Breastfeeding apps

samanthamommy · November 2014

what's the best app for iPhone to keep up with breastfeeding and wet and dirty diapers?

[Deleted User] · November 2014

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bumpuser10617306 · November 2014

I used feed baby lite (it was free) I didn't track diapers, but it was a great way to keep track of what side I started with and to know about how long the baby nursed for. I only used it for a few months but especially in the middle of the night when you're not really thinking clearly it was nice to not try and figure out what side felt "fuller"

mlee116 · November 2014

Slaps said:

Why do you need an app to keep up with it? I never kept a record of dirty nappies or what not, is this a new thing? Who has time for all that?

My doctor recommended it in the first few weeks when we had DS to make sure he was eating at least X times a day and having X amount of diapers. And it drove me insane because it became my obsession and I'd forget to do it out of exhaustion! This time, I'm going to roll with it and not worry about it.

I'm not much of an app person because I'm old school like that, but like @MissChristineMarie said, I just used a pen and paper and made tick marks everytime he ate or had a dirty diaper.

CandEChicago · November 2014

Didn't Mike Brown (author of How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming) have a section of his blog dedicated to feeding & changing. I think he even had tracking charts and predictive analytics performed to help determine (in advance) when he should be awake and ready for the next feeding/changing.

Edit: I recall it may have been mentioned in the Economist. Therefore, DH and I briefly looked at it.

Beezusquimby · November 2014

I used the iBaby Feed Timer app with my first and found it really helpful. The LC I worked with recommended it since I wasn't great at keeping up with things via pen and paper. I was usually playing on my phone while I nursed, so it was easier to just use the app.

mlee116 · November 2014

PugLife5869 said:

misskilljoy said:

Slaps said:

Why do you need an app to keep up with it? I never kept a record of dirty nappies or what not, is this a new thing? Who has time for all that?

Oh, it happens. When I worked at a day care, we always had people dropping off their infants (some as young as 3 months, others up to a year old) for the first time who were expecting us to maintain a log for them of everything that happened - exactly how much they ate, how many diapers, if they were wet/dry, colour/consistency of bowel movements, etc. - during the day.

Yeah, no. There were 12 babies in that room. Not gonna happen. We alerted them if their baby's regular patterns seemed off (and we got to know the babies well enough to know what their patterns were) and if we noticed anything strange, but we were not going to keep 12 personalized logs full of weirdly specific information.

Our daycare does this. Especially with the infants. My DD is in the toddler room now and I still get a daily log that has the time of her diaper changes and whether it was wet/dry/bm. What she had for breakfast/lunch/snack, etc. I didn't ask for it but that's standard practice in my area.

Yeah a DC is a little different IMO. We got these for DS at both DCs he went to. I appreciated them because it helped me know if I was pumping and sending enough based on his eating habits while I was away. Also, BF babies sometimes poop like every 7 days so it was nice to know if it had happened at school or if I needed to be concerned.

abenson3 · November 2014

I used Baby Connect with DD#1 and will be using it again.

VMac1984 · November 2014

Ya, the hospital had me keep track of feeding/diapers as well. It's a good record to have if you end up needing support with BFing or if there are any unanticipated medical concerns. Once BFing was well established I stopped tracking. I used pen and paper last time as well, but an App sounds like. A great idea this time around since it only requires one hand. Now, to figure out my stupid Apple ID password...

MaineMama · November 2014

I have too many anxiety issues (and now, children) to try and keep track of diapers and nursing. As long as baby seem happy, I'm happy.

Also, DONT weigh your baby before and after each feeding (unless there is an actual medical issue and it is advised by your doctor).

desertsun · November 2014

abenson3 said:

I used Baby Connect with DD#1 and will be using it again.

I also used Baby Connect with my first and will use it again this time.

For me, it was helpful to have a timer and tracker for pumping and feedings and sleeping. I have a terrible memory, so I liked having the data to refer back to and charts to help me notice patterns and changes in routine. I could also log milestones, like rolling over and sitting up.

My hospital also required a log of feedings and diapers while we were there.

byrne15 · November 2014

MissChristineMarie said:

A notebook and a pen. Old school.

this. I had some app on my phone for ds#2, but then that became more work than the old pad and pen.

BayCamp · November 2014

I like the pad and pen. I still keep a small calendar in my purse and a notepad for my to-do lists. I'm aware that my phone will do both of these functions for me but I like my pen.

bowlwoman · November 2014

The whole concept of an app to track this stuff makes me think of this:

pinklepop · November 2014

There's a couple I found: Feed Baby Pro and Baby ESP. They're for android, but they might have an apple version too. I like apps. Apps are fun.

lionyloo32 · November 2014

I will be using an app of some sort. It is my understanding that when breastfeeding it's hard to know if baby is eating enough, and tracking the number of wet/dirty diapers can help with that. It also helps if you're trying to get into a routine and if there are issues with baby not gaining enough weight. FTM here though ......

bowlwoman · November 2014

lionyloo32 said:

I will be using an app of some sort. It is my understanding that when breastfeeding it's hard to know if baby is eating enough, and tracking the number of wet/dirty diapers can help with that. It also helps if you're trying to get into a routine and if there are issues with baby not gaining enough weight. FTM here though ......

DD1 had massive reflux issues, so while she was eating and peeing enough, she was also spitting up too much and didn't gain until we found it out at her 6 week checkup. So, tracking this stuff for her wouldn't have mattered, honestly.

I kept a general mental count of feedings and changings, but honestly, I changed them when they were wet or poopy and fed them when they were hungry.

RayRay007 · November 2014

I only kept track In the hospital. I was there for 3 days so by the time I was home I felt I had a good enough feel for it. If you forget what side you last fed on, it won't hurt to start on the wrong side once in a while. And if you start to wonder if they're wetting enough diapers, then start keeping track. But I never had a problem knowing she had enough wet diapers when we were changing them every 2 hours.

lionyloo32 · November 2014

It just dawned on me too that I'll be using cloth diapers, so I will know without actually "tracking" how many wet/dirty diapers LO has had since I'll be washing them.

drpayne · November 2014

misskilljoy said:

Slaps said:

Why do you need an app to keep up with it?
I never kept a record of dirty nappies or what not, is this a new thing?
Who has time for all that?

Oh, it happens. When I worked at a day care, we always had people dropping off their infants (some as young as 3 months, others up to a year old) for the first time who were expecting us to maintain a log for them of everything that happened - exactly how much they ate, how many diapers, if they were wet/dry, colour/consistency of bowel movements, etc. - during the day.

Yeah, no. There were 12 babies in that room. Not gonna happen. We alerted them if their baby's regular patterns seemed off (and we got to know the babies well enough to know what their patterns were) and if we noticed anything strange, but we were not going to keep 12 personalized logs full of weirdly specific information.

That's a normal expectation of a daycare. Every one I've seen gives a log at the end of the meals and diaper changes. When your child is out of your care for a day, you need to know these things.

drpayne · November 2014

OP, you don't need to keep a log. You'll drive yourself nuts. Let someone know if your baby isn't eating, peeing or pooping.

Eora3 · November 2014

I didn't even keep track in the hospital with my last baby. Everytime the pediatricians came by to check on him I gave my best guess. They didn't seem concerned at all. Granted, he was almost 9lbs and wanted to nurse for 45 minutes at a time so there wasn't any reason for concern. He also peed and pooped every single time he nursed.

I cloth diapered once we were at home so it was really obvious how many diapers he went through. No real reason to track those. He also nursed on both sides for as long as I would let him so I didn't need to track that either.

One of my girlfriends (who obsessively tracked everything) loved her Itz Been electronic tracker thing. She ordered it on Amazon. It certainly seemed easy and convenient. Plus if her DH was watching the baby, she didn't have gaps in her tracking.

hollieandaaron2012 · November 2014

What about contractions does anyone have an app they plan to use to time them?

bowlwoman · November 2014

hollieandaaron2012 said:
What about contractions does anyone have an app they plan to use to time them?

My clock?

I've never actually gone into labor on my own (two inductions), so I assume if I do go into labor I'll just use my clock.

leoandethansmom · November 2014

Can I just point out that it's nice to track this and all but if you are BF you won't actually know how much your baby is getting as the amount of liquid cannot be measured. I guess I was a naive FTM but I didn't track any of this stuff and DS turned out just fine.

Edit cuz words

AbsolutelyAyrianna · November 2014

My problem was I couldn't see how much she was draining from each tit. And I never established a schedule because I was trying to let her lead, ugh it was a multitude of things. But hindsight is 20/20

desertsun · November 2014

I think it's totally fine to NOT use an app if you don't want to.

Using an app doesn't mean obsessing or having a strict schedule. I breastfed on demand and have never had a strict schedule for naps or feeding.

For me it was cool to have data on sleeping, eating, pumping, and milestones. And Baby Connect is easy to use and had fun charts and things.

There isn't a "right" way here, just different strokes for different folks.

bowlwoman · November 2014

leosmom25 said:
Can I just point out that it's nice to track this and all but if you are BF you won't actually know how much your baby is getting as the amount of liquid cannot be measured. I guess I was a naive FTM but I didn't track any of this stuff and DS turned out just fine.

Edit cuz words

Yeah, the only way is to do it indirectly by weighing them before feeding and then immediately after (and best done by a professional).

When DD1 wasn't gaining at 6 weeks, the LC at our pediatrician's office did this. We weighed her before feeding, then weighed her after nursing for 15 min off each side. The LC determined that she was taking in the proper amount of breast milk for a 6 week old based on the delta weight. Then, over the next hour, she proceeded to spit up, and then we weighed her again (before changing), and the LC determined that the weight difference after the volume of spit up was enough to make the difference between what a 2 week old should intake vs a 6 week old. DD1 was basically keeping enough down to maintain her weight but not grow.

We started her on reflux meds, and once she was keeping the right amount of breast milk down, she gained a pound in 9 days.

Beevol · November 2014

I have an android and used Feed Baby Pro (the paid version). I breastfed on demand and it mainly was a way for me to keep myself grounded (and validated) when my baby was on my breast 8-10 HOURS a DAY every day for about a month. I'm also a public health nerd and it lets you export a .csv that you can manipulate in excel or SPSS... making graphs keeps me sane and I'm not ashamed of that.

Also, I would have a hard time keeping track of a pen and paper system (and now with a toddler, pens and paper can't just be kept out if I'd like them to stay in one piece and have my walls/furniture pen-mark-free).

I only tracked diapers for the first 10 days or so because the pediatrician said that after that, if everything is going well, weight gain is sufficient to determine that the baby is getting enough. Later, I used it to track sleep patterns which helped me schedule my life and make tweeks to iron out the last of the day-night confusion. I stopped using it completely by 8 weeks, but it was worth it for that first month.

2JEL · November 2014

A number of ladies on this thread indicated that tracking would make them more anxious, but as a neurotic first time mom, I feel the opposite. I've read lots of stories of women bullied/badgered into supplementing and I typically try to "prepare for the worst" so I like the idea of having an arsenal of data conveniently stored and organized and i can just leave my ipad on my snack & entertainment table in the nursery. Also, I'm so foggy brained during this pregnancy that I really cannot imagine being responsible for remembering changes in color/texture/etc. without a written aid.

Thank you to all the ladies of have shared their favorite apps, it looks like Baby Connect is pretty popular so I'm going to check it out.

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