MaxieGuide · Feeding
What to write in a newborn feeding log
A feeding log is a memory aid for tired people. Write down the time, which breast or how much went in the bottle, and the nappies. That covers most of what the midwife and child health nurse ask in the first weeks.
Not medical advice. This page summarises what Australian and New Zealand health services publish, and links to them. It is general information, not advice about your baby. If you are worried, speak to your midwife, child health nurse or GP, or call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (PlunketLine 0800 933 922 in New Zealand). In an emergency, call 000 (111 in New Zealand).
Why keep one at all
Newborns feed often. Pregnancy Birth and Baby says most newborns feed 8 to 12 times a day, and Raising Children Network explains why they're uneven early on. Nobody remembers the last one at that pace. Your midwife or nurse will ask about feeds, nappies and weight, and a log turns "I think about eight?" into an answer.
What to write for each feed
- The time it started. This one matters most.
- Breast. Which side, and roughly how many minutes. The log tells you which side to start on next time.
- Bottle. How many mL, and expressed milk or formula.
- Nappies. Wet, dirty or both, at the change.
- Anything odd, in a word or two. A big vomit, say, or a sleepy feed.
That's it. You don't need times to the second or colour-coded columns. A pencil tally is fine.
An example day, partly filled in
| Time | Breast | Bottle | Nappy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:40 am | L 15 min | Wet | ||
| 4:15 am | R 12 min | Wet, dirty | Unsettled after | |
| 7:05 am | L 10 min | 30 mL EBM | Wet | Top-up from partner |
| 9:50 am | R 18 min |
What the nurse is likely to ask
- How many feeds in the last 24 hours, and roughly how far apart.
- How many wet and dirty nappies. The wet nappies guide has what's usual.
- For bottles, the usual amount and the total for the day.
- Weight, which they plot in your baby's health record (the Blue Book in NSW, or the Well Child Tamariki Ora book in New Zealand).
Bring the log and the book to the visit. In NSW the Blue Book sets out the schedule of checks from birth to school; in New Zealand, Plunket explains its visits.
When there are two of you
A log falls apart when there are two of you. One writes on the fridge sheet, the other in a phone note, and at 3 am neither knows what happened. Pick one place, and whoever does the feed writes it down straight away. If you're bottle feeding in shifts, add who did it.
Worried about feeding?
A log can show a pattern, but it can't tell you what the pattern means. If feeds hurt, your baby is not having many wet nappies, or you are unsure they are getting enough, talk to your midwife, child health nurse, GP or a lactation consultant. The Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline is 1800 686 268, and Plunket's feeding pages cover breast and bottle for New Zealand families.
Counting at 3 am is the hard part.
Paper works fine. The free printable feed and nappy log fits a day on one A4 page. Or try Maxie. One tap logs a nappy and your partner's phone has it about two seconds later. It's free.
Sources
Read on 25 September 2026. Health advice changes, so trust the linked page.
- Pregnancy Birth and Baby: A partner's guide to breastfeeding (Australian Government, Healthdirect)
- Pregnancy Birth and Baby: Breastfeeding your baby
- Raising Children Network: Breastfeeding, how often and how long (Australian Government funded)
- NSW Health: My personal health record (Blue Book) (PDF)
- Whānau Āwhina Plunket: Feeding (New Zealand)
- Whānau Āwhina Plunket: Your appointments, what to expect (New Zealand)
More guides: how many wet nappies · WHO growth percentiles explained.