Prompts about your baby

  • Describe the sound your baby makes right before falling asleep.
  • Talk about who your baby looks like today, and who disagrees with you.
  • Tell the story of a feed, a bath or a diaper change that went comically wrong.
  • Describe your baby's hands, feet or hair in as much detail as you can.
  • Say what your baby did today that they couldn't do last week.
  • Talk about the nickname you've started using and where it came from.

Prompts about you as a parent

  • Describe a moment this week when you trusted your own instinct.
  • Talk about what you expected parenting to be like and what surprised you.
  • Say one thing you need more of this week, even if you can't get it yet.
  • Tell the story of a friend or stranger who said exactly the right thing.
  • Describe what you miss about life before the baby, without guilt.
  • Talk plainly about how your sleep, your body and your mood feel today.

Prompts about your family as it is now

  • If you share the nights with someone, describe how you split them and how it's going.
  • Talk about the person who has helped most since the birth and what they did.
  • Tell the story of the day you brought your baby home.
  • Say what you hope your child will know about your family when they're older.
  • Describe a family tradition you want to keep, and one you'd like to drop.

Prompts to save for later

  • Talk to your baby directly for a minute, about anything at all.
  • Describe your home right now, room by room, as your child might picture it one day.
  • Say what people were talking about this week, for your child to hear in twenty years.
  • Tell the story of how you chose your baby's name.
  • Describe one song, smell or sound that will always mean this month to you.

How to use these prompts

Keep it to a minute, and don't wait for a quiet hour that won't come. Talking leaves your hands mostly free, so you can answer while rocking or feeding. Skip any day you need to, since a short entry once a week still adds up to a record of the first year. In Dawn Light, you can start a recording from Control Center, the Lock Screen or the Action button, and add a photo to the same entry.

Questions about journaling as a new parent

How do I find time to journal with a newborn?

Attach it to something you already do many times a day, like a night feed or a stroller walk. One minute counts.

Is this the same as a baby journal?

A baby journal records milestones. Prompts like these also record what it was like for you. Both can live in one place.

What if most of my entries are about feeling low?

That's worth telling someone, such as your doctor, your midwife or a person you trust. If you're thinking about harming yourself or you're in danger, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. In the US, call or text 988.

Keep the first year in your own voice

Tap the sun and talk while you rock the baby. Dawn Light writes down every word with the date, and On this day brings it back a year from now.

Get Dawn Light free

Unlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.