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Introduction

Zen Nurture’s API is built on Convex, a backend-as-a-service platform that provides real-time data synchronization, serverless functions, and built-in authentication. The API follows a type-safe, function-based architecture that makes it easy to interact with your baby tracking data.

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Architecture

The Zen Nurture API is organized around key resources:
  • Families - Multi-caregiver family groups
  • Baby Profiles - Individual baby records with timezone and measurement preferences
  • Events - All tracked activities (feeds, diapers, sleep, growth, etc.)
  • Caregivers - People who care for a baby
  • Reminders - Configurable reminder rules
  • Milestones - Developmental milestone tracking
  • Photos - Media attachments for events
  • Weekly Digests - Auto-generated weekly summaries

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Event Types

Zen Nurture supports comprehensive event tracking:
  • FEED_BOTTLE - Bottle feeding (formula or expressed milk)
  • FEED_BREAST - Breastfeeding sessions
  • PUMP - Pumping sessions
  • DIAPER - Diaper changes (wet, dirty, mixed, dry)
  • SLEEP - Sleep sessions with start/end times
  • GROWTH - Weight, height, head circumference measurements
  • MED_DOSE - Medication doses
  • VACCINE_DOSE - Vaccination records
  • NOTE - General notes and observations

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API Patterns

Convex uses queries for reading data and mutations for writing data. All functions are type-safe and support real-time subscriptions.

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Queries

Queries are read-only operations that can be subscribed to for real-time updates: 
import { useQuery } from "convex/react";
import { api } from "../convex/_generated/api";

function BabyProfiles() {
  const profiles = useQuery(api.events.getBabyProfiles);
  
  return (
    <div>
      {profiles?.map(profile => (
        <div key={profile._id}>{profile.name}</div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

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Mutations

Mutations modify data and return after completion: 
import { useMutation } from "convex/react";
import { api } from "../convex/_generated/api";

function CreateEvent() {
  const createEvent = useMutation(api.events.createEvent);
  
  const logFeed = async () => {
    await createEvent({
      babyId: "...",
      type: "FEED_BOTTLE",
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      payload: {
        amountMl: 120,
        contentType: "formula",
        formulaName: "Enfamil"
      }
    });
  };
  
  return <button onClick={logFeed}>Log Feed</button>;
}

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Client Setup

Zen Nurture uses the Convex React client with Better Auth integration for authentication. 
npm install convex better-auth @convex-dev/better-auth

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Resource Schema

All resources follow Convex’s schema definition:
convex/schema.ts
import { defineSchema, defineTable } from "convex/server";
import { v } from "convex/values";

export default defineSchema({
  babyProfiles: defineTable({
    familyId: v.optional(v.id("families")),
    name: v.string(),
    dob: v.string(),
    gender: v.optional(v.string()),
    timezone: v.string(),
    measurementUnits: v.optional(v.object({
      volume: v.optional(v.string()),
      weight: v.optional(v.string()),
      length: v.optional(v.string()),
    })),
    createdAt: v.string(),
  })
    .index("by_createdAt", ["createdAt"])
    .index("by_familyId", ["familyId"]),

  events: defineTable({
    babyId: v.id("babyProfiles"),
    type: v.string(),
    timestamp: v.string(),
    caregiverId: v.optional(v.id("caregivers")),
    payload: v.optional(v.any()),
    source: v.optional(v.string()),
    loggedBy: v.optional(v.string()),
    loggedByName: v.optional(v.string()),
    photoIds: v.optional(v.array(v.string())),
    createdAt: v.string(),
    updatedAt: v.optional(v.string()),
  })
    .index("by_babyId_timestamp", ["babyId", "timestamp"])
    .index("by_babyId_type_timestamp", ["babyId", "type", "timestamp"])
});

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Real-Time Subscriptions

One of Convex’s key features is automatic real-time updates. Any component using useQuery will automatically re-render when the underlying data changes: 
const events = useQuery(api.events.listEvents, {
  babyId: selectedBaby._id,
  limit: 50
});

// Events automatically updates when new events are created

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Error Handling

All mutations throw errors that can be caught: 
try {
  await createEvent({ ... });
} catch (error) {
  console.error("Failed to create event:", error.message);
}
Common errors:
  • "Unauthenticated" - User is not logged in
  • "Not authorized" - User doesn’t have access to the resource
  • "Baby not found" - Invalid baby profile ID
  • "Not a member of this family" - User is not part of the family

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Next Steps

Authentication

Learn about Better Auth integration and protected routes

Events API

Track feeding, diaper changes, sleep, and more

Baby Profiles

Create and manage baby profiles

Families

Multi-caregiver family management

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