10 things to record in your little one’s baby book

There’s no denying the first years of your baby’s life go by in flash. One day you’re anxiously awaiting their arrival and the next they’re headed off to start kindergarten. All the moments in between? A complete and total haze of happiness and chaos. That’s why many parents turn to a baby book to help preserve the precious memories of their child’s first years.

What is a baby book?

Baby books are journal-style keepsakes where parents can document and preserve their child’s memories, milestones, and growth throughout their first year or years. Most styles include spaces for photos, drawings and writing down important events and thoughts. And don’t worry. You don’t have to be a Pulitzer Prize-winning author (or even a decent writer!) to create something beautiful. Many modern baby books include thoughtful prompts to guide you along.

Related: Your guide to baby milestones

Why make a baby book?

Using a baby book can be a great way to remember and reflect on the special moments and details of your child’s early years. Even if you think there’s no way you’d forget those major milestones, so much is happening all the time. They’re literally changing overnight! Having a place to keep their story not only gives you peace of mind, it can also provide a meaningful heirloom to pass down to future generations. Additionally, documenting your child’s development in a memory book can help you to track their progress and celebrate their accomplishments, of which there will be many!

The best baby books

Artifact Uprising

The Story of You

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$84.15

Artifact Uprising creates some of the most gorgeous museum-quality mementos that instantly become family treasures. They’re a go-to for photo prints, vacation albums and yes, a best-selling baby book. The binder-style book comes with a pen, adhesive for photos and treasures and a free set of Everyday Prints to get rolling. The thick pages provide thoughtful prompts and space for milestones and if you have more to add (or you know, change a name or something down the line 😉 ) you can purchase additional pages to slide right in.

And because the fun doesn’t end after year one, Artifact Uprising also offers The Story of You: The Early Years book to document years 1-5. Choose from the same sophisticated color palette to create a luxe collection of timeless treasures.

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Paper Peony Press

The Baby Memory Book

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$21.63

This modern memory book takes you all the way from pregnancy through the first five years of your little one’s life with sweet prompts and places to record all easy-to-forget moments. And since its gorgeous linen cover with gold foil text makes it almost too pretty to tuck away, you won’t have to worry about neglecting it! Charming illustrations accompany pages to jot down their family tree and information about the world on the day they were born and a spiral binding makes it easy to use.

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More from Motherly: 12 baby memory books that you’ll actually fill out

What to write in a baby book?

Of course, how you approach it is totally up to you. A baby book can include a variety of information and keepsakes related to your child’s life and development, including:

• Personal information such as name, birth date, weight and length
• Photos of your baby, family and special events
• Milestones such as first steps, first words and first tooth
• Holidays and special events like birthdays and holidays
• Hand and footprints
• Favorite toys, books and foods
• Details about your child’s personality and character
• Memories and special moments
• Quotes, poems and other sentiments that reflect your feelings about your child
• Future aspirations for your child

The exact content of a baby book will vary based on personal preference and style, but the goal is to capture and preserve the unique story of your child’s life as they grow and develop. There are tons of baby books you can purchase that make documenting your baby’s life not just easy, but a practice you actually look forward to.