I’m a Mom Who Uses ChatGPT for Help—Here’s What I’m Learning

How often should I wash my toddler’s sweaters? Can you recommend a sugar-free muffin recipe? What’s the difference between a pteranodon, a pterodactyl, and a pterosaur?

Lately, I’ve been directing all questions like these to ChatGPT, and I’m getting answers in seconds. While I approach its responses cautiously, I’m not ashamed to admit that artificial intelligence (AI) has become an unexpected addition to my parenting village. 

With millions of weekly ChatGPT users, I’m certainly not the only parent checking in with a chatbot. One 2024 study found that about 71% of parents had used ChatGPT, and more than half used it specifically for parenting, including to find strategies and activities for their kids.

“Given how quickly these tools have been adopted everywhere, it’s safe to say that a huge and growing number of parents are using them,” says Nicholas C. Jacobson, PhD, a computational psychologist and associate professor of biomedical data science, psychiatry, and computer science at Dartmouth College.

But before we all become too comfortable, it’s important to weigh up the facts. So this time, instead of asking AI, I put the questions to the experts. They agree AI can be beneficial to parents but say some caution is needed.

The Ease of Chatbots for Parents

One of the biggest trends for 2025 is the rise of the AI-powered chatbot. If you haven’t downloaded an app yet, or you still think AI is a 2001 film starring Haley Joel Osment, we’ll help you catch up.

A generative chatbot is an AI application that simulates human conversation by producing text-based responses in real time. ChatGPT is one of the leading chatbots (and my personal go-to). It can answer questions, draft and edit content, analyze text, and generate images.

ChatGPT users have almost doubled from 400 million weekly ones in February 2025 to almost 800 million in June 2025, and it’s believed to be the fastest growing app of all time.

While ChatGPT is one of the better known mainstream chatbots, developers are increasingly targeting parents with products like AI Chat for Parents and Parent GPT. And for those wanting more, apps such as Familymind, Milo, Goldee, and Claude Pro go beyond AI-powered conversation. They act as a virtual assistant for parents, offering AI-powered family management, to-do lists, and scheduling. 

As an overtired, overstimulated mom, deferring low-risk parenting queries to technology feels like a no-brainer for me. ChatGPT is quick, usually positive, and is available at all hours of the day.

Claudia Hoetzel, parent coach, early childhood educator, and owner of House of Parenting, says some parents find it easier to ask a chatbot a question rather than reaching out to a partner or coach. I get it—AI won’t judge me for asking questions I’m pretty sure I should already know (hello, laundry 101). 

What Parents Are Using AI For

AI isn’t just answering questions—it’s redefining parental support. Here’s why some parents are making chatbots a go-to.

Getting quick answers

Chatbots can come to the aid of parents seeking reassurance from the depth of the trenches. That’s especially true for parents of babies who have tons of questions throughout the day. 

“New parents have shared that they use AI chatbots to better understand their baby’s behaviors, support sleep and feeding routines, and enhance their connection with their newborn,” says Sophie Pierce, PsyD, a clinical child and adolescent psychologist. “Others turn to AI for interpreting pediatrician notes, tracking developmental milestones, or addressing behavioral challenges.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, AI can come in handy in moments when uncertain or frustrated parents need a quick solution. It can offer them a sense of structure or clarity.

“Parents often turn to AI when faced with urgent, emotionally-charged moments, like ‘my child won’t go to bed’ or ‘my child won’t leave the house in the morning,’” explains Hoetzel. “These high-stress situations can trigger a strong desire for quick fixes, especially when parents are exhausted or overwhelmed.”

As a busy mom of two, I find chatbots particularly intuitive and convenient for advice on the go, especially on those days when I feel like I’m pouring from an empty cup.

Mental health support

Parents are also increasingly turning to chatbots for mental health support. Dr. Pierce says chatbots can be a meaningful early step for burned-out parents.

“Parenting can be incredibly overwhelming—so much so that even when parents know helpful tools or strategies, they may struggle to access or implement them,” she says. “This overwhelm can also reduce their capacity for creative problem-solving. In those moments, turning to an AI chatbot may offer a way to break through the fog and begin addressing a challenge more effectively.”

Yoky Matsuoka is the CEO of Panasonic Well, a health and wellness-focused initiative within Panasonic that develops AI-driven technologies to improve well-being. She’s also a mom of four and uses chatbots every day.

“When I have faced challenging times as a parent and daughter, it has been helpful in suggesting concrete ideas to support my personal wellness, such as going for a run or meditating when I am feeling stressed,” Matsuoka shares. “While I know these things, it is helpful to be reminded of the value of simple activities of self-care.”

But AI should never replace professional help—even though studies show some parents trust ChatGPT over doctors. Experts urge parents dealing with symptoms of a mental health condition to speak with their health care provider.

Day-to-day needs

Beyond parental support, chatbots can be a goldmine of inspiration. I’ve turned to chatbots to brainstorm child-friendly activities, to weigh up stroller options, and to recommend theme park itineraries. 

Dr. Jacobson says he knows of parents also using AI to find recipes for picky eaters and getting help to simplify a complex topic.

Additionally, Matsuoka says she’s saved hours of research and trip planning by using AI to find accommodation, restaurants, and family-friendly activities. She adds that chatbots have also helped her draft notes to the kids’ teachers, improve email tone, and translate documents.

What Are the Risks With AI Chatbots?

While chatbots like ChatGPT might sound like an online superhero, Dr. Pierce says they can both help and hinder parenting. For some, chatbots help “get the ball rolling,” reactivating problem-solving skills when those feel out of reach, she says. 

“On the other hand, parents are already inundated with vast and often conflicting information about parenting approaches,” says Dr. Pierce. “AI chatbots can sometimes add to this overload, amplifying confusion or self-doubt. As with all tools, their impact depends on how, when, and why they’re used.”

Dr. Jacobson, who in 2019 launched Therabot, a generative chatbot that uses AI to provide evidence-based mental health support, is well aware of risks to parents who rely heavily on chatbots for advice. 

“General-purpose models aren’t trained on validated parenting science,” he says. “Their advice can be generic, wrong, or reflect the biases in their training data–i.e. the open internet. The AI doesn’t know your child, your family, or the situation. It can’t replicate the clinical judgment of a doctor or the deep, intuitive knowledge a parent has.”

What’s more, a parent’s reliance on chatbot technology could intensify anxiety symptoms in some. “Engaging in reassurance seeking and getting it can worsen one’s anxiety,” says Dr. Jacobson.

Also, over-reliance on AI tools may contribute to further isolation for those already struggling, warns Dr. Pierce.

“Real-world support systems foster creative problem-solving, perspective-taking, and belonging,” she says. “Without that, some parents may internalize AI-generated advice in ways that make them feel more inadequate or disconnected from their intuition.”

How to Safely Parent With AI

Like most areas of parenting, introducing tools like AI into the mix is all about balance. Experts believe AI tools can be helpful for gathering quick information. 

“It’s a way to access basic facts at the moment when time or mental energy is low,” says Hoetzel. “Used as a starting point, it can offer accessible guidance or ideas that parents might explore further. But it’s not a replacement for experience, intuition, or professional support.”

Dr. Jacobson agrees, saying, “Treat AI as a brainstorming partner, not an expert. Use it for ideas, but ensure that you don’t over-rely on it for medical or mental health topics. Always filter what it says through your own common sense and what you know about your child—you’re the real expert.”

For Dr. Pierce, context is critical.

“The information it provides may be general or based on broad patterns, rather than tailored to individual factors, such as personality, coping capacity, support systems, or cultural background,” she says. “While chatbots can be helpful for ideas or perspective-taking, ultimately parents benefit most when they attune to their own intuition and lived knowledge of their child.”

Don’t forget about protecting your privacy either. “Don’t share sensitive family information unless you’re really comfortable with that,” adds Dr. Jacobson.

As for the future of AI, the potential is unlimited. What we need now is more research to steer us in the next direction.

“The technology is moving so fast,” says Dr. Jacobson. “We really need the science to catch up so we can understand the effects and build the right kinds of safeguards.”