What should I include in a newborn caregiver handoff?

Start with the last completed care

Give the date and time of the last feed, along with how it was given. Keep nursing time and side separate from a measured bottle amount. If pumping matters to the next caregiver, label it as expressed milk rather than a feed the baby drank.

Add the last nappy or sleep entry only if it helps the next person understand the recent routine. A handoff is a quick reference, not a demand to record every moment.

Make the next step easy to see

Name the person taking over and the time they begin. Then state one practical next step, such as where supplies are kept or which household task still needs doing. If no one knows a detail, write that it is unknown instead of guessing.

Keep care-team instructions in their own place and copy them accurately. A personal note can say what you observed, but it should not replace a plan from your baby's clinician.

If a feed entry is missing, check with the caregiver who was there before filling the gap. A blank log does not show what happened. If nobody knows the time or detail, mark it as unknown and tell your care team about the gap if they requested a complete record.

Share only what the next caregiver needs

Use a short, factual note. Include a change or question only when it affects the next handoff. Avoid forwarding passwords or unrelated personal information, and choose a sharing method that everyone in the household understands.

BabyDays keeps a local log without an account until you choose caregiver sharing. The privacy policy explains what data is stored when sharing is enabled.

For an occasional sitter, leave your phone number, home address, local emergency number and the baby's clinician contact where they can find them. Add when you expect to return and the best way to reach you. Explain the routine, where supplies are and any individual instructions the caregiver needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics checklist for parents and sitters also recommends discussing feeding, bathing and sleep arrangements and noting allergies or other specific needs. Follow any written care plan you have been given.

A simple handoff note

Last feed: add the time and method. Last nappy: add the time if useful. Update: write one observed detail the next caregiver should know. Next: name the task and who will take it. Keep the note brief enough to read during a busy change of shift.

For shared feed logging between two caregivers, see how to share a newborn feed log. If your question is about splitting overnight care while breastfeeding, read how a partner can help at night.