8 Things to Save in Baby's Book

At first, when Baby is brand new, you want to keep anything that has to do with him: every congratulations card, the umbilical cord stump, the teensy (but clean!) diaper. It’s only later — when the baby book is practically bursting apart — that you realize that you don’t need to save absolutely everything. Here’s a foolproof guide to knowing what to keep.

First Footprints

While you definitely don’t need to save everything you get when you leave the hospital after giving birth, there are a chosen few that are priceless…not to mention absolute baby book musts. One in particular? Baby’s first footprints. Years later, you (and a quickly growing-up Baby!) will marvel that his feet were ever so little.

Hospital Hat

Just like Baby’s teensy footprints, the tiny knitted cap is a reminder of just how little he was on day one. Plus, the hat is small enough to fit into a baby book — just try doing that with a standard-issue baby blanket from the hospital.

Birth Announcement

If you made up pretty cards (with a photo of Baby front and center) to send to friends and family to let them know about baby’s arrival, pop one in the book. Also take a look at the section of the newspaper that lists current births; if your bundle of joy made the roundup, cut it out and add it to the book.

First Family Photo

This is a staple in any baby book, and for good reason: the details about Baby’s first day are often lost in the whirlwind of excitement and emotions, but a first photo stands the test of time.

Hospital Receipt

Of course bringing a new person into the world is about so much more than money. But looking back on how much it cost to have a baby in 2012 – well, eventually people will say, “Whoa! Was that all it cost back then?”

 

List of Baby Names

Unless you were absolutely, positively, 100 percent sure of what Baby’s name would be before you met him, you have a shortlist (or long list) of names that you were toying around with. Kids love learning what their names could have been.

 

Growth Records

Because babies grow so quickly, holding on to their growth records is a necessity. It’s also incredibly easy; many pediatricians hand out ready-to-place stickers with Baby’s current stats already on them. Dedicate a page in the baby book and stick away.

A Lock of Hair

Baby’s first haircut can be a bittersweet ordeal… it’s so hard to see those ultra-soft locks get the chop! But that’s part of the reason why saving one of those locks now is so important – they’ll probably never be quite so ultra-soft again.

Capture More Memories

Looking for other ways to commemorate Baby’s journey? Discover five unique ways to celebrate the special milestones.

celebrate the milestones

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