The Itzbeen Baby Timer: A New Parent's Best Friend

How long has it been since the baby's diaper was changed? Since she ate? How long since he slept? Which side did the baby nurse on last?

Sleep deprived new parents try to keep track of all those things with mixed results. This cool baby gadget makes that much easier.

We received the Itzbeen as a gift when our 2nd baby was born. It really helped and has quickly become one of our favorite baby gear items.

Update: This device was recently re-branded and is now called the "Pocket Nanny by Itzbeen". So if you see it under that name, it's the same device as the one I'm reviewing here.

What Does the Itzbeen Do?

The Itzbeen automates what new parents have been doing manually for years...tracking when their newborn baby did stuff. Key features include:

• Timers:
  • Track when baby's diaper was last changed.
  • Track when baby last ate.
  • Track when baby last slept or woke up.
  • Generic timer for tracking whatever you want. We used this for tracking wet vs. poop diapers the first week.
• Breastfeeding side indicator
• Clock
• Night light
• Back lit display
• Optional alarms for each timer
• Clip to hook to pocket, diaper bag, etc
• 3 Colors: Blue, Pink & Green

What Works Well?

The Itzbeen features we use the most are the 4 timers and the nursing side indicator. They're worth the cost of the device alone. My wife's favorite feature is probably the nursing side indicator. It's simple to use and very handy.

The nightlight is useful for checking diapers in the dark of night. We also use the clock and appreciate the back lit display at night. I don't think we've used the alarm feature yet.

The timer's durable too. I dropped ours in the parking lot once and it still works fine.

How could the Itzbeen be better?

The Itzbeen timer is a simple gadget that does everything it needs and claims to do. We only found a couple really minor things to improve.

When you press the button to activate the backlit display, the buttons light up for 3-4 seconds. In the dark of night they're pretty bright and I want to turn them back off after a quick glance at the timer. So I press the button again...but that doesn't turn the back light off, it keeps it on for another 3 seconds. The backlit display button should be an on/off toggle like the nightlight button is.

My wife suggested that when standing the timer on the nightstand, there should be a way to angle it. She found it difficult to look down and view the display when nursing without picking it up because it doesn't angle up. Since her hands are busy holding the baby that can be annoying.

The Itzbeen is one of those things that I started using then smacked myself in the head for not inventing it. It's a huge help during the first few weeks of your newborn's life when the pediatrician wants a detailed log of the baby's feedings and changings. You still have to remember to push the button but that's a lot easier to get right at 3am in the dark than writing down times.

This is a handy, easy to use piece of baby gear and it makes a perfect new parent gift.

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Disclaimer

This review is based solely on my experience with the Itzbeen timer. I'm not associated with or sponsored by the product's manufacturer. I and HubPages may get a small commission from Amazon.com for any sales made via this site.

Do you like the Itzbeen? How do you track feedings and diaper changings for your baby? Do you think it's necessary to track them? Please leave a comment below.