When I was searching for a baby book during the last few months of my pregnancy, I was surprised by how few options I found that didn’t feel too cutesy or gendered. I did eventually find one that I love and have since come across a few more great options. I thought I’d share my finds here in case you’re also looking for a modern, stylish, and meaningful baby book for yourself or an expectant friend. You can also read on for a few tips for filling them out if you’re interested.
After some extensive googling for “modern baby books”, I happily stumbled across Mushybooks (85 CAD/ $73 USD). This small online shop currently offers 17 themes to fit different style and color preferences. The pages aren’t overwhelming, with lots of space for photos and a few meaningful prompts. Like most baby books, the focus is on the first year, but there is an option to purchase additional pages for toddler years, preschool and more. Mushybooks also has versions for adoptive parents, same sex couples and single moms. You can find them here or on their Etsy shop. I also like that it’s an independent woman-owned business too.
Here are a few other beautiful options to consider:
The Story of You from Artifact Uprising (from $99): They have beautiful color options and the book comes with their recommended pen and adhesive for your photos. You can also register your book to receive photo tips and a free set of prints.
The Baby Book from Sugar Paper ($85): They have three color options: blue, pale pink and flax. The colors are pretty traditional but slightly more modern hues with gold detailing throughout. The layout is made to accommodate 4x4 photos and the book comes with adhesive for your photos. The blue and pink options are also available at Anthropologie.
Baby and Child Journals from Write to Me (from $45): This Melbourne-based small business offers journals to help document special memories of motherhood and your child’s life. They have a range of products, including traditional baby books, a collection of letters, birth through five year journals, gratitude journals and more. Their products are available in modern colors and feature gold detailing. (While based in Australia, they still offer $5 shipping to the U.S).
Lastly, I started using Promptly Journals ($32) when my daughter was one and a half. It’s a journal to document both big milestones, special memories, and general reflections from pregnancy through year 18. There is dedicated space for a yearly photo and your child’s artwork (which I used for additional photos instead, allowing me to include up to 5 4x4 photos). Combined with a yearly photo album, this could be a really special thing for you and your child to look back on, with the obvious advantage that it goes beyond the toddler years. Promptly Journal also has a new paid app, which is not for me, but if you’re interested you can check it out here.
Finally, here are a few tips and thoughts that have helped me when filling out Nina’s baby book and journal, which, as a life-long practrastinator, has been a struggle!
Write down notes on your phone or in a day-planner or notebook to capture funny moments, milestones, or general reflections. Lately I’ve been using a bullet journal, so each month I create a section called “Nina’s Notes” where I keep a running list of milestones, funny things she says and does, and other reflections on motherhood, her personality, our relationship etc. In the past, I’ve also used the Mom’s One Line A Day: 5-Year Memory Book where I wrote down one brief daily note or reflection on motherhood or Nina - from the very mundane (Nina woke up three times last night - I’m so tired) to the major milestones (Nina said Mama today!). When I finally got around to working on Nina’s baby book and filling in the Promptly Journal, these notes were key.
Regardless of whether or not you want to keep a baby book I think this advice applies: write down your birth story as soon as possible —the same day or night, if you can. You lose so many details of the experience in those first few crazy, sleep deprived weeks. Before she left, my doula reminded me to write down my birth experience - which had honestly not crossed my mind at all - and I was able to capture so many details of the experience that I have no recollection of now. Pack a notebook and pen in your hospital bag.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good! It’s embarrassing to admit how much I delayed filling in my baby book because I didn’t want to defile it with my horrible handwriting. I was also at a loss for how to respond to a few of the prompts. At the end of the day though, it’s the memories you’re capturing that are important, not necessarily how they look or how perfectly crafted your thoughts are . Your child will want to read your words in your hand and voice. But with that said, a nice pen can help….
Keep a folder for baby book photos on your phone or computer and add to it regularly. That way when you’re ready to print, you don’t need to spend hours upon hours sorting through and selecting photos for your book - or at least you’ll have a smaller cache to chose from when the time comes. I had a gift certificate from Artifact Uprising so used them for my prints. They are beautiful with a matte finish, and the prints themselves were not very expensive, however the shipping was nearly the same cost as the prints so I might explore other options in the future. Some suggestions from Mushybook’s blog: Origrami, Foxprint, Social Print Studio and Eternogram.
Finally, while I wish I hadn’t waited quite so long to fill in sections, working on Nina’s baby book provided an opportunity for me to slow down and reflect, especially in the whirlwind of the first year and I love looking back on it now. I highly recommend carving out some space to work on it when you can - I’m so glad I did, even if it’s still not quite finished over three years in …
Do you have other baby books that you’d recommend or tips/thoughts on filling them out? Please share in the comments!
Image sources from left to right (Sugar Paper / Mushybooks / Promptly Journals / Write to Me
Cover image via Artifact Uprising