…and that you actually have a chance of completing without driving yourself crazy!
Of course, we all want to do everything we can to make sweet and sentimental memories and have meaningful things to look back on with our babies. That’s just part of being a new mom! There are SO many cute ideas out there from pinterest, tiktok and instagram for crafts, activities, or memorabilia to make with your baby.
Next, you find yourself making a list of 50 different crafts to do or pictures to take of your baby within the first 3 months, so you can have all the cute memories. Let’s be real – most people don’t have the time, energy, or memory to remember to and to actually complete all of these things. Then, you don’t complete anything after the first month or two, or you’re not finishing your baby’s scrapbook of their first 6 months until they turn 3! I can imagine it’s even harder when you’re on your 2nd or 3rd child.
That’s why I created a list of the top 7 sweet and sentimental things to do with your baby in their first year. All of these things are cute, sweet, meaningful and simple/easy enough that you can actually stay on top of it and complete them. Without it feeling like just another task to check off a list, but rather a sweet and memory-filled activity with your little one.
1. Weekly and/or Monthly Pictures
My favorite way to do this is with a milestone blanket that has printed numbers to help you mark and photograph your baby’s growth. The one I use allows me to take weekly pictures up until twelve weeks and monthly pictures for the first year. This is something really quick you can mark on your calendar to do each week and/or month to have a picture of your child in the same place as they grow.
2. Hand and Foot Print Molds
I did this for my baby when she was less than 2 weeks old. I used a baby friendly “cement” mold and put her hand and foot prints in it and then painted the imprints. This is something small and cute I have displayed in the living room, that will serve as a memory of how little those hands and feet once were.
3. List of Firsts
I started doing this right when my baby was born. I make a note of the date and basic details about the first time my baby did something. For example I marked the date of her first bath at home, her first bedtime story, her first walk in the stroller, and her first day trying pureed food. You can write down all of the little things or only the bigger things, but either way it helps keep note of all of the little milestones your baby meets within those special first months. Side note this does not have to be “aesthetically pleasing.” My list for my baby is written with black ink pen in a plain notebook – but the memories are just as sweet and sentimental!
4. Seasonal Crafts
There are so many cute craft ideas to do with your baby – I chose to pick a few to do for each season or upcoming holiday. This ensures I actually get a few of my favorite ideas done and make those cute memories with my baby. I love to use the crafts as seasonal decorations on my wall, they look super cute around my baby’s play area. Completing crafts in real life likely won’t be as aesthetic, easy, or mess free as it is in the social media videos you watch for craft inspiration. Remember, it’s the memories that count and what makes it perfect is that it’s you and your baby doing it together.
5. Scrapbooking or Photo Albums for Each Month
Complete a simple monthly page in a scrapbook with a few of your favorite pictures from the month or even just a photo album (printed or just in your photo app). Be as creative as you want or keep it simple – what matters most is the memories and looking back at your favorite photos from the past month.
6. Letters to Your Baby Every Month
Every month I write a letter to my baby about new things she did the past month, her favorite toys/activities, things we had going on and things I just want to say to my baby. The note can be in paragraph form or even just in bullet points to get your thoughts down. No matter how formal or informal – your child will love to read those thoughts from you one day. It will be so special to look back on together.
7. Additional Photos/Memories to Capture
There are so many special moments and memories to capture in your baby’s early life. Some of the most special ones to me are the 3 and 4 generations pictures (these will be so special to look back on)! I also like to take a picture of my baby on every holiday (even the little ones) – since it’s her first one. The pictures don’t have to be fancy, just one to mark the occasion and look back on. I also highly recommend a little newborn photoshoot – some of just your baby and some of your family. It won’t be long before your baby’s looks change, you will want to capture those moments with your newborn!
What’s so great about these options is that you can complete one of them, four of them or all of them and still have sweet and sentimental memories to look back on for a lifetime. The most important thing to remember is that you don’t need to have the most “pintrest worthy” crafts or memories to fully capture the moment.
The most important thing is spending time with your kids and being present in the moment. Don’t get too caught up in trying to capture the moment that you miss it happening right in front of you. You are doing a great job!!
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