3 Must Have Baby and Toddler Apps

3 Must-Have Baby and Toddler Apps

Fun, age-appropriate apps that can add a little learning to your child’s screen time

Let’s be honest: Sometimes parents need five uninterrupted minutes.

Maybe you’re trying to make dinner without someone pulling on your leg. Maybe you’re waiting at the doctor’s office. Perhaps you’re traveling with a toddler who has decided that sitting still is an outrageous violation of their civil rights.

Technology can be helpful during those moments.

The trick is finding apps that are age-appropriate, engaging and actually offer something worthwhile rather than simply keeping a tiny human mesmerized by flashing colors.

These three apps are worth a look for families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. As always, check the recommended age range, explore the app yourself first and remember that even a good educational app works best when parents or caregivers participate when possible.

1. Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame

Sometimes toddlers have big feelings packed into very small bodies. A toy doesn’t cooperate, somebody says “no,” the banana breaks in half, or heaven forbid, you give them the blue cup when they specifically wanted the other blue cup.

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame from Sesame Workshop takes those everyday frustrations and turns them into an opportunity to practice calming down and solving problems.

The app features a friendly Sesame Street monster who encounters everyday challenges. Children help the monster take deep breaths, think of possible solutions and choose a plan to try. The approach is based around the simple “Breathe, Think, Do” strategy and is designed to encourage problem-solving, self-control, planning and persistence. The app is available in both English and Spanish.

One feature I particularly like is the ability for parents to record personalized encouragements.

Instead of simply hearing a generic instruction, your child can hear your voice encouraging the monster.

You might say:

“Okay, buddy. Let’s take a big breath together. Now let’s think about what we can try!”

That little personal touch turns an app into something more interactive between parent and child.

The graphics are colorful without being overwhelming, and children interact by tapping the monster, helping him breathe, thinking about possible solutions and choosing what he should try.

What can children practice?

• Taking calming breaths
• Identifying emotions
• Problem-solving
• Making a plan
• Trying again when something doesn’t work
• Developing patience
• Using emotional vocabulary
• Understanding that problems can have more than one solution

There is also a parent section with information designed to help adults reinforce the concepts outside the app.

Good to know: The app is currently listed as free on Apple’s App Store and is rated for ages 4 and up there, so despite its usefulness for younger children, parents should check the current age rating and decide whether it fits their individual child’s developmental level.

View Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame in the Apple App Store

2. PBS KIDS Video

If your child has ever spotted a PBS KIDS character and immediately abandoned whatever you were saying, you’re not alone.

PBS KIDS Video remains one of the more useful choices for parents who want children’s programming that combines entertainment and learning.

The current app is free and does not require a subscription. PBS KIDS says the app offers more than 1,000 videos, including episodes and clips from popular programs. Children can also download eligible videos for offline viewing, which can be particularly handy for road trips, airplane rides or those mysterious waiting rooms where time apparently stops moving.

The lineup has also evolved since this article was originally written. Current offerings include programs such as:

• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
• Wild Kratts
• Sesame Street
• Curious George
• Carl the Collector
• Lyla in the Loop
• Work It Out Wombats!
• Rosie’s Rules
• Nature Cat
• And more

Availability changes, so don’t be surprised if your child’s favorite show rotates in or out.

The PBS KIDS app is designed primarily for young children, with the current Google Play listing describing it as appropriate for toddlers through early grade-school children. It also offers English and Spanish content, captions and other accessibility features.

Why parents may appreciate it

PBS KIDS isn’t simply giving children something to watch while you get the laundry folded.

Well-designed children’s media can introduce concepts such as:

• Early literacy
• Math
• Science
• Problem-solving
• Social-emotional skills
• Cooperation
• Curiosity
• Creativity

And parents can make the experience even more valuable by occasionally watching along and talking about what their child sees.

Ask questions such as:

“What do you think Daniel should do?”

“Why do you think that happened?”

“What would you do?”

That conversation can turn passive viewing into an opportunity for interaction and learning.

The current PBS KIDS Video app is available through the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon App Store, as well as on a variety of connected-TV platforms.

3. Fish School

Ready to dive underwater without actually having to put on a swimsuit?

Fish School from Duck Duck Moose is a colorful early-learning app built around—you guessed it—fish.

Lots and lots of fish.

The app is designed for children ages 2–5 and currently includes eight educational activities involving letters, numbers, shapes, colors, matching, differences and play.

The activities include:

LETTERS

Children watch fish form letters while beginning to explore the alphabet.

NUMBERS

Children can practice recognizing numbers and counting fish from 1 to 20.

SHAPES

Fish swim into different shapes, giving children a playful introduction to shape recognition.

COLORS

Children select colorful fish and watch the underwater scene transform.

DIFFERENCES

Children identify which fish doesn’t belong.

MATCHING

Children practice memory and visual matching.

PLAYTIME

Children can tap, drag and interact with the fish simply for the fun of it.

MUSIC

The app includes variations of the ABC Song, including classical arrangements

I like that the activities are simple enough for young children to explore without requiring a parent to explain 14 different buttons before the game can begin.

Fish School is currently available for iPhone, iPad, Android and Amazon devices

A Word About Babies, Toddlers and Screen Time

Older parenting advice often boiled everything down to a specific number of minutes per day. Current American Academy of Pediatrics guidance takes a more nuanced approach.

The AAP’s 2026 recommendations encourage parents to consider the child, the content, how media is being used to calm or regulate emotions, what media may be crowding out, and ongoing communication. The AAP calls this the 5 C’s of Media Use.

That’s an important distinction.

A high-quality educational app used occasionally with a parent is a very different experience from a child spending hours alone with a tablet.

For babies and very young toddlers, real-world interaction remains especially important. The AAP notes that infants under 18 months learn best through real-world interactions and that heavy or poorly managed solo screen use can crowd out activities important for development, including reading, movement, exploration and time with loved ones.

For children ages 2–5, the AAP has historically recommended no more than about one hour per day of high-quality programming, with parents encouraged to watch or use media alongside their children.

Rather than thinking, “My child gets exactly 60 minutes and then the tablet explodes,” think about what the screen is replacing.

Is your child still getting:

• Plenty of sleep?
• Active play?
• Outdoor time?
• Books and reading?
• Hands-on toys?
• Conversation with parents?
• Creative play?
• Time with siblings and other children?

If the answer is yes, you’re already thinking about media in a healthier way.

The AAP also recommends creating a family media plan and establishing screen-free times and places so digital media doesn’t crowd out sleep, physical activity, family interaction and other important parts of childhood.

Make Apps a Starting Point, Not the Babysitter

Even the best educational app isn’t a replacement for playing with your child.

If your toddler is learning colors in Fish School, find some colored blocks afterward and play a matching game.

If your child is watching Daniel Tiger learn about feelings, talk about what happened in the episode.

If you’re using Breathe, Think, Do, practice taking calming breaths together when you’re not having a meltdown.

That’s where the real learning happens.

Apps can introduce an idea, but parents can help children connect that idea to the real world.

And honestly, that’s probably the best part.

The Bottom Line

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame, PBS KIDS Video and Fish School offer three very different approaches to learning and entertainment for young children.

One focuses on emotional development and problem-solving. One provides educational children’s programming. The other introduces early academic concepts through colorful interactive play.

None needs to occupy your child’s entire afternoon.

Use them when they fit your family’s routine, choose content appropriate for your child’s age and developmental stage, and whenever possible, play along.

Because sometimes a little screen time can be helpful.

And sometimes Mom just needs to drink her coffee while it’s still hot.

I’ll take the win.