Strollerderby

Where'd you hear it was counterproductive to know how long the baby nursed for? Just wondering.

Assuming it's a simple app to use, this would absolutely have been useful as a first-time mom during the first few weeks. When you're breastfeeding in the beginning, the best way to answer the "is baby getting enough" question is to know what their output is like. Tapping it into my backlit iPhone would have proven easier than the notebook and pen that I was trying to legibly scrawl with in a darkened room.

But niiiice judgment dig at moms who need to write it down. Keep up the awesome, you have so much wisdom to share.

I wish I had had this when my twins were newborns. We wrote it all down in a notebook, and the iPhone app would have made it easier. I think the title of your post is weird. Do all conveniences make us more helpless, or just this one?

We wrote feedings down on notepad we kept on the baby's dresser, we would write down how much he ate and when, and we would use it to track his fever when he got sick. We would write down how much he slept as well; that really gave me a  a confirmation of why I was so damn tired! It really helped us those first couple of months when we were tired and feeling mentally crazy. I don't know that someone would need more than a notepad, the iphone app seems like it would be more trouble than it is worth.

We wrote feedings down on notepad we kept on the baby's dresser, we would write down how much he ate and when, and we would use it to track his fever when he got sick. We would write down how much he slept as well; that really gave me a  a confirmation of why I was so damn tired! It really helped us those first couple of months when we were tired and feeling mentally crazy. I don't know that someone would need more than a notepad, the iphone app seems like it would be more trouble than it is worth.

We also had to track everything when out daughter was born. Being a preemie the nurses/doctors had us tracking everything in the hospital and even when we came home. It would be way easier to keep track of my cell phone than the paper and pen we were always chasing around.

For about the first week, I wrote down when the feedings were and how many diapers we went through.  Then after that, it turned into hashmarks for feedings, and for diapers.  After that, it became almost routine...so I might have used the app for about a month maybe?  

For someone like me, using an app like this would just produce constant cause for concern -- oh no! call the doctor, there are two less diapers than yesterday!

I used a notepad for feedings and diapers for the first week or two.  After that you just get used to a certain rhythm and don't count again unless something is off.  And more importantly you'll just know that something is off even if you don't count every diaper and every feeding.

This would have helped me not so much with my first as with my second, when I was so exhausted and busy from caring for him and keeping up with an active three year old that I would seriously forget when he last got changed or which boob he'd nursed on last. I had on my fridge a little log that the hositla had given me and I had to laugh --I'd remembered to do it exactly once.  A couple of quick taps on a screen would have been much easier.

I felt like I was going crazy, feeding or changing all the time.  Writing it down made me realize it was really not as much as it seemed.  I really credit it with bringing me back to earth.  I should also mention I wrote down how long my daughter cried (she had a colic problem) and what seemed like hours was in reality only about 20 minutes usually.  Really helped me get perspective.  So it's not just about being absent-minded or sleep-deprived.  Not all of us are so totally together as to not benefit from an app like this!

Hi Moms! I am the creator of Baby Brain (and mother of a 21 month old and a 5 month old) and I really appreciate your thoughts and comments. I would love to hear more feedback from you and, if you are interested, let you know when Baby Brain is available.

Please fill out the contact form on our site: babybrainapp.com/contact.php

Or leave a comment on my blog:

babybrainapp.blogspot.com

Thank you again for your thoughts. I think Baby Brain can provide value to moms and babies with a wide range of needs. Whether your memory is suffering in those early days, or you are trying to find the best nap times, or you are documenting information for your doctor, Baby Brain can help.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts!

Best,

Jackie Ashton

Founder, Baby Brain - the ultimate iPhone app for parents

BabyBrainApp.com  |  My Blog  |  Facebook  |  Follow me on Twitter

I'm having twins, and from what I understand tracking stuff is pretty essential when you're keeping track of two newborns.  I don't have an iPhone (gasp!), but I'll be logging stuff nonetheless.  I can see where this would be useful for some.

These kind of apps are definitely useful for some parents. Trixie Tracker is a similar baby activity tracker, but it's web-based. All you need is a browser, and you can share your site online. Our basic tracker is free:

http://www.trixietracker.com/

Check it out and discover some amazing sleep patterns in your baby's schedule.

Thanks,

Ben MacNeill

Founder, Trixie Tracker

Usually I react to shameless plugging by resisting the product being shamelessly plugged.