A goal of every parent is to keep a baby book or journal for their little one, recording all of the milestones, big and small, to treasure the memories for years to come. But parents are busy people! Please don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have time to keep a baby book. There are all sorts of ways to pass down memories. But hopefully, one book here catches your eye. We have also added some simple journals and even an app that takes a few moments to complete. There are also some options that you could start at any time!
Are you looking for a place to start recording memories for your little one but unsure what type of baby book or journal you want? Are you looking for more flexible options that will only take a few minutes out of your day? Or are you looking for a more traditional baby book option? Look no further in this roundup of our favorite baby books and journals.
Best Baby Books and Journals
Hopefully, one of these will pique your interest and be a good fit for your precious memories.
1. A Letter to My Baby
This book allows you to write letters to your baby and seal them to be opened on a specific date when they are older. I love this time capsule approach to a baby book. Some of the prompts include “on the day you were born…” and “my wishes for you are…” I love the concept of this book because there is no specific time frame around it. You can write letters as you have time! I think this would make a particularly special graduation gift for your son or daughter, and have them open notes that you wrote for them on special days like their graduation day and their wedding day.
2. Lucy Darling Baby Book
This is my favorite traditional baby book and what we chose to use for our boys. There are places for photos and short responses to prompts like “you don’t like…” and “you love…” It comes in several different themes as well! Even better, the book does not just end when your baby turns a year old. It has space to record memories until your child becomes school-aged and has many blank pages in the back for special photos or other notes. A perfect companion item to this baby book is the HP Sprocket printer, which prints photos (with a sticky back!) that fit perfectly in the photo spots in this book.
3. As You Grow
This is a fun twist on a traditional baby book that can capture memories from birth to age five! It is also aesthetically beautiful and a unique, gender-neutral choice.
4. All About Me
This book has three themes: floral, adventure, and woodland. With simple prompts and plenty of space for your photos, it will be perfect for your little one’s special memories.
5. The Short Years
This is a simple, app-based baby book that you can complete in just minutes once a week. If you choose that option, it is expandable to include the baby and toddler years, allowing space to record those moments you never want to forget.
6. Mom’s One Line a Day Journal
This journal spans five years and allows you to write one line daily to reflect on the day and note something special, memorable, or funny about your child. It is simple yet powerful to have five years of daily memories upon which you can reflect. This is another book that would make an amazing milestone gift for your child as they get older. You could keep up with this journal and start a new journal every five years to capture every stage of childhood!
7. Personalized Story of You
This is a completely customizable option, down to the colors of the pages inside the book. The front of this beautiful book has your child’s name printed in a gorgeous script font. It is a truly beautiful baby book to hold your memories.
8. Love + Wild
This gender-neutral option is available in five different colors. Spiral-bound pages will give you places to record your memories from birth to age five. There are prompts for your journaling and space for unprompted thoughts.
9. Bebe
This journal has a pen and keepsake box and space to capture memories up to when your child is eighteen. It’s one book for so many memories, all in one place!
10. My Baby Journal
This is another beautiful hardcover baby book with simple prompts and plenty of room for photos. This book is structured into four sections: pregnancy, your baby’s first year, milestones, and space for memories from toddlerhood until they go to school.
11. Qeepsake
This is a digital baby book for the busiest of moms. You are texted prompts by Qeepsake that you respond to via text message. You can also add photos and other notes using their app or texting Qeepsake. You can order a printed book that includes all of the pictures and memories shared via app or text message at any time. This is incredibly simple and a great way to keep a baby book of memories, but outsourcing most of the work!
12. BabyPage
Another digital baby book is right at your fingertips. There is an iOS app, so even if you only have a few minutes in your day, you can take a moment to answer a prompt or upload a special photo. When ready, you can print a customized hard or softcover book! Read our full review of BabyPage.
13. The Story of You
This gorgeous baby book is available in many colors. It’s an interactive photo journal with thoughtful prompts to help document your baby’s first year. From their birth story to the mini-milestones of each month, there’s a place for you to record every special moment. Celebrated for its timeless design and premium materials, it’ll tell your family’s story for years to come.
14. Kept Collection Book
This book is one spot to record memories from birth to age eighteen. It is aesthetically pleasing and has unique writing prompts designed to truly focus on your child. As your child gets older, there are questions to ask and a place to write down their responses so that you can record their memories in their own words.
15. Le Petit Baby Book
With its whimsical cover, this is a perfect baby book for parents-to-be. Inside are a few envelopes to hold special keepsakes, such as ultrasound photos or locks of hair. A unique feature is the pull-out growth chart, where you can record your child’s age next to their height!
16. The Baby Memory Book
With a gorgeous linen cover and spiral binding, this baby book is another great option for recording precious memories. It is also gender-neutral, so it is a perfect gift for those parents-to-be waiting to find out their baby’s gender.
17. Bobee Baby Journal
Available in two color schemes, this baby book is a sweet and simple way to record monthly memories and milestones for your little one. From birth to age five, capture photos and memories for your family to cherish forever.
18. A Keepsake Box
This is a unique way to store memories for your baby and pass down those special baby items to your kids when they are adults. What a treasured memory to have to look back through these things with your parents reminiscing about the good old days. Tucked away in my children’s keepsake boxes are their hospital bracelets from when they were born, their coming home outfits from the hospital, and special works of art they have created.
Do you plan to keep a baby book for your little one? Do you have a baby book of your own from when you were growing up? Have you ever used one of these baby books, and do you have any feedback? Are there any other great books that we should have on our list?
