I’m Using Trixie Tracker
Today, I signed up to try Trixie Tracker, an online software program for tracking baby’s routines. I must admit, one of my biggest weaknesses is in setting routines. Early on in Del’s baby-hood I was asked by a fellow mommie, “How is he doing? Is he settling into routines yet?” Ah, the moment of staring inadequacy right in the face!
photo credit: Although of course she didn’t mean anything by the comment, I found myself staring right at those “coulda’ woulda’ shoulda’ been’s.” We were about three months in, and I had *no* idea whether Del was settling into a routine!
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Fast forward six months and although I do have a vague idea of Del’s sleep cycle and an extremely rough mealtime routine, fact is, it’s truly all over the place. And Del modifies his sleeping to suit our bedtimes, which also seem to move in and out with the tides. You could say I live life by the hip, or perhaps by the seat of my pants!
All of this might not be so so terrible, except that as soon as problems creep in, we mamas are always the first to blame ourselves. Little D, it seems, is underweight per the charts. He’s growing in length awfully well but his weight lags behind. So my first thought — I’m not nursing him enough! I’m not feeding him enough!
Before I get my panties all in a bunge (how the heck do you spell that?), I figured I’d try my favorite solution to everything. Tracking!
An ex-database developer in a previous life, I loves my data. Data tells all, and isn’t awareness the first step to any change?
Setting Baby Routines (or attempting to follow them cooperatively…)
My other reasons for trying out Trixie Tracker are:
- We’re doing EC (another story!) so I want to get a sense of how often he’s wetting, and how often we successfully make potty!
- I want to sleep at night. ‘Nuff said? Among my vast multitude of big plans for improvement, I also hope to get started using Elizabeth Pantley’s No-Cry Sleep Solution (aff), recommended by Dr. Sears. Hopefully once (if) I get a hang of tracking for nursing and solids, it will be easy to add in some more regular sleep routines that contribute to my own nighttime wellness and daytime productivity. No?
Hopefully I’ll be able to keep on it with “tracking my trixies” as I’ve been calling it, and get myself into a somewhat patterned behavior. As it stands at least I’m following my baby’s cues rather than placing a routing on him. I would only ever use what I glean from a tool like Trixie Tracker to help me help Little Del stay on his own routine.
For example:
- Wouldn’t it be nice if I didn’t schedule walks with my friends exactly when he wants to nurse?
- Wouldn’t it be nice if I could schedule long car trips during his nap time?
There’s a plethora of things I *could* be doing if Del and I had a true sense of his rhythm. When I recall (or attempt thereof) those early days with my first son, twelve years ago, I can only imagine that I was similarly perplexed. Any advice from you seasoned moms? Please add comments!
Love love,
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We don’t have set schedules in this house. We just coast along. The kids have kind of set their own schedules, but nothing by clock really. I know that about 2 1/2 hours after Popeye wakes up he’s going to need a nap. And somewhere in the evening another nap. Breakfast and lunch are whenever I get them ready. My kids seem fine. I also don’t worry about growth charts. TheBeast has fallen off hers and they put her through numerous tests only to tell me that “I guess she’s just going to be a small person.” Also, a doctor told me that to get the growth charts they took 1000 german kids from Ohio. Kids of German decent are much bigger. Anywho…
Oh, and it’s “don’t get your panties in a bunch.” because that’s really uncomfortable:) lol.
flipflopmammas last blog post..
Sorry Hope, but I am cracking up. I am/was a very routine schedule oriented kind of person and so is my husband and Nikolaus still really isn’t. He normally takes a morning nap and an afternoon/evening nap, but it depends on the sleep the night before (which depends on the previous days naps/catch 22), his activity, feeding, teething, the weather, etc, etc. Each day is different. We’ve never managed a good nap in the car regardless of when we get in it. And as for EC, I think we’re doing pretty good and I never watch the clock anymore. We put the diaper in the wash last night just because I realized he’d worn it for 2 days dry after I noticed the blue finger paint smears on it. I think boys might not be so hard to train because once they realize where its coming from, they grab it when they have to go. If you’re worried about the growth charts and he’s only behind in the weight catagory, just head to your local walmart and look at what “normal” is now. We’re always under on weight too, but according to those charts I didn’t make weight until 7 mos pregnant. I try to remind myself that Nikolaus is happy, not lethargic or behind in any skills (a sign of malnutrtion/underfed), and staying in the growth curve he’s setting. I’ll be curios to see what your data suggests and Del’s reaction.
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Flipflopmamma & Shelly,
Thanks so much both of you for chiming in and letting me know that not all mama’s have their ducks in a row, or their babies as it were. (That’s a strange thought.)
I kind of knew, as you could tell, that we should follow our babies, but I think I was running under this assumption that a “good mama” would still have her baby’s schedule down pat and simply flow with the river in this perfect Tao rhythm, even blindfolded like Luke Skywalker.
Thanks for reminding me what a good mama truly is. She comes in many flavors.
Going to get hold of you Shelly for more EC advice. Seems like you’ve got it down. You go!
And what a revelation, I had no idea the growth charts were based on such a small specific slice of the population! Have to look that up that’s crazy! My panties are safe, for now!
Hope if you want to get together sometime to let the boys play and talk that sounds great!! I think we have overlapping interests in more things than just parenting. Just let me know.
Do they make the software for blackberry? We have my daughter on a pretty decent schedule that works for us. She’s three. My son on the other hand, he’s 9 months and is nowhere near a schedule. In fact he still sleeps in our bed and has his paci!. My daughther was in her own room at 3 momths and paci free at 4. well you know what they say about the 2nd child.
Hope, bravo on practicing E.C.! I know it isn’t easy. At the same time, I have to say that when we tried nursing, sleeping, etc. on a schedule, we found ourselves overly occupied with the clock and I felt like we were missing out on get togethers, etc. because of a “routine.” While I have to say that our little one wakes, nurses, eats, and sees people around the same time each day, it seems to happen organically.
At the same point, schedules and structures can be wonderfully comforting for a child and the whole family. Please continue to share about how the Trixie Tracker works for your family.
Life is so much easier without a schedule. Schedule = expectations = frustrations when plans change/expectations not met.
Jeskas last blog post..Finally captured Mr. Scully
Stephanie,
The software has a mobile version, though it’s kinda funky. It doesn’t autodetect so when you’re on your mobile you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page and select mobile version. My kids are so far apart (12 years), does my second count as a second child or is he a second first?
Jessica,
Well, I don’t know how much credit I get for the EC! We’re doing what amounts to a “modified version” and we’re not so fantastic at it. We have good weeks where he potties several times daily, and then lately he seems to be on a potty strike. My hubby thinks it’s because the potty is cold now due to fall setting in! I just can’t seem to find the time to get on Diaper Free online and read some stories. But I figure he *knows* the potty, so it will all come together eventually!
Jeska,
I totally see your point about avoiding frustration and guilt. Problem for us is that we’re so all over the place I end up feeling frustrated anyway. Such the plight of a mama. At this point, I’ve decided that I need routine, and it’s always been my weakness. For example, in the music lessons I’ve given, just a simple exercise at the beginning of every lesson seems to really jive with kids. It’s like having something reliable you can depend on. My hope is that if we can establish some routines, even if they don’t happen “on the clock” I can get a bit more sanity into my daily life.
So, the Trixie trial did run out and I learned a few things. I do plan to share them, just a matter of taking some time to evaluate and post! Will do, stand by!