# Glowing Mother

> Free pregnancy and baby tools, sourced guides and clear app comparisons for pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. Health facts are quoted from the NHS, WHO and ACOG with links and check dates. App facts were checked against official sites and US App Store listings on 2026-11-11.

- Language: English. Also available in: [Deutsch](https://glowingmother.com/de/llms.txt), [Español](https://glowingmother.com/es/llms.txt), [Français](https://glowingmother.com/fr/llms.txt), [Português](https://glowingmother.com/pt/llms.txt)
- Cost: free, no account, no ads
- Citing: you may quote and cite any page with a link.

## Top picks

- [VeriMom](https://glowingmother.com/apps/verimom/): Pregnancy-safe skincare checker. VeriMom is a pregnancy skincare scanner and cosmetic ingredient checker for iPhone, Android and the web. Scan the label in your hand, search a catalogue of 190,000+ products or paste an ingredient list, and get a safety verdict with the flagged ingredients, the evidence behind them and what is still unknown. Free: two scans, full basic results and one routine. Premium adds unlimited use. iPhone, Android, web. https://verimom.com/
- [BabyPlanned](https://glowingmother.com/apps/babyplanned/): Baby checklist for the first year. BabyPlanned is a baby checklist and planning app for iPhone and Android. A few answers about your due date, home, climate, travel, laundry rhythm and feeding plans become a personalised plan for the baby's first year. Every item has a suggested quantity and a reason, and the same answers always give the same plan. Free to download with a free preview of your plan. The full plan is an annual or monthly subscription. iPhone, Android. https://babyplanned.com/
- [BabyLifeLog](https://glowingmother.com/apps/babylifelog/): Shared baby tracker. BabyLifeLog is a baby tracker and shared baby-care journal for iPhone and Android. Feeds, sleep and nappies are logged in one tap and stay in sync with everyone who helps. Guidance cards for your baby's exact week quote NHS and WHO sources, and Lumi, the assistant, answers questions from your own records. One subscription covers the family and invited caregivers join free. One subscription per family: €49.99 a year with a 7-day free trial, or €7.99 a month. Up to 10 invited caregivers join free. iPhone, Android. https://babylifelog.com/ In App Store and Google Play review. Launching soon.

## Best apps

- [Best Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Apps (2026): 8 Ingredient Checkers Compared](https://glowingmother.com/best/pregnancy-safe-skincare-apps/): VeriMom is our pick because it gives a pregnancy-specific verdict from a label scan, shows the evidence and the gaps, and has a free web checker. MamaSkin is the closest alternative. Little Bean is the best one-off purchase. Yuka, EWG, Think Dirty and SkinSort are good general scanners, but none of them rates products for pregnancy.
- [Best Baby Checklist & Registry Apps (2026): 8 Options Compared](https://glowingmother.com/best/baby-checklist-apps/): BabyPlanned is our pick for planning because it is the only one we found that adapts the list to your home, climate, laundry and feeding plans, and gives a quantity and a reason for every item. Babylist is the best universal registry. Amazon and Target are worth it for their completion discounts if you already shop there.
- [Best Baby Tracker Apps (2026): 8 Feeding, Sleep & Nappy Trackers Compared](https://glowingmother.com/best/baby-tracker-apps/): BabyLifeLog is our pick for families who share care: one subscription covers up to 10 caregivers, there are no ads or tracking SDKs, and every guidance card names its source. It is in store review and launching soon. Until then, Huckleberry has the best free tier and the best sleep predictions, and Baby Connect is the strongest choice if you need a web version.

## Tools

- [Due date calculator](https://glowingmother.com/tools/due-date-calculator/): From your last period, conception date or IVF transfer.
- [How many weeks pregnant am I?](https://glowingmother.com/tools/pregnancy-week-calculator/): Your week, trimester and key dates on one timeline.
- [Pregnancy weight gain calculator](https://glowingmother.com/tools/pregnancy-weight-gain-calculator/): Recommended range for your BMI, in kg or lb.
- [Pregnancy skincare ingredient checker](https://glowingmother.com/tools/pregnancy-skincare-ingredient-checker/): Type an ingredient, see what ACOG and the research say.
- [Kick counter](https://glowingmother.com/tools/kick-counter/): Time your baby's movements. Nothing leaves your phone.
- [Contraction timer](https://glowingmother.com/tools/contraction-timer/): One button. Shows length, gap and when to call.
- [Hospital bag checklist](https://glowingmother.com/tools/hospital-bag-checklist/): The NHS list, tickable, saved on your device.
- [Baby sleep calculator](https://glowingmother.com/tools/baby-sleep-calculator/): How much sleep by age, from WHO guidance.
- [Newborn nappy chart](https://glowingmother.com/tools/newborn-diaper-chart/): How many wet and dirty nappies, day by day.
- [Corrected age calculator](https://glowingmother.com/tools/corrected-age-calculator/): Adjusted age for babies born early.

## Guides

- [Newborn essentials: what you actually need, and what can wait](https://glowingmother.com/guides/newborn-essentials-checklist/): The true essentials for a newborn are a safe sleep space with a firm, flat, well-fitting mattress and 3 to 4 fitted sheets, nappies (up to 10 to 12 changes a day), a small rotation of bodysuits and sleepsuits, what you need for your feeding plan, and a car seat if you travel by car. Almost everything else depends on your home and can wait.
- [Pregnancy-safe skincare: which ingredients to avoid and which are fine](https://glowingmother.com/guides/pregnancy-safe-skincare-ingredients/): ACOG says it is generally recommended to avoid topical retinoids in pregnancy, and that oral isotretinoin, hormonal acne therapy and oral tetracyclines should not be used. Over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, topical salicylic acid and glycolic acid can be used. A clinical review advises minimising hydroquinone because 35% to 45% is absorbed through the skin.
- [What to track for a newborn, and when to stop](https://glowingmother.com/guides/what-to-track-newborn/): Track three things in the first weeks: feeds (the NHS says at least 8 to 12 in 24 hours), nappies (at least 6 heavy, wet nappies a day from day 5, and at least 2 soft, yellow poos a day from day 4 for a breastfed baby) and sleep. Stop when the log no longer changes what you do.
- [A simple pregnancy skincare routine that holds up to the evidence](https://glowingmother.com/guides/pregnancy-skincare-routine/): A pregnancy skincare routine needs four things: a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser, a daily sunscreen and, if you have acne, one treatment from ACOG's list (benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, topical salicylic acid or glycolic acid). Swap out retinoids, and minimise hydroquinone.
- [Safe sleep for babies: the checklist to share with everyone](https://glowingmother.com/guides/safe-sleep-for-babies/): The NHS safe sleep rules are: always place your baby on their back, feet at the foot of the cot; in their own cot or Moses basket in your room for at least the first 6 months; on a firm, flat mattress; with the cot clear of pillows, duvets, bumpers, loose blankets and soft toys.
- [Pregnancy basics: seven numbers worth knowing](https://glowingmother.com/guides/healthy-pregnancy-basics/): Seven numbers cover most early pregnancy questions: 280 days from your last period to your due date; no more than 200mg of caffeine a day; 150 minutes of moderate activity a week; first movements between 16 and 24 weeks; 10 to 12.5kg typical weight gain; hospital bag packed by 37 weeks; and call your midwife when contractions come every 5 minutes or more often.
- [How often should a newborn feed?](https://glowingmother.com/guides/how-often-should-a-newborn-feed/): As a rough guide, the NHS says babies feed at least 8 to 12 times, or more, every 24 hours during the first few weeks. Feed whenever your baby shows signs of hunger and for as long as they want. Nappies tell you it is working: at least 6 heavy, wet nappies every 24 hours from day 5.
- [When to pack your hospital bag, and how to pack it well](https://glowingmother.com/guides/hospital-bag-checklist-guide/): The NHS suggests packing your hospital bag at least 3 weeks before your due date, so by about 37 weeks. Pack your notes and birth plan, clothes for labour, nightwear, maternity pads, toiletries, snacks and a phone charger for you; bodysuits, sleepsuits, a hat, nappies, muslins, a blanket and a car seat for the baby.
- [Sharing the nights: handovers that let both of you sleep](https://glowingmother.com/guides/sharing-night-feeds/): Split the night into two shifts so each adult gets one protected block of sleep, and hand over with three facts: when the last feed was and how much or which side, when the last nappy was, and anything unusual. Make sure every caregiver knows the safe sleep rules and how to make up a bottle.
- [How to make up formula and store breast milk safely](https://glowingmother.com/guides/formula-and-breast-milk-storage/): Make up each formula feed fresh with boiled water that has cooled for no more than 30 minutes, so it is still at least 70°C, and throw away any left after the feed. Expressed breast milk keeps for up to 8 days in a fridge at 4°C or lower, or up to 6 months in a freezer at -18°C or lower.
- [Starting solid foods: when, how and what to avoid](https://glowingmother.com/guides/starting-solid-foods/): Solid foods are usually introduced at around 6 months, when your baby can stay sitting and hold their head steady, coordinate eyes, hands and mouth, and swallow food. Avoid honey before 1 year, added salt, and whole nuts before age 5. Introduce allergenic foods one at a time.
- [Baby has a high temperature: when to get help](https://glowingmother.com/guides/baby-fever-when-to-get-help/): The NHS says to get medical help urgently if your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C or higher, or is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39°C or higher. If you are worried about a baby of any age, trust that and call.

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