If you’re a first-time parent, it’s normal to feel unsure about how to take care of your newborn. But, with a little guidance, you’ll quickly learn what you need to know. Keeping track of crucial details such as your newborn’s feeding schedule, sleeping patterns, diaper changes, and growth is essential to ensure that they’re healthy and happy. While it may seem overwhelming at first, tracking these vital aspects of your newborn’s life from day one is easier than you might think. In this article, you’ll learn why tracking these details is important and how to do so effectively, making the process less stressful for you and your baby.
What to track from the start?
New parents often worry about whether their baby is getting enough nourishment. In that case, to ensure your baby is well-fed, it’s important to feed them regularly, record their diaper changes, and track their growth. This will help you determine whether your baby is receiving sufficient nutrition. Additionally, newborn sleep is yet another concern that very often worries parents. Therefore, keeping track of these things from the start can help ease these concerns.
Tracking your baby’s feedings, diaper changes, sleep and growth
Keeping track of your newborn’s feedings
Tracking your baby’s feedings is crucial to ensure their health and well-being. In the first few weeks and months, babies must be fed frequently, approximately every three hours, or 8-12 times a day, to avoid excessive weight loss and facilitate regaining their birth weight as soon as possible. When it comes to feeding your newborn baby in the first few weeks of life, it’s best to be flexible and not set a strict schedule. Instead, try to breastfeed your baby whenever they show signs of being hungry.
Baby feeding is essential for your baby’s growth. You have to remember when they last ate. Also, which side did they nurse from, and how much did they drink? And, if you pump breast milk – when did you last pump? Keeping track of these things is essential to ensure your baby gets enough milk. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a record of your newborn’s feedings. It can provide valuable information to healthcare professionals, help you anticipate their next feeding, and guarantee that they receive sufficient nutrition.
To track your newborn’s feedings, you need to keep a record of different things based on the feeding method.
- If you’re breastfeeding, note which breast your baby started nursing on so you can switch to the other breast at the next feeding. Record each session’s start and end time and the length of each nursing session. Also, record the breast you begin with and whether you switch to another breast.
- If you’re bottle-feeding, keep track of how many ounces your baby drinks at each feeding.
- If you’re pumping, record the amount of milk you produce during each session.
- If your baby spits up, note the frequency. Especially if it happens often and you’re concerned about how much they’re keeping down.
Logging your baby’s diaper changes
Tracking diaper usage of wet and dirty diapers can help you monitor your baby’s milk intake and overall health. Keeping a daily count of wet diapers will help you confirm that your baby is getting enough fluids. In the first week, you should see an increase in the number of wet diapers each day. Expect three to four bowel movements per day around day four. Later, by the sixth day, your newborn should have six to eight wet diapers a day.
Keeping track of how often you change your baby’s diaper can help you keep them healthy (prevent diaper rash and bacterial infections) and ensure you always have enough diapers. It’s also a good way to learn about your baby’s habits and growth, such as how much they eat and how well they digest their food, by watching diaper contents. It is recommended to keep a daily record of your baby’s diaper changes for at least the first two weeks of their life.
Track your newborn’s diaper changes, including the time and output of each change, and monitor the transition from meconium to regular stools by making notes. Keep an eye out for anything unusual.
Newborn sleep tracking
Tracking your newborn baby’s sleep is important for several reasons. Here are some of the main benefits:
- Know your baby’s sleep patterns. It is helpful to monitor your baby’s sleep patterns to make sure they get the recommended amount of sleep.
- Establish a routine. Tracking your baby’s sleep patterns can help establish a consistent schedule. In truth, this can help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep longer, allowing them to wake up feeling rested.
- Identify potential sleep problems. You can identify potential sleep problems early on by tracking your baby’s sleep. For example, difficulty falling asleep, waking up often, or not getting enough sleep. If you notice these concerns early on, you can take steps to address them and prevent them from worsening.
- Organize your day. Once you know your baby’s sleep patterns, you can plan your day and create a routine that works for both of you. This will allow you to plan outings and appointments around their sleep schedule, ensuring they get the rest they need.
- Share information. You can share information about your baby’s routine and any potential sleep issues with caregivers, a nanny, healthcare specialists, or sleep consultants.
Keeping track of your baby’s sleep can provide valuable insights into their health and development. Recording when and how much they sleep can help you identify patterns and potential concerns, create a consistent sleep routine, and promote healthy growth.
Newborns tend to sleep a lot, so it is crucial to ensure their safety while they rest. The safest position for a baby to sleep in is on their back.
Tracking baby’s growth
Babies’s physical growth is a sign of their overall health and development. Keeping track of your newborn’s growth is essential to ensure their health and nutrition. In the first month, the doctor will measure your baby’s weight, length, and head size at each physical exam and record them on growth charts. This helps to keep track of how your baby is growing over time.
It’s normal for newborns to lose some weight in the first few days, but they usually regain it within the first 2 weeks or so after birth. If your baby doesn’t seem to be growing as expected, don’t worry too much, as every baby grows at their own pace.
While you don’t need to weigh your baby at home, you can keep track of their growth by monitoring their measurements between check-ups. You can easily track your newborn’s growth in Baby Daybook by entering your baby’s measurements to access growth charts showing how your baby is growing. The most important thing is that your baby continues to grow at a steady pace over time.
Track your newborn with Baby Daybook
Baby Daybook app is designed to make your parenting journey easier by helping you track everything about your baby, from feedings, sleep, growth, and health to even the little details of your baby’s day. With our app, you can easily monitor your baby’s development and identify any potential issues that may require attention from your pediatrician. Whether you’re sharing caregiving duties or keeping track of your baby’s activities, Baby Daybook remembers all the details so you don’t have to. Give it a try, and make the most of your time with your little one.
Sources
How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2020. www.healthychildren.org [Accessed December 2023]
Wet Diapers and Newborn Urine Output. Verywell Family. 2022. www.verywellfamily.com [Accessed December 2023]
Baby’s Poop. La Leche League International. 2018. www.llli.org [Accessed December 2023]
What to Know About Infant Growth Charts. Parents. 2023. www.parents.com [Accessed December 2023]
