New parenting app Onco ensures healthy child development for under-fives

- Onoco ‘keeps an eye’ on key milestones and brings consistency to childcare as Covid-19 disruption continues

- Onoco supports brain development in the first five years - 90 per cent of total lifetime brain development – to help meet the child’s full potential

- More than a ‘baby tracker,’ Onoco combines a custom daily routine with development tips created by experts in one app

The transition back to work is difficult for both child and parent with rushed handovers with carers at the start and end of the day rarely covering all basics, let alone the child’s developmental milestones. ‘Onoco,’ a new app,launched today, now embeds these critical milestones, emergency protocols and a consistent routine into every day, bringing peace of mind for parents as Covid-19 continues to disrupt normal childcare arrangements.

Developed by parent of two under-fives, Margaret Zablocka, ‘Onoco’ is built around the government’s Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) – the respected evidence base used by UK nurseries, pre schools and registered childminders, to record a child’s progress through development areas and aspects of learning specified by experts – 460 milestones in total. Onoco enables all caregivers to monitor milestones together, so collectively they can give the child the best start in life – essential when you consider that 90 per cent of the brain develops in the first five years of life.

“When my first child was born, I absorbed all the parenting books and social media groups for guidance but still felt lost when I brought her home – exhausting,” Margaret explained. “The midwife would ask about feeding and nappy routines but I couldn’t remember anything. Onoco helps with tracking these routines in the first months. Later on, it becomes a bit easier to plan the day and Onoco assists with this transition to age five. When my daughter attended nursery, the structure within the EYFS Framework provided more peace of mind while I was at work, ensuring my child was safe, routine was followed and organised activities supported her ongoing development. Now Onoco can bring this reassurance to all parents, being safe, simple and easy to use and share.

“I got to a point where I naturally knew what to expect and what to do with/for my child, but this didn’t help anyone who was caring for her in my absence – such as family members, or the nanny appointed when I returned to work full-time,” she continued. “I work in the tech sector and had expected to find an app to support parents of under fives. There were tracking apps for infants but very little to take account of different needs over the age of one. Handovers to other carers were very stressful. I found I couldn’t relax when away from my child as I had no guarantee that essential routines were being followed. Parents will need this certainty even more now as Covid-19 work patterns remain increasingly unclear.”

Margaret developed Onoco to incorporate a child’s critical development pathways at all times and ensure consistency for both parent and child – - and more productive handovers with carers - especially those without access to the benefits of the EYFS Framework..More than a ‘baby tracker,’ Onoco means parents and carers have all critical information at their fingertips.

Onoco’s easy to follow format of seven development areas, 17 specific aspects of learning and 460 concrete development milestones enables parents to:

- Check their child’s individual ‘rhythm’ and record vital information easily, such as sleep patterns, bottle feeding, breastfeeding, potty training, weaning

- Create a baby routine and family plan – based on tracking and family needs

- Support child development and capture precious moments visually by taking pictures and linking them to the child’s learning journey, following the EYFS Framework

- Invite their partner and family members to take care of the child together and receive synchronised updates for free

- Share emergency protocol arrangements, allergy information and GP appointment calendars

- Receive vital updates and brain building tips and add posts to the family timeline

- Set reminders for feeds, naps and activities

- Manage their child’s schedule more effectively to avoid overtired babies

- Adapt to the changing needs of the child as well as changing carers and ensure carers follow the set routine and plan organised activities chosen to support the child’s development

- Experience continued assessment and guidance via development leaps through 0 – 5 years of age

- Benefit from the only app that provides access to profiles for multiple children displayed on one screen

“The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” is very true, “ added Margaret, “Onoco is designed to build the foundations of that village – of parents, family, carers and professionals. Now, your nanny and other carers can plan your child’s development journey together, bringing trust and transparency and ensuring your child meets their full potential in their first few years.”

The Onoco app is currently available for free to all users from today on the App store or on Google Play.- Just search for ‘Onoco’ in the app stores or follow these links: Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onoco, Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1529620090

Up to five family members and a nanny can be invited to share, at no additional cost. If users sign up today and Onoco introduces a Premium subscription tomorrow, they will receive Premium access for free - https://www. onoco.com

ENDS

Note to Editors

For an interview with Margaret Zablocka or further images, please contact Maxine Boersma on 07771 563373 or email maxineboersma@live.co.uk.


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