Last year when we wrote about a product that helped parents electronically track diaper changing, feeding and other baby tasks, some readers scoffed while others welcomed anything to compensate for their "baby brain." Well, that second group of parents might be interested in two new applications ("apps" for those in the know) that provide similar benefits for users of the iPhone or iTouch.
In our experience, moms, dads and other caregivers eventually get in sync with their baby and learn to recognize their cues and cries. But for new parents especially it can help to know when the baby last ate or had their diaper changed especially if multiple people are caring for the baby and taking turns sleeping in between.
If you're finding yourself in the same boat (or are anticipating it) AND you happen to have an iPhone or iTouch, you can download Baby Tracker: Diapers and/or Baby Tracker: Nursing for 3 bucks each. The Diapers application lets you log your baby's diaper activity - how often, what kind, and any notes you want to include. Similarly the Nursing application helps you track how long your baby nursed and on which side.
You can see more details for both these applications here.
(Via: Gizmodo.)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I was totally ready to pony up the $2.99 each just to see if I even liked them, but it looks like nursing tracker is actually $9.99.
Bummer.
view e_raely's profile
Gotta say the nursing app makes me cringe a little. Tracking how long baby nursed on each side and how long total is not really indicative of successful nursing. All babies are different and nurse differently. Some are quick and some are slower. Some only take one side per feeding, some take both. And chances are their patterns will change with each new stage too. A program such as this seems like it would add more stress for a new mother who is trying to get it "perfect." :) As long as you are offering both sides throughout the day and making sure baby is nursing every couple hours you should be good. (Not to over simplify, but those with more serious issues probably wouldn't be helped by a program like this.)
Just thought I'd throw that out there!
view mama k's profile
because nursing isn't enough work already.
also, that poo tracker makes me shudder.
view Hamro's profile
Granted, I haven't used this tracker but I use that previous product (ItzBeen) and I have to say the nursing timer is awesome for me.
I know that time isn't a good indication of successful nursing but sometimes at 3 a.m. I'm nursing and I think "OK, this has been forever, I'm sure he's done now" and I look down and it's only been 2 minutes and he's fallen asleep so I realize I need to wake him up to eat a little more. If it weren't for the timer, my addled brain would think we've been nursing for 15 minutes.
I think that there are probably unhealthy ways to use these things--if you're too strict on the time functions thinking "OK, 10 minutes, he's done now, pop him off and onto the next breast" but if you use it the same way you'd use a pad of paper and a pen, it can be very helpful and a little easier to do at night.
view jensational's profile
Thanks for reviewing this "data-driven parenting" product. I wanted to add that there are a number of parenting baby tracker tools on the market. Another option is Trixie Tracker: http://www.trixietracker.com/
Trixie Tracker lets parents track sleep, diapers, breastfeeding, pumping, milk inventory, solids and medicine, and generally get on a good schedule. It's also optimized for the iPhone.
I know parents can be skeptical of the benefits of tracking, but you can discover amazing patterns in your child's schedule if you simply observe for a few days. It's worth trying!
Thanks,
Ben MacNeill
Founder, Trixie Telemetry LLC
view Ben MacNeill's profile