You’re a new parent. You’ve had just a few hours’ sleep in the past couple of days. You might be feeling a little stressed or overwhelmed by these enormous life changes. You have been feeding your baby every two to three hours. Now, you have your days-old baby in your arms, and it is once again feeding time. Can you remember which side you breastfed on last time? Which side you should start on this time? How long your baby fed for last time? How long it has been since the last feeding?

It can be hard to keep it all straight. (Oh, what an understatement!) I remember, as a new mother who struggled with establishing a milk supply for my firstborn, trying to note the details in my notebook. I needed to have all of the figures available when I met with the baby’s pediatrician to assess whether breastfeeding was improving—but I had a terrible time remembering the details of each session.

It’s possible that the MilkBands Nursing Bracelet would have helped. The MilkBands bracelet is a simple silicone wristband that calls to mind the Live Strong bracelet popularized by Lance Armstrong, the breastfeeding promotion bracelets of La Leche League and Lansinoh and other cause bracelets. But what the MilkBands bracelet has imprinted on it is very different from a pithy statement of support for a cause. On one side is the word “LEFT” and on the other “RIGHT.” A column runs along the bottom of each side for “Minutes,” numbering 0 to 60 in five-minute increments. Along the top is the word “Hours,” followed by the numbers 1 to 12. Small plastic clips are included. Users affix the clips to the band, then slide them along the length of the band.

Users can select how they choose to use the band. The manufacturer provides several ideas, including:

• Flip inside out to indicate which side to nurse from next (or to begin feeding from).
• Track feeding session duration to the nearest five minutes.
• Track the number of times baby fed for the day.
• Count the number of wet and soiled diapers baby had for the day.
• Remind what time baby last fed.
• Remind what time baby should feed next.

I would add that it could be used by parents whose babies require medication, to help them remember when it was last administered or when it must be given again. And even bottle-feeding parents could use MilkBands’ bracelet to help them remember when baby last fed or should feed next.

I don’t think that mothers will feel they need to use the Milk Bands bracelet for the full length of their breastfeeding relationship. But during the exhausting early days of new parenthood, when it can be hard to remember such basics as showering and eating, this could be a useful aid. I like that the mother carries it with her. Unlike more tech-y tools such as the Baby Manager (which I have written about for babygooroo), Milk Bands are convenient and non-directive. However, mothers who wish to track the data for sharing with their pediatricians will need to transfer the information to another means, perhaps a simple notebook or spreadsheet.

As an aside to readers who are expectant parents: I in no way mean to suggest that breastfeeding is a lot of work that requires a great deal of scrutiny. I have always loved the simplicity of breastfeeding: baby is hungry, pick him up and feed him. No formula to buy or prepare, no bottles to sterilize, and—most importantly—no waiting!

Also, most mothers find that breastfeeding falls into a rhythm in short order. Once their milk supply is established, it is not as important for them to pay such close attention to alternating which breast they begin feeding their child from. Parents who watch their babies for signs of hunger, feed to satiety, and pay attention to their bodies are unlikely to have problems—or a long-term need for the MilkBands nursing bracelet.