About Hold Steady

What This Is

Hold Steady is an audio companion for exhausted parents during difficult moments—especially those long, lonely nights when you're the only one awake.

Unlike meditation apps that ask you to sit still and focus, this is designed for when you're actively parenting: rocking a crying baby at 3am, trying to stay calm during a tantrum, or just trying to survive the witching hour on fumes.

Think of it as having a supportive friend whispering encouragement while you're in the thick of it. A steady voice reminding you that you're not alone, this will pass, and you're doing better than you think.

Why I Created This

I built Hold Steady because I needed it.

During those brutal sleep-deprived nights with my own kids, I found myself desperately searching for something—anything—that could help me stay grounded while I was actively trying to get a baby back to sleep. Meditation apps wanted me to sit down and close my eyes. Podcasts were too engaging. White noise was just... noise.

What I needed was companionship. Validation. Gentle reminders that I wasn't failing, that this was temporary, that my presence mattered even when I was exhausted.

I couldn't find it, so I made it.

Hold Steady is for the parents who are doing the hardest work at the hardest hours, with no audience and no applause. You deserve support too.

What You're Getting (Beta Version)

This is currently in beta. That means it's functional, but it's not perfect yet—and I'm actively improving it based on feedback from parents like you.

The Content:

• 1,480 mantras written specifically for exhausted parents
• 14 categories covering different emotional states and situations
• Each mantra is short (10-20 seconds), warm, and designed to repeat without driving you crazy
• No toxic positivity—these mantras acknowledge that parenting is hard while offering genuine hope
• No religious references, so anyone can use them

The Voices:

Right now, all voices are AI-generated using ElevenLabs text-to-speech technology. They're warm and clear, but they're not human voices yet.

What's Coming:

• Human-recorded voices (including diverse genders, ages, and accents)
• More situational categories (tantrum support, feeding sessions, the day after a brutal night)
• The option to record mantras in your own voice
• User-submitted mantras from other parents
• More personalization and feedback features

How to Use It

1. Pick a category based on how you're feeling or what you're dealing with
2. Adjust settings - change the background sound, adjust volumes, change the pause between mantras
3. Press play and let it run while you do what you need to do
4. Exit when ready - press the × button or Esc key

The app works with your screen off, so you can slip your phone in your pocket and just listen while you rock, pace, or hold your child.

A Note on Perfection

This app isn't perfect. The voices aren't human yet. There might be bugs. Some mantras might not resonate with you, and that's okay.

But if even one mantra helps you get through one hard moment—if it makes you feel a little less alone, a little more capable, a little more patient with yourself—then it's worth it.

You don't have to be perfect tonight. Neither does this app.

Get in Touch

I'd love to hear from you:

• Feedback? Let me know what's working and what's not
• Bug reports? Tell me what broke
• Feature requests? Share what would make this more helpful
• Just want to say hi? I'm here for that too

Contact me here

This is a side project born from real parenting struggle, built by one tired parent for other tired parents. Thank you for being part of the beta.

Privacy & Technical Stuff

• No account required - Your preferences are saved locally on your device
• No tracking - I'm not collecting data on what you listen to or when
• Works offline - After your first visit, the app works without internet
• Free - This is free to use, no subscriptions, no ads

Read the full privacy policy