What to record each day
- Feeds. Time, amount in millilitres, and whether the bottle was finished.
- Nappies. Time and type for every change: pee, soft, hard or runny.
- Sleep. When the baby went down, when they woke and the total time.
- Meals. For babies who eat solids: what and how well.
- Mood and behaviour. A short note on how the baby felt through the day.
- Medication. Time, dose and the parent’s authorisation.
- Highlights. A first clap, a new sound, a favourite game.
- Supplies needed. Nappies, wipes, formula or spare clothes.
Sample layout
| Time | What | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Bottle | 100 ml, finished |
| 10:15 | Nap | Down 10:15, up 11:30 (75 min) |
| 11:30 | Nappy | Soft |
| 12:00 | Bottle | 180 ml, finished |
| 12:30 | Lunch | Spaghetti and mince, ate well |
| 13:30 | Nap | Down 13:30, up 14:45 (75 min) |
| 14:30 | Nappy | Pee |
| 15:00 | Bottle | 150 ml, most of it |
Mood: very good mood all day. Note: clapped along at music time. Supplies: please bring wipes.
Tips for teachers
- Record at the time, not at the end of the day. Memory is the biggest source of mistakes.
- Use the same words every day, so parents can compare days at a glance.
- Lead with something positive in the note, then add anything the parent needs to know.
- Stick to what you saw. Leave diagnoses to parents and clinics.
- Keep one page per child, so another family’s information never travels home in the wrong bag.
From paper to a daily email
A paper report depends on the page surviving the trip home. With HiDay the teacher taps each entry, a checklist shows what is missing, and parents receive the day by email the same afternoon. See HiDay daily reports.