to catch up so we are able to perceive the results and construct the precise sorts of safeguards.”