Baby Book Ideas

Young children and adults enjoy turning the pages of a book documenting their entry into the world. Here are 18 suggestions to spark your creativity when creating a treasure to be relished by many generations.

• Consider beginning your baby’s book by telling the story of how mom and dad met. Include details, special memories and memorabilia such as the ticket stubs from your first movie together, a business card from the restaurant you visited on your first date, and, of course, your first photos together. Include baby pictures of mom and dad if you have them.
• Include the story of how you announced your pregnancy to family and friends. Share some of your favorite reactions with photos if possible.
• Be sure to include regular photographs of mom’s growing belly and any ultrasound photos. You can add descriptions about the baby’s growth and progress at each stage such as approximate weight, length and what body processes are taking place.
• Add thoughtful journal entries filled with the details that often fade with time. Discuss the joys and challenges of a healthy pregnancy as well as the changes your body is experiencing.
• Before you have determined the sex of the baby, take a poll of family, friends and co-workers and record who thinks the baby will be a boy and who thinks the baby will be a girl.
• Also, ask for name recommendations. Your baby might just one day enjoy reading what friends and family members thought his or her name should have been. Be sure to include the reason why you chose the name you did as well as what it means.
• Did you reveal the baby’s sex in a special way? Tell the story and include pictures if possible.
• A baby book is a wonderful place to keep baby shower keepsakes such as invitations, cards and lots of photos. You can even include a list of the gifts received.
• Ask friends and family to write a letter to your unborn child and include them. You can even ask siblings, cousins and other children to draw a picture of what they think your baby will look like.
• Write a letter to your baby about your hopes for his or her future, about the things you want him or her to learn and how loved he or she is.
• Include a detailed description of the baby’s birth story complete with photos, a photocopy of the birth certificate and the hospital bracelet.
• Ask a family member or friend to pick up a copy of the newspaper on the day of the baby’s birth as well as a current event magazine such as TIME.
• Record interesting facts at the time of the baby’s birth such as the cost of a loaf of bread, an airline ticket and an average home. Note any worthy current events, popular songs or any significant family information.
• Capture the stories of the first few weeks of life with your newborn. Share with your baby what those first moments and days of being his or her parent were like. How well did your baby sleep and eat? How did you feel when your baby cried? Tell your newborn about his or her first diaper change and sponge bath. What were the first sounds your baby made? What were some of your baby’s favorite things? Was there something that made your baby laugh or cry?
• Take pictures of everything! We usually remember to capture the significant events like holidays and milestones, but don’t forget to include the day-to-day events in the life of a baby like nursing, sleeping, bath time, playtime, and mealtime.
• Be sure to photograph and document milestones of the baby’s growth, activities and achievements. Include photos of baby’s first smile, first time sleeping through the night, their first taste of solid food, as well as records of length and weight at each stage of development.
• A baby book isn’t just for photos, but it is a great place to store important mementos such as the first lock of hair, a button from a special outfit, a diaper pin or baby’s first sock. Craft stores sell small envelopes in their scrapbooking sections that are perfect for holding small memorabilia so that it can be included in your baby’s memory book.
• Use a washable paint or stamp pad on the palm of your baby’s hands and feet to make colorful impressions of their prints. Be sure to include the date and repeat the process as your baby grows.

While there is no doubt that creating a book of your baby’s first days requires some thought and intention, it is sure to become a priceless gift that will be read, enjoyed, and treasured for years to come.