How do I keep a simple pumping log?
A short pumping record can include when you pumped, the amount expressed and a note if you need one.
The short answer
Record a pump session as its own event with the time and expressed amount. If your baby later drinks that milk, record the bottle separately. The two entries describe different things.
Keep the pump session separate from a feed
Expressing means removing milk so it can be fed later or stored. A pumping log describes a session when milk was expressed. A bottle log describes milk your baby drank. They are separate records, even when the expressed milk is later offered in a bottle.
If your care team has asked you to track particular details, use their instructions for what to record and how to share it. A general app can’t check feeding or replace a plan.
Choose a small set of useful details
For a simple record, note when the session ended and how much milk you expressed. Add a note only when it will help you or another caregiver remember something. You don’t need to turn every session into a report unless your care team has asked for one.
A pump entry records the amount expressed during that session. It doesn’t measure how much milk your baby transferred during direct nursing. The CDC notes that a baby's milk needs can differ and change as they grow, so use the entry as a record of that session rather than a measure of your baby's intake.
Record a bottle when it happens
If someone later feeds the baby expressed milk, make a separate bottle entry. BabyDays records the amount consumed and can also keep the amount prepared. Keeping both entries separate makes the timeline easier to understand and avoids treating pumped milk as milk already consumed.
If your household tracks preparation and what remains in a bottle, agree on a consistent way to record it. Ask your care team which details matter if the record is part of a feeding plan.
How BabyDays records pumping
In BabyDays, a pump is a separate event with a time, an expressed amount and an optional note. Bottle and top up entries are recorded separately. The app can help you remember what was logged, but it can’t interpret the record or tell you whether a feeding plan should change.
For related questions, read how to keep mixed feeding records clear and how to hand a short care log to another caregiver.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 12 October 2026. This page doesn’t replace advice from your own doctor.