When my baby was starting solids, I remember standing in the kitchen thinking:
“Okay... I have an apple and some oats. What now?”
I searched online for baby recipes and every result either called for an avocado I didn’t have, a list of 6 ingredients, or came buried beneath a three-minute scroll through someone’s life story.
I didn’t have time for that. I had a baby in one arm, chores piling up, and CS assignments breathing down my neck.
I just wanted a simple recipe based on what I had. Something I could trust was safe for a 6-month-old. Nothing fancy — just helpful.
The Idea That Wouldn’t Let Go
That moment stuck with me.
I didn’t build anything back then — I was too deep in my final semester, juggling code, baby naps, and everyday chaos. But after graduating, the idea came back.
What if I could build the app I needed that day?
So I opened up VSCode, installed Expo, and began building something I now call Itty Bitty Bites.
What I’m Building
Itty Bitty Bites is a baby recipe generator that works with your fridge, not against it.
No grocery trip required.
Tech Stack
Here’s what I’m using so far:
- 📱 React Native + Expo Router v5 (with a custom dev client)
- 🎨 NativeWind for styling with Tailwind classes
- 🛠️ Supabase for user profiles, saved recipes, and authentication
- 🍎 Sign in with Apple, Google, Facebook, and email (coming soon!)
What’s Next?
I just wrapped up the initial setup, navigation, and wireframes. Next, I’ll focus on:
- Recipe input and generation screen
- Loading animation
- Saving & displaying recent recipes
- Profiles for multiple babies
Why I’m Sharing This
I’m new to mobile app development. This is my first post-grad project and my first solo build from scratch. Sharing the process helps me stay accountable, but I also hope it resonates with someone else out there — a dev, a parent, a solo builder, or someone just trying to solve a small, real-life problem.
Let’s Connect!
If you’ve built something similar, love talking about UX for parents, or just want to follow along, feel free to say hi 👋
You can find me here:
Thanks for reading 🧡
Top comments (2)
Thanks for sharing this! I went back to undergrad with a 2 year old and that was hard - I can't imagine trying to finish that up with a tiny one in tow. 100% respect ✊
The idea for your project is great, too. It's definitely one of those real-world situations that you never even consider until kids enter the picture. Can't wait to see where it takes you!
Thank you so much! That really means a lot! 🙏 And huge respect to you too for going back to undergrad with a toddler!
It’s wild how parenthood completely reshapes your perspective, especially around the little daily challenges. I’m excited (and a bit nervous!) to keep building and sharing — thanks again for the encouragement! 🧡