One of the most bittersweet parts of having a new baby is watching them grow and celebrating each milestone. Many parents love taking baby monthly milestone pictures as a fun way to capture their little one’s first year. Whether you’re looking for creative baby photo ideas or just want something simple and sweet, there are plenty of ways to document these moments right at home using themes, milestone blankets, signs, or props.
Of course, as your baby gets older, they may not cooperate as well during your photo sessions! My biggest tip for taking great photos — whether for a monthly milestone or a family shoot — is not to wait until they show signs of being tired, hungry, or needing a change. This will be in the morning, right after a nap and feeding for most babies! Also, be sure to enlist the help of someone else and baby’s current favorite toy to capture their attention. And if you have an iPhone, make sure your live photos are turned on so you can choose a different still image if it ends up turning out better than the one captured. Now, let’s get into ideas for your baby’s photos!
Monthly Baby Photo Ideas
Whether you’re drawn to traditional monthly milestone baby photos or want to try something more unique, these baby monthly photo ideas offer fun, meaningful ways to document the first year.
7 Creative Monthly Baby Picture Ideas
If you want to keep a consistent theme for your baby’s monthly photos, these creative baby picture ideas are all cute and easy to recreate.
1. Donuts
Just add sprinkles! Donuts are a delicious and adorable way to mark a new month that has passed for your baby. This is a sweet idea for your monthly baby photoshoot if you’re looking for something fun and easy to recreate at home. Feel free to use real or faux donuts! Add a cute outfit (like these) for your baby girl or boy to complete the look.
2. Pizza
Yum! Take a bite out of every month with this adorable series of milestone photos! For this clever and unique idea, dress the baby in a simple white onesie alongside your favorite pizza of the month.
3. Baby in Bloom
This is such a simple yet gorgeous concept! Add a floral crown for a boho vibe. You can use real florals for the shoot if you prefer, but the plus side of artificial florals is that you can reuse them again and again!
4. Moses Basket
Watch your baby grow when you recreate this adorable Moses basket photo each month. Before you know it, baby will fill the basket! Add monthly milestone markers to complete the photos.
5. Calendar
The months really do fly by during that first year. This is one of the easiest baby photo ideas to recreate, and it gives you a consistent setup each month. You only need your camera and a desk calendar to create these special memories.
6. Up in the Air
See how baby grows from fitting comfortably in two hands to requiring a little more effort from you to lift them above your head. This easy monthly photo idea is a cute and simple way to document baby’s growth!
7. Rockabye
It is incredible how quickly our babies develop. From lifting their head to crawling to walking, it is amazing to see the developmental changes that take place during that first year. A beautiful rocking horse serves as the prop for this monthly photo series, which really highlights their development and growth as they learn how to eventually get on the horse. This milestone idea makes for beautiful, frame-worthy baby pictures.
4 Winter Monthly Baby Picture Ideas
Instead of sticking to one theme for all 12 months, try switching it up each season! These winter monthly baby picture ideas are a cozy and cute way to capture the colder months.
1. Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of year for making memories — and snapping cute baby photos! Choose a Santa hat or an entire baby Santa suit for a precious and memorable photoshoot. Add lights, ornaments, and presents for extra festive pictures.
For even more inspiration, check out our favorite photos to take for baby’s first Christmas — perfect for capturing every magical moment.
2. New Year’s
Cue the sparkling grape juice — it’s time to ring in the new year! This is such a cute idea, and it’s easy to find props for. Incorporate gold and silver clothing items for boys and girls. Add noisemakers, confetti, and party hats! These festive baby picture ideas are great for celebrating a fresh start.
3. Winter Wonderland
White blankets or sheets plus batten or “fake snow” will set the perfect scene for an adorable Winter Wonderland! This is one of the sweetest photo ideas for newborns and perfect for cozy seasonal vibes. Add a baby-sized snowman outfit to take the theme to the next level. Another adorable addition would be twinkling fairy lights.
4. Valentine’s Day
Looking for something heartfelt? This is one of the cutest baby photo ideas and will definitely melt your heart! It’s very simple — all you need is a tube of red lipstick and your lips. Add pink and red Valentine-themed colors and heart elements to complete the look.
4 Spring Monthly Baby Picture Ideas
Looking to brighten things up? These spring monthly baby picture ideas are full of color and charm — perfect for capturing the season’s joy in your baby’s photos.
1. St. Patrick’s Day
The luck of the Irish and a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end if you’re lucky! Grab your green and gold outfits for baby. Add a bow for a girl and a bowtie for a boy, plus all your shamrocks! These festive baby picture ideas are perfect for March memories.
2. Easter
Looking for cute baby Easter picture ideas? An adorable and simple way to do a photoshoot for Easter is with a huge basket and plastic, colorful eggs! I’ve done this with my son and added bunny ears for an extra cute factor. Now you have one sweet bundle!
3. Cinco de Mayo
Such a colorful and bright photoshoot idea! Add a sombrero, a cactus, a serape, and all the colors of the rainbow for the cutest photos. I love this idea for May, but it could also be adjusted for a taco-themed shoot any time of the year. It’s a creative twist if you want unique baby photoshoot ideas beyond the basics.
4. Rainy Day
Rain is a consistent part of the spring season. What could be more perfect than a rainy-day-themed photoshoot for baby? This could easily be DIYed using a sheet and paper cutouts. Add a miniature umbrella, rain boots, and a rain jacket for the cutest look!
3 Summer Monthly Baby Picture Ideas
These summer monthly baby picture ideas are perfect for the warmer months — helping you capture seasonal memories while keeping baby cool and comfy.
1. USA
Show your baby’s patriotic side with a red, white, and blue photoshoot! This is a fun option for baby girl or boy photoshoot ideas or Fourth of July-themed baby pictures. Pair with stars and stripes decor for the ultimate USA photos.
2. Watermelon
What a sweet idea! Snap photos of your little cutie with watermelon to cool off in the dead of summer. Fill a large galvanized tub with water, watermelon slices, and your little darling, of course! It’s one of our favorite baby photo ideas for summer fun.
3. Tropical Surfer
Surf’s up! Pose your little angel with beach gear for the cutest tropical photoshoot. Add sunglasses, a lounge chair, a beach ball, and other accessories for the perfect look!
3 Fall Monthly Baby Picture Ideas
These cozy fall picture ideas are perfect for baby’s monthly photoshoots. From pumpkins to Thanksgiving themes, these seasonal photo setups are festive, creative, and frame-worthy.
1. Thanksgiving
Gobble your little cutie up in a Thanksgiving-themed turkey look! This is easy to shoot with a large stockpot, and just add a turkey hat or outfit!
2. Pumpkins
Pumpkins — they’re everywhere during the fall! Choose a large one to carve out and insert your baby inside if they can sit, or get multiple mini pumpkins to scatter around them for a fall theme. Grab a cute pumpkin hat to complete the look! This seasonal theme works great for monthly baby photo ideas in the fall.
3. Pumpkin Bath
A pumpkin milk bath is such a fun fall baby photoshoot idea! It’s so easy, too. Add milk to a sink or tub, some mini pumpkins, and your baby — then snap away! I wish I had done this idea with my own son since it is so adorable. Add a seasonal headband to complete the look if you have a baby girl!
Monthly Milestone Blankets and Cards
If you prefer a consistent setup each month, taking monthly milestone pictures with your newborn or baby using blankets or cards is an easy and adorable option. This milestone blanket is the method I used for my own son! We had a golf-themed one, which was perfect since my husband is obsessed with playing. Other ideas include placards or cards to document each month’s milestone!
