This app was mentioned in 25 comments, with an average of 2.28 upvotes
You've got this!
This baby tracker app helped DH and I a lot. Two people can have it on their phones and it syncs between you.
It's not exactly what you're asking for but I use this app for tracking my accidents, it's not as babyish as I'd want but it's definitely a step up from excel!
This is the one we use too for all the feeding and diaper changes. As well as growth and temperature/medicine.
It has a pretty good widget if you are on Android
Play store link.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
And then we use huckleberry exclusively for naps and sleep.
Both of them have a sync feature which was super important to us.
I'll second the white noise suggestion, and add another suggestion. Baby Tracker to keep track of when the baby last ate, slept, etc. There are plenty of apps that do this, but what I like about this one is that it syncs; it can be viewed/updated by the Android or iOS app.
By the sounds of it, Baby Tracker does all those things apart from Alexa integration and is also free (android - not sure if it's on ios).
(/u/prestigewombat)
Try Baby Tracker
I know this isn't ~~it's~~ its primary function, but it's a very versatile app. Its preferences allow you to tick on/off options you don't want to see and the Other section can be customized so you can add a new piece of data you'd like to track. It has cloud synchronization so you and whoever else uses it, can log in once (with the same account) and it updates everyone's changes in real-time (or moments after).
You can Review the days for all data logged that particular day, or tap icons at the bottom (feeds, diapers, other, etc) to see all entries of a certain type for a specific day, or all time if you toggle the Daily On/Off button
and it has a chart (I think this may be a paid feature, but we bought it) that averages out your data: weekly, monthly, last 7, and last 30 days.
I personally love this app, and even though we are no longer tracking feedings/diapers/sleep, we still use it for things like temperatures, medication dispensing, shots, etc.
Edit: You could even use the Sleep to log daycare drop off/pickups since you tap it and it automatically logs the current time as the going to sleep (you can edit the time/date), and when you tap it again it does the same except it's for wake up. Then it shows the duration for the entry.
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Good luck :)
Being a parent is a terrifying, even with support. As cliche as it sounds, you kind of figure it out as you go. For my wife and I, the baby tracker app is a life saver (iOS version and Andriod version) For context, I have severe adhd and I suspect my wife does as well. We lived off that tracker app for a little over the first year. Plus it's helpful to drs since you can export the data if needed.
Anyway, happy endings are over rated. Life isn't meant to be lived in once constant state, it's meant to flow. Some days will be better, some worse. Being happy is great, and better than being sad but both are emotions that are fleeting. Enjoy the happy moments (there will be plenty, trust me) even if it's just the goofy faces they make when pooping. Remember the not so happy moments, those will help you appreciate the in between moments a lot more. Remember it's okay to feel what you're feeling. Recognize those emotions, but don't let them consume you.
A big part of the reason I decided to finally seek a diagnosis and treatment for my adhd is cause I have a kid and another on the way. I know there are groups out there that you can join to help support you, even if it's just emotional support (which can snd does count for a lot IME). All we can do is try our best with kids. Some days our best won't be much unfortunately, but a bad day doesn't define you as a parent. You got this.
We still track wets and dirties- it helps because it's hard to remember sometimes when baby last pooped! We don't measure the size at all though, just that it was a nappy change (helps figure out how long ago the last change was too)
I time feeds still but don't really need to.
We use baby tracker - there are a couple with this name. - we like this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
I didn't record sleep until a bit later when it made a bit more sense to- helps keep track of wake windows.
This one is the one we use, on suggestion from another couple. I can't claim to have surveyed all the ones out there but I like this one so far. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
I know this isn't what you were asking but I found this app incredibly helpful when my son was born to track feeding, weight, temp, med administration, ect. It's available on iOS as well and can share data across devices. Baby Tracker me and my wife used it for the first year. Also 1 sec everyday app is a fun thing to start. I didn't start using it until my son was several months old, and always wished I knew about it when he was a newborn. You'll take tons of pictures, and video anyway, but it's a great way make you take some every single day. You have no idea how quickly they grow, and change and my only regret is not capturing it all
How is it?
I'm really into life logging and if I ever have a kid, it's something I would want to do with them too.
Just to throw another suggestion out there for tracking your baby:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
Set up a sync group with one of your email accounts and your set.
If you use disposable diapers, buy in bulk when on sale. I got 6 months of diapers for under 100 bucks because there was a crazy deal at Costco with Google Express. Diapers on average cost 600-800 for a year.
Buy Amazon warehouse stuff if you can't find it used on Craigslist. Banged up boxes or a scratch on the baby monitor really don't matter.
Open a 529.
I you need child care, get family who is willing and able first. Second choice is day care. Most expensive is nanny. In LA you would be looking at minimum 20 dollars per hr with a minimum 40hr week, 2 week vacation paid. And that is all post tax money....
Splurge a little on stuff that keeps you sane. If you need a swing to keep your baby asleep during day naps... Then buy a swing! 100 dollars isn't worth your sanity.
Baby books are cheap at Costco and sometimes at Ross. We asked for a baby book instead of a card if anyone wanted to get us one for our baby shower. People were more than happy to play along.
If your post tax income is more than your nanny/child care sitch, remember that it is worth it for you to work and someone else to watch the baby.
Take lots of photos. I have an 8 month old. It is hard work and very tiring, but it's been the best time of my life.
Consider free apps like tiny beans to share photos with family easily. Or a baby tracker app to make diapers and feeding and pumping easier to track important details. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
Good luck and have fun!
/u/SaintMadeOfPlaster OP, all of this. This comment is the top comment for a reason, because this is aaaallllll great advice. Taking care of yourselves is every bit as important as taking care of your little one.
The first weeks are hard. So, so hard. It gets better, but man...it's just so hard in the beginning.
Here's the advice I'd like to add on to /u/idkmyotherusername 's already-fantastic post: make a routine. Even something small and simple, but make a routine, and try to stick to it.
What helped my wife and I get through those first weeks (and months) was keeping track of our daughter's "data" and watching how she changed and progressed over time, and that became part of our routine. There's an app we used called Baby Tracker and it changed everything for us. You can set up a single baby profile, and then both of you can add yourselves to it, and each of you will see the changes the other makes.
You can keep track of everything in this app, from diaper changes (and whether they are wet or dirty), to breastfeeding sessions (and your wife can even specify which breast and for how long), pumping sessions, bottles, even food once baby graduates to that. You can keep track of weight and length changes, any medications you've given them...it really was one of the best tools we had. For us, being able to take a step back and quantify not just our daughter's progress, but keep track of our own efforts so we were always on the same page about feedings, diaper changes, etc was a tremendous help.
It also made it really easy to tell the pediatrician how she was progressing during those first visits. How much milk is she drinking a day? How many diapers? Is she having regular bowel movements? How many hours is she sleeping at night? How often is she waking up to eat?
After a few days of keeping track, it became much easier to fall into a routine. You see the patterns of how baby sleeps, so you can plan for how your days/nights will go. We knew our daughter would wake up about every two to three hours, and she'd need a diaper, a bottle, and probably a new swaddle. We'd need to have burp cloths on hand because she was a spitter-upper. We'd break up who was taking care of her, so it wasn't all falling on just one of us. 1am, I get up and take care of her. 2am, my wife did. 5am, it's me again, etc.
Keep in mind, none of what I said is a magic pill that will end your stress. It can help make it much more bearable, but you are still in for some rough days, sleepless nights, frustration, and exhaustion. That is simply a reality of being a new parent. But I promise, after a little while - and it'll happen sooner than you think - you'll start realizing that baby is getting more sleep than they did before (and so will you), that feeding/diapers are becoming faster and easier, and especially as you start getting the chance to spend awake time with your baby, little smiles, coos, and giggles will become the absolute highlights of your day.
Hang in there, dad. Things are going to improve, and it'll all be worth it.
Is this the app you're talking about?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
Not sure, but thought it make a great app. And there already is! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android not looked or checked out.
We used baby tracker was great
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
I reccomend an app called baby tracker newborn log I have it on android baby tracker newborn log
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
This is the one we use. We tried several different ones but this was my favourite
Yep we use this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
Try this it works good
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android
Indeed, I love this app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nighp.babytracker_android