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Anusha
Anusha

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Itty Bitty Bites – Building the App I Needed as a New Mom

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)

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anchildress1 profile image
Ashley Childress

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!

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nyananu profile image
Anusha

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! 🧡