For Bojan, Bebbo is a reliable teacher
Thanks to the support by Republic of Korea, UNICEF and the Institute of Public Health, parents are continuously improving their knowledge and practices about child health and development
- Crnogorski
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- Shqip
PODGORICA, January 22nd 2024 – “I name the objects the baby points to with her hand and describe everyday activities using simple words,” Bojan Tomcic, a young father, explains while his eighteen-month-old daughter Vasilija tirelessly runs around the park. Bojan would not have embraced such a practice without the Bebbo app, which brought him many new insights and opened the horizons of the world of early child health and development.
The application proved most valuable to me in the first few weeks of fatherhood because I was quite uncertain about many basic things – how much the baby should sleep, the best way to hold her, how often she should eat, when she should be vaccinated, how to bathe her what to use to bathe her.
“After getting used to it, I realized that the application is very useful in the long term because after entering the child’s birth date, it starts tracking her age and offers content relevant to that stage of development. This significantly makes the use easier and saves time for parents,” Bojan points out.
He adds that a father’s role has changed compared to previous decades. Fathers are increasingly realizing how important it is to facilitate the best start in their children’s lives. The Bebbo application was recommended to Bojan by a father of three.
“I think the application is even more useful for fathers because mothers often talk to each other and share their experiences, which may not always be the case with fathers,” Bojan says.
When asked to describe the Bebbo app in just one word, Bojan says: reliable.
“The internet allows us to access an endless amount of information, and I often encounter conflicting views and advice on the same topic (such as when to start brushing the baby’s teeth). This only adds to the confusion as one does not know who to trust. However, the Bebbo app is backed by UNICEF and the Institute of Public Health, so I consider it the most credible source of information,” this parent points out.
Dr Adis Martinovic from the Institute of Public Health (IPH) of Montenegro echoes the very same advantage of the application.
Due to frequent disinformation in digital media, parents find themselves in doubt. Due to this, the doctor advises them to listen to the most relevant authorities – their chosen paediatrician, the IPH and primary healthcare centres’ official communication channels, and – Bebbo.
All articles in the Bebbo application have been reviewed and checked for accuracy and precision. When everything is available in a single place, including videos and concrete examples, the content becomes very accessible and attractive to parents.
Being a parent himself, he uses Bebbo every day. “I particularly like the combination of animated and documentary materials,” he emphasizes.
The application, launched in Montenegro in early 2022, has been significantly improved and is constantly being complemented with new content. “The new immunization calendar is of particular importance,” Dr Martinovic adds.
“We have procured combined vaccines for children born in 2023, as well as for next generations, reducing the number of vaccination visits from seven to four. Parents are pleasantly surprised with the reduction since it means fewer injections, as well as less waiting and appointment scheduling,” the doctor says.
Since the Institute has more plans to ensure a healthy childhood for children and support for parents, the Bebbo app will be regularly updated and supplemented with new information that parents need. The Government of Korea supports the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro and UNICEF with the app promotion, content update and maintenance.
Bebbo currently boasts almost 13 thousand users. Parents single out information about the different stages of child development, proper child nutrition and vaccination as their favourite content.
The application is available for iOS and Android mobile phones.
While dedicated fathers recommend Bebbo to all parents, Vasilija has already familiarized herself with the parts of a swing, seesaw and leaves on the benches. Her dad, Bojan, underscores the importance of being prepared for the demanding and beautiful role of a parent. Bebbo is proving to be an excellent ally on that journey.
