S+TM question re: tracking newborn feeding

JenMatt2010

If you did this with your first, do you plan on doing it again, or are you more laid back this time around?

I had a detailed spreadsheet for DS but I'm worried things will be much more hectic this time with a toddler running around. Is it necessary if LO is thriving?

Second question- if you are planning on keeping track, how long are you thinking of keeping up with it? I honestly can't remember how long I logged for DS...

Thanks!

MrsMommyQ

I didn't really keep track other than jsut in my head. DD was a great eater and as long as she was gaining wait, I wasn't worried.

As far as time between feedings, I had this thing called the ItzBeen and it was a life saver. You push a little button when you start feeding them and it starts the timer. that way if the baby is crying you can just look at the thing and know, Oh I fed her 2.5 hours ago, she's hungry. There are also buttons for diaper changes and you can keep track of which side if you're BFing.

ETA to add picture. They also have a littie light that's great for night time when you need just a little light but don't want to turn on a real light.

sfshorter

I didn't keep track at all. Dd was nursing often and her weight gain was normal. In that case, I really don't see the point in tracking.

SuperSecretStatus

The only time I logged anything was in the hospital because it was mandatory. I didn't worry about it when I got home because I ebf'd on demand.

JenMatt2010

Thanks! DS ate every 3 hours, but I felt like logging it made me feel like i was doing something "right." This time, I think i'll be so busy with 2 that I won't log unless LO has any issues that require tracking...

SuperTreesa

SuperSecretStatus said:

The only time I logged anything was in the hospital because it was mandatory. I didn't worry about it when I got home because I ebf'd on demand.

This. I tried for like a few hours after I got home with #1. I finally gave up when I realized that as long as she was gaining and pooping/peeing that I didn't have to worry.

AlwaysForgetful

The hospital had us keep track. The only child I ever kept track with at home was my preemie. The others I did in my head. Unless they were ill and still very young.

This last time I even kinda slacked in the hospital. If my nurse pushed it, then I did. If not, then no. I was good about putting baby to breast every 2-3 hours. The nurse checked on my every 2 1/2 - 3 hours so I just went by when they came in (or baby cried if it came first). At home baby was wanting it every 2-3 hours anyway.

cdbayes

I kept track probably much longer than I needed to. He ate well and gained weight, but I was a paranoid FTM. I also used the itzbeen timer and will use it again this time. I'll see how it goes this time around

LC122

So, I'm fairly OCD and love numbers and graphs. And even though I EBF'd, I still liked to track everything. So, I tracked DD the whole first year.
It let me look at patterns in length of time nursing, number of sessions per day, yield if I pumped, and the number of diapers and timing of diapers (mostly relevant because we dabbled in EC).
I have aspirations of keeping up with all the same info this time but won't kill myself if I don't. But I do think it could be interesting to see how things compare this time around.

iamsarahw

I used a sheet they gave me at the hospital and was really intense about it!
This time I'l prob use a free app until I feel like my milk has regulated.

RedZee

I was just thinking about this today. I made notes in an Excel doc early on, but I don't think I was great about it. I was mostly making sure she got 10 or 12 feedings in a 24 hour period. I don't think I did it past a month (at most). This time, I think the only way I'll do it is with an app - if at all. But I guess I'll see how things start out.

CousinVicki

i had to keep track for about a week due to jaundice. my husband just wrote it down on a piece of  paper, no spreadsheets here!   but if we don't have that issue again i will prob be way more  laid back this time.

Lesley0228

I tracked on paper last time for at least a couple weeks. I'm thinking about trying the Similac app this time. I signed up with Similac for free samples and coupons and with the stuff came info on their app. You could track feeding, including which side you BF on last and for how long, diaper changes and sleep. I don't know how well it works, since I haven't used it, but my phone is always near by so I'm figuring an app is going to be the best way to keep track of things this time.

Fishfam4

I second the Itzbeen - I used it with baby #2 and it was helpful when hubby would take over for a few hours while I was out and esp helpful when I went back to work and I took my son to daycare, that way we were all on the same page. I just dug it out again and replaced the batteries from 5 yrs ago!

Aunt Edna

DH and I used the total baby app on our iPhones. It was really helpful and very easy, plus ou can sync it on all your devices. We'll probably do the same thing this time too.

kdjudd

I didn't track anything the first time and I won't this time either. It seemed like my daughter never stopped eating so I didn't worry. 

kimbo1216

I did with my first. I just kept a journal handy. 1) she was jaundice and I was nervous, so it made me feel better keeping track. 2) I would forget which side I nursed on last and never felt engorged; so I didn't have an easy reminder and 3) as a ftm, it just made me feel better. FYI...I even wrote down poo and pee dipes like they have you do in the hospital.

I don't plan on doing it this time. I did it before more out if insecurity. If baby is eating and gaining, then that's all that matters. I don't think I'll be so uptight this time around.

MrsShankly1012

I tracked on ibabyfeed on my phone last time until DS1 weaned at a year. I know you can export the info to excel.
I'm using it again this time. This kid will sleep through a feeding & I like having the reminder. I also like timing his feedings because he falls asleep a lot at the breast. I also like looking at the stats for some strange reason...

ohkay

I logged DD1's eating, sleeping, and bowel movements for the first month or so. I will not be doing it this time around. Too much work and it wasn't they beneficial. I'm definitely more laid back this time around.

norbert5

I haven't tracked anything for either girls. I don't plan on changing that for this LO unless there are issues like jaundice or bfing problems.

I did wear an extra hair tie on my wrist so I knew which breast to bf off of. Left wrist=left breast.

June2007

I had an app on my phone to keep track at the hospital where they want to know all that info and I will use it again this time. The nurses wanted me to fill out a paper each time but it was so annoying! with DD1 I'm pretty sure I did it for a few weeks before I chilled out. With DD2 I used the app and showed the nurses it. I don't think I did it once I got home. This time I'm sure I won't.

germanpickle

breastfeeding only started working for us when I put away the paper/app and paid attention to my baby instead. So, no, I won't be tracking.

MySunshine213

crunchymama11 said:

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I would only track if baby wasn't gaining and not having wet diapers.

This

smjmlove

Lesley0228 said:

I tracked on paper last time for at least a couple weeks. I'm thinking about trying the Similac app this time. I signed up with Similac for free samples and coupons and with the stuff came info on their app. You could track feeding, including which side you BF on last and for how long, diaper changes and sleep. I don't know how well it works, since I haven't used it, but my phone is always near by so I'm figuring an app is going to be the best way to keep track of things this time.

Similac app is great I use it for bf, diaper changes, and pumping. You can email your self reports to to take to the dr if need be.

scamberlous3000

I use the free What to Expect app to track. I feed him on demand, but sometimes he goes close to four hrs w/o eating and the Dr told me to wake him up of he goes this long. It also helps me know which breast he fed on last.

jennlin

i tracked for way too long...maybe 6-7 wks? dd had jaundice, so her input/output was super important in the beginning..and i'm just anal retentive and never gave up. i will track for as long as i am sane again

Philsbride2be

I agree tracking can be counterintuitive esp for early nursing. It's great if u need to get baby's weight up, but I think my ped put undue pressure on me to supplement DD and she was born at 37 weeks. Bf babies don't gain at the same rate as bottle fed babies. Now that I know this, I will be sure not to listen to all that noise. We eventually dropped the formula after : weeks

swgdvm

I kept track in the very beginning. After that i tried to keep track of which breast i started on but thats it.