Keeping record of feeding/diapers

How long do you keep doing this? Is there a time to stop?

 

I kept record for probably the first 6 weeks. I used it for my sanity to help remind me when they need to be fed again. Those first couple of weeks I was running on autopilot and couldn't remember anything for the life of me. I felt like I was constantly feeding them so a record help solidfy everything. Their ped never asked to see it or anything. I just would get asked how often they were fed and how much they were taking. By 6 weeks I was one my own (company left when they were 4 weeks) and I seemed to have a better handle on knowing when to feed, etc. Plus I was so busy having to take time to write it down often didn't happen.

 

I don't think there is a time limit on it. Do it until you feel comfortable that you have it down on your own. I think with my first child I did it about a month, with each one after that time got less (just because I was so much more relaxed about it). With the boys I did for the first week, but then stopped because I just didn't have time and they were doing fine and I was more of a "spontaneous...as needed" feeder/changer than scheduled. Do it for the entire year if you need to, it's OK!

 

Time to update that ticker

I kept one for about 8 months, but I am weird like that. ardon:

 

I stopped at 6 months. I also used it to help track awake/sleep time to look for trends to get them on a better schedule, as well as milestones.

 

I agree with Heather. Do it for as long as you feel comfortable. But I don't think i did it much past 1 month. I was barely getting a shower. :lol:

 

I did it for maybe 8 weeks...like a pp said, I was on autopilot, and couldn't remember things. But soon after, I got the hang of it. The only thing I sometimes wish I kept track of is poop...one of my girls only goes every other few days, so I tend to forget when her last poop was...I did prove very helpful when I had to change formulas (it clearly made one of them constipated) and add rice cereal to the bm.

 

i only did it for a couple of weeks, so i guess i'm the slacker. i do still keep tabs on their daily formula intake just because they're refluxy and it makes them resistant to eating sometimes. i have a white board in the kitchen and i note eating times and number of ounces consumed. at the end of the day i total it up, wipe it clean, and start over. i do this for a week or so at a time, then stop for a week or two, then go back to tracking.

i guess i should mention that the boys are in daycare so i get a written log of feeding, naps and diapers every day. but when they were home full time i didn't keep track that diligently.

 

I did for aout 5 months, I kept track of sleeping and reflux meds on their too. Sure came in handy when someone would sit with the kids while I napped...then I could just look to see when the kids ate and how much etc...

 

We still do it, lol. It makes me feel comfortable and that way if I wanted to I can track how much they ate and how long ago they had a poop. It's helpful especially if/when people come over to visit and want to help out with the babies. We made a little spreadsheet thing so it's easy to print them out for a month at a time. If you're interested I can PM you ours.

I started the list when they were about 1.5 months old. Family would visit. Someone would feed a baby, then some time later the baby would get fussy and we're all trying to figure out what's wrong.. sleepy? hungry? what? okay, who fed so and so last?? Alrighty, so when did she eat and how much? [most of the time the answer would sound something like.. Oh about an hr ago, but I'm not exactly sure.] :huh:

It works for us. It's quick and easy - so we continue to do it ^_^

 

QUOTE(Suzy! @ Jan 22 2009, 02:57 PM) [snapback]1157616[/snapback]
We still do it, lol. It makes me feel comfortable and that way if I wanted to I can track how much they ate and how long ago they had a poop. It's helpful especially if/when people come over to visit and want to help out with the babies. We made a little spreadsheet thing so it's easy to print them out for a month at a time. If you're interested I can PM you ours.

I started the list when they were about 1.5 months old. Family would visit. Someone would feed a baby, then some time later the baby would get fussy and we're all trying to figure out what's wrong.. sleepy? hungry? what? okay, who fed so and so last?? Alrighty, so when did she eat and how much? [most of the time the answer would sound something like.. Oh about an hr ago, but I'm not exactly sure.] :huh:

It works for us. It's quick and easy - so we continue to do it ^_^



I would love a copy! Thx!

 

I did it for a few days. I was too sleep deprived to continue.

 

I was extremely anal and kept doing it till they were almost a year old! At first, it was a lot like Suzy said -- it helped us figure out what was wrong, and also when the babies got fed if someone other than DH or I fed them.

After that, it was just because I'm a compulsive record-keeper (I'm the kind of person that keeps a food diary, a sleep diary, a headache diary...). I only quit when I realized I never, ever looked at the information again and it was stressing me out to remember to write it down.

 

My twins are 6 months and I still keep the records of their eating, napping and pooping schedules. I am back to work and I feel comfortable looking over records that our nanny completes while I am at work. I am planning to do it untill they at least 1 year old.

 

mine are almost 6 months and i still do it..
it's also fine not to but i like to look over at the end of the day to make sure they have eaten enough, or to at least know much.. then i can say ok if they wake up the middle of the night, they probably will need a bottle ect, also i feed every 4 hours during the day so i write it to help me remember when each baby is due for a feeding.

 

Oh my gosh, I obsessed about it for a week, then realized it was just adding to the stress. I just compromised and said if I noticed a stop with the pee or poop Id start up again.
I felt much better when I stopped!

 

QUOTE(EOMommy @ Jan 22 2009, 09:36 PM) [snapback]1158315[/snapback]
Oh my gosh, I obsessed about it for a week, then realized it was just adding to the stress. I just compromised and said if I noticed a stop with the pee or poop Id start up again.
I felt much better when I stopped!



LOL I second that!

 

I don't think there is a set limit, but I kept it up for about 8 months as well. I was kind of anal and liked the ease of just looking in the book to see when they at last and how much. My book also had a notes section where I would journal, so it is kind of fun to go back and read what I wrote.

 

Does anyone mind sharing a spread sheet that you made? I am making one and would love to get some ideas.

Thank you for sharing,
Jenn

 

We still do because between me, DH, and my Mom it is so hard to remember when the last feeding was. Plus whenever we go to the Ped. they ask how much formula they are eating and solids too. I figure until we get closer to 12 months we'll keep it up. I made a speadsheet in excell with columns for time, bottle, solids, wet, BM, meds, and notes. I was able to make a side by side with Max and Lily's names on each side, plus the date at the top. I print on the front and back of the paper to reduce the waste and we keep them on the clip board. I have an excel file saved, so PM me if you would like a copy. It is very helpful.

 

Don't worry about a spreadsheet! I used a spiral ring notebook, put a line down the middle and their names and the day on top. I was a nanny for twins (who are now 7) and their mom did the same thing so I was really used to it. I used it for a year, but it changed over the year. Since I had people helping me, it was great for me to look and see when the last feeding was or diaper change. As they got older, I used it to record their "firsts" and what new food they tried that day. Around 6 months I stopped writing down diapers and would just write down food/bottle and naps (I was trying to find their best sleep schedule). After a while, the naps fell off the record too and I would record when a new tooth came in or milestone happened. Make it work for you or you won't want to do it.

 

I think it depends on the individual and your stamina. We lasted a grand total of a week! I always found that I kept track of everything in my mind anyway, so it was just taking way too much time to write everything down. If your babies are gaining weight and doing all the right things, its probably safe to assume they're eating and peeing and pooping correctly!

 

If you send me your email addy, I'll be able to send you our little spreadsheet. I don't know how to attatch it otherwise :lol: