5 Creative Ways to Document Your Baby’s First Year

When my daughter was born, I wanted to find a way to document her growth.  I felt like every day she was changing and there had to be a good way to capture her development so that I could look back later and see how far she’d come.  Also, with social media, I’d seen a lot of great ideas and wanted to give one a try with a baby milestone.  There are many different ways it can be done!  It can seem overwhelming but today we’re going to break down five of the options so you can make an informed decision on what you’re going to do.

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Blocks

I got a set of blocks from Babies R’ Us (RIP) and took her picture every month in her chair.  The first few months she just lay there, but then as time went on she got more active.  The last few months she actively would try to play with the blocks.  I learned to just go with it and those are now some of my favorite pictures!  I found these awesome blocks on Amazon that I really like that are similar to the ones that I used.

Photo Apps

Another way I documented her growth was with a photo app.  My daughter has grandparents who live out of state.  We set up a TinyBeans account to share pictures with them.  Every day I would upload at least one new photo.  My father-in-law turned it into part of his morning routine.  During breakfast, he’d check out the new pictures from the previous day!  Later I went through and added numbers of the months using a photo editing software and I have twelve pictures of her in action!  I was surprised at how much I liked the more candid photos and it came out better than I expected!

Stickers

Another idea is to get a sticker set with each month printed on it.  The stickers can be put right on the front of a baby bodysuit.  You don’t have to worry about blocks that an older baby can knock over (but you do have to deal with them pulling off the stickers).  Your mileage may vary but some of my favorite pictures that I’ve seen of this method are the ones with the baby trying to figure out what the sticker is and those are my favorites! The best part is that they are simple and there are so many options that it’s easy to find one that fits your style.

Baby Milestone Blankets

Another idea that I love is using a milestone blanket.   There are a few different ways to do it.  First, you need a blanket.  There’s a place on the blanket for your child.  You can use photo props if you want.  You could use the same toys or items every month (like a teddy bear that starts off bigger than your baby and ends up the same size) or you could switch it up to show what your child is into that particular month. 

For example, for month one you could use a bottle and a diaper, and by month six you’d be using their favorite toy!  The other side of the blanket has a group of numbers.  You can either use a photo prop to circle the month (or week) or use an app to add it in later.  Because the blanket is always the same size, you can clearly see how your child is growing.

What I love about this option is that you are only limited by your creativity.  This blanket was transformed into a summer farm theme.  The same blanket could be turned into a winter wonderful a few months later! The possibilities are endless and it’s a fun way to add some creativity to your life!

Baby Milestone Pillow

A twist on the baby milestone blanket is a baby milestone pillow.  It combines the block idea with the blanket idea.  The months are printed on a pillow and you photograph your child next to the same pillow every month.  Then you can use a photo editing app to circle the appropriate month!

Your child could be laying down, sitting up, standing… so many possibilities!  These could also be used to document different years to show how your older child grows.

So what do you do with these photos?  One thing I put together is a photo book of my daughter’s first year.  One page shows them all together and then each photograph has its own page.    I’ve sprinkled a few major milestones in there (first tooth, first steps, first Christmas) and now she’ll have a baby book with everything for years to come.  I’ve seen parents post to Facebook albums to share with family and friends.  It’s a cute way to share how your child is growing every month and learning new things. 

How are you documenting your baby’s life?  How are you using any photos you’re taking?  Leave a comment below!

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