The Bebbo app provides tailored guidance for parents and expectant mothers, helping them care for their children in a simple and accessible way with a range of interactive tools and features that allow parents to monitor their child's growth and developmental milestones.
This was highlighted by Halitesh Datt, UNICEF Pacific’s Social and Behaviour Change Officer.
Datt says that today, many parents face significant pressures, including work commitments, family responsibilities, and the challenges of raising young children.
He says when parenting becomes difficult, parents often seek trusted sources of information to help them make informed decisions about their child's care and development, and Bebbo Pacific is designed to meet that need.
Insert Datt on infant's age 25th June
Datt says parents can also track immunization schedules and receive timely reminders about upcoming vaccinations.
He says for first-time parents, the app offers practical advice on topics such as breastfeeding, nutrition, and age-appropriate care.
Datt says it provides guidance on what mothers and children should be eating at different stages of development and offers tips to support healthy growth.
When parents register on the app, they enter their child's date of birth, and the app then automatically delivers information relevant to the child's age and stage of development.
For example, if a child is six months old, the app will provide information about expected developmental milestones, such as smiling, rolling over, or beginning to crawl.
He says these prompts help parents better understand what to expect and how to support their child's development.
Bebbo Pacific complements existing parenting practices in Fiji by providing trusted guidance while encouraging parents to seek professional advice whenever they have concerns about their child's health or development.
Datt says experiences during these formative years have a lasting impact on a child's future health, learning, and well-being.
UNICEF Pacific Representative, Hamish Young says they extended their sincere gratitude to the Government of Fiji, in particular the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection for leading on this initiative, to the National ECD Advisory Committee for guiding this work, and to the Government of New Zealand for their generous support and commitment to children in Fiji.
