Before you forget all those magic baby moments, here are a few ideas for creative keepsakes you'll cherish forever...
It’s scary how fast our wee bubs grow up. One minute they’re teeny little freshies in our arms and before you know it they’re going through the terrible twos and turning into threenagers. All those adorable firsts can soon start to become a distant memory – up against the dreaded Mum Brain, they don’t stand much of a chance of being permanently retained in the ol’ grey matter! If, like us, you’re a hopeless sentimentalist and want to remember all those moments, then why not try some of these ideas for baby keepsakes so you’ll be able to cherish your bub’s early years for decades to come?
Baby keepsakes: craft ideas for all those memories
1. Framed sonograms
Why let those prenatal check-ups disappear from memory when you can keep those adorable sonograms? Pop them into a UV-protected frame to keep them looking fresh and hang them on a safe, dry, and cool wall. And before you frame them up, make sure to create a digital backup, so you’ve got a backup plan. Plus, here’s a fun idea: turn one into a keychain. That way, you can take that special memory with you wherever you roam. It’s a neat way to keep the magic of those prenatal moments alive!
2. Festival ornament
Want to capture your little one’s growth in a fun way? Try making a special ornament for those special occasions, like a Christmas tree decoration or a mini lantern for Chinese New Year. The cool thing is, you can use these same ornaments year after year and watch your baby grow right alongside them.
3. Personalised baby book
It’s time to unleash your storytelling talents and create a one-of-a-kind storybook where your little one takes the centre stage. Let the storyline follow your child’s journey through various milestones, from their first steps to their first words. To add an extra sprinkle of charm, incorporate your child’s actual dialogues and adorable mispronunciations, capturing the delightful moments of their language-learning adventure. This personalised storybook will become a treasured keepsake, preserving the magic of your child’s early years for years to come.
4. Baby’s first scribbles
Creating this simple keepsake is a breeze and requires nothing more than a pen or crayon of your baby’s choosing, some good quality drawing paper, and a frame for the finishing touch. Let your little Picasso pick their art tool and unleash their creativity on the paper. Once their masterpiece is complete, frame it and proudly display it as the best abstract art piece you’ll ever own. It’s a fun and meaningful way to celebrate your baby’s artistic flair!
5. Keep a scrapbook or journal
Doodles, notes, little bullet points of all the everyday things you’d normally forget…you can be as in-depth or brief as you choose for this baby keepsake. For my firstborn, I kept a full-on, jam-packed journal of photos, stickers, first words, favourite lullaby lyrics and more. While I kept up the habit for my daughter’s first two years, I succumbed to Second Child Syndrome when my son came along (eeek!). Sounds like a hobby for you? You’re in a crafter’s paradise here in Singapore – there are so many gorgeous scrapbook supply and craft stores that it’s easy to get carried away.
6. Make a photo album
One plus of the digital age means we’re never without our phones (and therefore a camera). The downside means megabyte after megabyte of memory – and thousands of files we never seem to do anything with. Go old school and print your favourite snaps out, before making an album of your baby’s first year. You could also look into more unique ways of showcasing your favourite snaps, like creating a montage out of your Instagram pics, making a personalised set of playing cards or jigsaw puzzles. Or make a photobook using one of Singapore’s many online sites.
7. Stitch together a patchwork quilt
Fancy yourself as a whizz on the sewing machine? As your bubs outgrow each batch of clothing, go through the pieces (before donating them to charity, obvs) and save all your absolute favourites. It could be a pattern you adore, a special outfit that brings back lovely memories, some gorgeous embroidery and so on. Then cut out squares from the fabric and sew them into a keepsake quilt. I love the idea that when my kids are older, they can each have their own quilt where each square tells a story.
8. Pen some letters from the heart
Every birthday, sit down and write a heartfelt letter to your child – it can be a reflective look back at the year that was, what you hope for their future, or just little memories you want to remember. Pick up some beautiful stationery to make the process even cuter.
9. Add to a memory box
It doesn’t really get any easier than this: get a box, then fill it. Add little baby keepsakes to remember your bub’s early years, such as their hospital wristband, their first pair of shoes, some of your favourite clothes of theirs, a snip of hair from their first trip to the hairdressers, birthday cards from loved ones, pieces of art… the list goes on. It’s so special to take a look back over treasured pieces every now and again.
10. Use milestone cards and stickers
It might seem a pain at the time but it’s lovely to reminisce about how your precious little one changed from month to month. Especially once they’ve lost their squishy newborn looks forever! There are so many milestone cards out there that you’ll literally be spoilt for choice – other than marking their age, some go as far as capturing first smiles, first steps and so on. There are also handy milestone stickers that adhere to bub’s clothing. If you’re a bit of a perfectionist, they’ll save the frustration of those little fists scrunching up the pristine card!
11. Treasure those tiny hand and footprints
Trust us: you’ll forget how small they ever were! Capture those impossibly small, itty-bitty fingers and toes with an impression using a clay or plaster kit. Better yet, try a baby-safe ink set like Pearhead’s, which is mess-free: no ink makes it on your little one’s hands or feet, which we love.
12. Start a height chart
You may have stood against the doorframe as a kid yourself while your parents measured your super-speedy growing skills, so why not repeat the tradition yourself? In rental properties here in Singapore, you won’t want to make any permanent marks on the walls so, instead, invest in a cheap-and-cheerful strip of wood that you can easily take with you once you move. Check out Pinterest for some DIY growth chart inspo and let your imagination run wild.
Hopefully you can see from these ideas that you don’t have to be blessed with mad artistic skills to start with the baby keepsakes. What’s important is doing what works for you – and saving all those lovely memories. Trust us… you’ll absolutely love looking back at those moments in the future.
Top image: photography by Shitota Yuri via Unsplash
