Five Great Ideas for Preserving Baby Memories & Mementos
If you’re the mom of an infant, you probably feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need and want to do. The months pass by in a blur, and your child will be celebrating their first, second, and third birthdays before you know it (it’s true!). So today, we’re taking a moment to talk about five simple ways you can capture and preserve some precious baby memories, to cherish forever:
- Make a baby keepsake box/”time capsule”
- Create handprint and footprint art
- Take a photo a day (or week, or month)
- Fill a few photo albums
- Designate a spot for jotting down notes and memories
(And we’re sure you won’t regret making the time to do one or more of these!)
- Make a baby keepsake box/”time capsule”
Grab a box (it could be something you have already, like a shoebox, or something you buy especially for this “time capsule” purpose) and then add keepsakes to it over the course of baby’s first year. Things you might wish to include: an ultrasound picture and/or hospital wristband; cards and notes you and baby receive; and a favorite book/bodysuit/toy/etc. (after baby has outgrown it). The world is your oyster; include any special items you and your child will enjoy looking back on once they are older.
- Create handprint and footprint art
Tell us if you disagree, but we think tiny baby feet and hands are the cutest. So why not capture them for all time, and in a format that’s easy and adorable to display? There are plenty of non-toxic inkpads on the market, or you could buy a baby-impression or plaster-casting kit. But it’s just as easy (and more fun) to make your own salt-dough ornament. You need flour, salt, water, and a few basic supplies that you likely have on hand. Here are the full instructions for how to make a keepsake salt dough ornament.
- Take a photo a day (or week, or month)
If you’re like most parents, you have no shortage of photos of your child. But, if you’re not a big photo-taker, you might want to set the intention of snapping a picture of your child on some kind of schedule—be it daily, weekly, or monthly. (When they are all grown up, you’ll be so glad you did!) Or, if you’re really not that into photos (and the idea of journaling is overwhelming), why not use a voice-recorder app on your phone to periodically note a funny thing your child did, milestone he or she reached, or other sweet memory you’d like to revisit down the road.
- Fill a few photo albums
This might sound obvious, but old-fashioned photo albums are still a great way to keep memories of your little one close at hand. Photos on a phone are great, but sometimes it’s nice to flip through actual pages with printed photos (especially milestone photos). Order a bunch of your favorites in 4”x6” prints and slot them into an album or scrapbook—or, use an online photo service to print a custom book.
P.S. We have a great idea for an awesome photo background—our boho-chic baby playmats! They are the ideal (and stylish!) blank canvas. And, our graphic tees and bodysuits can help you turn any photo session into a special-occasion photo session. Whether you’re celebrating baby’s first Halloween, Christmas, or other holiday—or it’s time to have a photo shoot with mom, dad, or siblings, we’ve got a sweet, sassy saying or on-point illustration that you’re sure to love.
- Designate a spot for jotting down notes and memories
Another easy way to preserve memories is by designating a particular place where you can store notes or stories you want to jot down. The vessel for the memories can be anything you like—a decorative (or non-decorative!) box, a jar, a basket, etc. Keep a stack of paper and a pen nearby, and you’ll find it easy to write down things you want to remember.
We hope these projects will inspire you to create meaningful, lasting memories of your little one’s earliest days and years. Do you have other ideas for capturing baby memories in cool and creative ways? We’d love to hear!
