Before you hand off the baby
Fill this out once with your partner or nanny. Update when feeding philosophy, sleep boundaries, or the "don't touch" list changes. That's it — most families only rewrite it every few months.
The five-line brief (say this out loud at every handoff)
- Last feed: what, how much, at what time. Include left/right breast if applicable.
- Last sleep: nap or long sleep, duration, how they woke.
- Last diaper: wet, dirty, or both — and any color/texture worth noting.
- Mood right now: calm, fussy, teething, recovering from a shot — one word is fine.
- What's next: "next feed around 2:15, nap after that." Even an estimate helps.
Feeding philosophy
- Preferred bottle / nipple size: ______________________
- Formula brand (or breast milk storage rules): ______________________
- Force-finish a bottle? Yes / No
- Paced feeding? Yes / No
- Burp between ounces or at end? ______________________
- Allergens introduced so far: ______________________
Sleep boundaries
- Put down awake vs. asleep? ______________________
- Rock, sway, or sit next to crib? ______________________
- Pacifier? Yes / No — replace if it falls out?
- Sleep sack brand / size: ______________________
- Nap length if they'll nap longer: Wake at ___ or let sleep?
- White noise on? What volume?
The "don't touch" list
The things that aren't up for interpretation. Be specific — it's easier to name five exact things than to say "use your judgment."
- Screens: None before 18 months / other: ______________________
- Food outside the approved list: ______________________
- Visitors without a head's up: ______________________
- Sleeping arrangement: always on back, firm surface, no blankets
- Photos on social media: ______________________
If something feels off
- First call / text: ______________________ (e.g. Parent A)
- Second call: ______________________ (e.g. Parent B or grandparent)
- Pediatrician: ______________________
- Nearest urgent care / ER: ______________________
- Poison control (US): 1-800-222-1222
- Emergency: 911
The 60-second end-of-shift summary
Before you hand back, leave a quick note in the app or on paper:
- Total feeds this shift + amounts
- Total sleep + wake windows
- Any diapers worth flagging
- Anything you tried that worked (e.g. "rubbing her back calmed her in 2 min")
- Anything you noticed but didn't act on (e.g. "slight rash on upper thigh — watch it")
Tip: ParentPod's shared timeline does this automatically — every feed, nap, and diaper logged by one caregiver is already visible to the next. One fewer thing to transcribe at the door.