December 17, 2025
As artificial intelligence enters children’s everyday lives, many parents feel pressure to keep up with new tools and technologies....
Reading time: 5 minutes
Adapted from: https://www.parents.com/parents-using-ai-11750945
Parenting today is filled with endless questions, exhaustion, and information overload. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more accessible, many parents are quietly turning to chatbots for support. But where does AI truly help—and where should its role stop?
Why Parents Are Seeking AI Support
- How often should a toddler’s sweaters be washed?
- Is there a reliable sugar-free muffin recipe for young children?
- What is the difference between a pteranodon, a pterodactyl, and a pterosaur?
Lately, parents have been directing all questions like these to ChatGPT and getting answers in seconds. While they approach its responses cautiously, they are not ashamed to admit that artificial intelligence (AI) has become an unexpected addition to my parenting village.
With millions of weekly ChatGPT users, many parents are now checking in with chatbots for everyday support. A 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.
However, before AI becomes too deeply embedded in everyday parenting, it’s essential to weigh the facts. Rather than relying solely on chatbot responses, experts emphasize that while AI can be beneficial for parents, it should be used with care and caution.
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. It can answer questions, draft and edit content, analyze text, and generate images.
ChatGPT users have almost doubled from 400 million weekly users 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 among the most widely recognized tools, developers are increasingly targeting parents with specialized products, including:
These tools go beyond conversation, offering features such as family management support, to-do lists, and scheduling assistance.
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. Unlike people, AI does not judge parents for asking questions they feel they “should already know.” (hello, laundry 101).
What Parents Are Using AI For
AI isn’t just answering questions—it’s redefining parental support.
Getting quick answers
Chatbots often support parents during moments of uncertainty or frustration, particularly for those caring for infants or young children.
According to Sophie Pierce, PsyD, a clinical child and adolescent psychologist, parents commonly use AI to:
- Understand baby behavior
- Support sleep and feeding routines
- Interpret pediatrician notes
- Track developmental milestones
- Address behavioral challenges
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."
Claudia Hoetzel
Parent Coach
Mental Health Support
Parents are increasingly experimenting with chatbots as a form of emotional support. Dr. Pierce notes that AI can serve as an early step for burned-out parents who feel overwhelmed.
Yoky Matsuoka, the CEO of Panasonic Well, shares that chatbots can help prompt simple self-care behaviors, such as:
- Going for a walk or run
- Practicing short meditation
- Taking intentional breaks
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 emotional and parenting guidance, chatbots are frequently used for practical support, including:
- Brainstorming child-friendly activities
- Finding recipes for picky eaters
- Comparing parenting products
- Planning travel and itineraries
- Drafting emails to teachers
- Improving tone in written communication
- Translating documents
These uses position AI less as an authority and more as a time-saving assistant.
What Are the Risks With AI Chatbots?
While chatbots can be helpful, experts warn they may also amplify stress or confusion.
Dr. Pierce explains that AI can contribute to:
- Information overload
- Conflicting advice
- Increased self-doubt
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.”
“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."
Nicholas C. Johnson, PhD
How to Safely Parent With AI
Like most aspects of parenting, introducing tools like AI into the mix is all about finding the right balance. Experts believe AI tools can help gather quick information.
Key guidelines include:
- Use AI as a starting point, not a final authority
- Avoid relying on AI for medical or mental health decisions
- Filter advice through personal knowledge of your child
- Protect privacy by avoiding oversharing sensitive information
“Treat AI as a brainstorming partner, not an expert,” says Jacobson.
As AI technology continues to evolve rapidly, experts agree that further research is crucial to understanding its long-term impact on families.
“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.”
Related Posts
November 24, 2025
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it is essential for educators to prepare students...
August 27, 2025
In Vietnamese schools, family involvement often begins and ends with a parent-teacher meeting—and even then, it can feel more...
English 
Tiếng Việt