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

How typically ought to I wash my toddler’s sweaters? Are you able to suggest 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 sudden addition to my parenting village. 

With thousands and thousands of weekly ChatGPT customers, I’m actually not the one mother or father 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 seek out methods and actions for his or her children.

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

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

The Ease of Chatbots for Dad and mom

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

A generative chatbot is an AI utility that simulates human dialog by producing text-based responses in actual time. ChatGPT is among the main chatbots (and my private go-to). It will probably 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 among the higher identified mainstream chatbots, builders are more and more concentrating on mother and father with merchandise like AI Chat for Dad and mom and Father or mother GPT. And for these wanting extra, apps akin 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 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, mother or father coach, early childhood educator, and proprietor of Home of Parenting, says some mother and father discover it simpler to ask a chatbot a query somewhat than reaching out to a accomplice or coach. I get it—AI received’t choose me for asking questions I’m fairly certain I ought to already know (good day, laundry 101). 

What Dad and mom Are Utilizing AI For

AI isn’t simply answering questions—it’s redefining parental assist. Here is why some mother and father are making chatbots a go-to.

Getting fast solutions

Chatbots can come to assistance from mother and father searching for 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 mother and father have shared that they use AI chatbots to higher perceive their child’s behaviors, assist sleep and feeding routines, and improve their reference to their new child,” says Sophie Pierce, PsyD, a scientific youngster and adolescent psychologist. “Others flip to AI for decoding pediatrician notes, monitoring developmental milestones, or addressing behavioral challenges.”

Maybe unsurprisingly, AI can turn out to be useful in moments when unsure or annoyed mother and father want a fast answer. It will probably provide them a way of construction or readability.

“Dad and mom typically flip to AI when confronted with pressing, emotionally-charged moments, like ‘my youngster will not go to mattress’ or ‘my youngster 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 mother and father 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 assist

Dad and mom are additionally more and more turning to chatbots for psychological well being assist. Dr. Pierce says chatbots generally is a significant early step for burned-out mother and father.

“Parenting will be extremely overwhelming—a lot in order that even when mother and father know useful instruments or methods, they could battle to entry or implement them,” she says. “This overwhelm may also scale back their capability for artistic problem-solving. In these moments, turning to an AI chatbot could 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 on daily basis.

“When I’ve confronted difficult occasions as a mother or father and daughter, it has been useful in suggesting concrete concepts to assist my private wellness, akin to going for a run or meditating when I’m feeling confused,” Matsuoka shares. “Whereas I do know this stuff, it’s useful to be reminded of the worth of easy actions of self-care.”

However AI ought to by no means exchange skilled assist—regardless that research present some mother and father belief ChatGPT over medical doctors. Consultants urge mother and father coping with signs of a psychological well being situation to talk with their well being care supplier.

Day-to-day wants

Past parental assist, chatbots generally is a goldmine of inspiration. I’ve turned to chatbots to brainstorm child-friendly actions, to weigh up stroller choices, and to suggest theme park itineraries. 

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

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

What Are the Dangers With AI Chatbots?

Whereas chatbots like ChatGPT may sound like an internet superhero, Dr. Pierce says they will each assist and hinder parenting. For some, chatbots assist “get the ball rolling,” reactivating problem-solving expertise when these really feel out of attain, she says. 

“Alternatively, mother and father are already inundated with huge and infrequently conflicting details about parenting approaches,” says Dr. Pierce. “AI chatbots can generally add to this overload, amplifying confusion or self-doubt. As with all instruments, their affect relies on 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 assist, is nicely conscious of dangers to folks who rely closely on chatbots for recommendation. 

“Normal-purpose fashions aren’t educated on validated parenting science,” he says. “Their recommendation will be generic, fallacious, or mirror the biases of their coaching information–i.e. the open web. The AI would not know your youngster, your loved ones, or the state of affairs. It will probably’t replicate the scientific judgment of a health care provider or the deep, intuitive data a mother or father has.”

What’s extra, a mother or father’s reliance on chatbot expertise might intensify anxiousness signs in some. “Partaking in reassurance searching for and getting it might worsen one’s anxiousness,” says Dr. Jacobson.

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

“Actual-world assist techniques foster artistic problem-solving, perspective-taking, and belonging,” she says. “With out that, some mother and father could internalize AI-generated recommendation in ways in which make them really feel extra insufficient or disconnected from their instinct.”

Find out how to Safely Father or mother With AI

Like most areas of parenting, introducing instruments like AI into the combination is all about steadiness. Consultants imagine AI instruments will be useful for gathering fast data. 

“It is a method to entry fundamental information in the intervening time when time or psychological power is low,” says Hoetzel. “Used as a place to begin, it might provide accessible steering or concepts that oldsters may discover additional. However it’s not a substitute for expertise, instinct, or skilled assist.”

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

For Dr. Pierce, context is essential.

“The data it gives could also be normal or primarily based on broad patterns, somewhat than tailor-made to particular person components, akin to persona, coping capability, assist techniques, or cultural background,” she says. “Whereas chatbots will be useful for concepts or perspective-taking, in the end mother and father profit most after they attune to their very own instinct and lived data of their youngster.”

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 course.

“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 suitable sorts of safeguards.”