Things to keep from your baby’s first year

So what items are good to keep from your baby's first year? Fun things to add to their memory box for when they’re older.

During your baby's first year, they'll often accumulate a lot things, so it's sometimes difficult to know what to keep.

Here are some ideas to get you started.
 

12 things to keep from your baby's first year

1. Baby name list

Whether you wrote your favourite baby names on a serviette, a post-it or in an email, keep the list to remind yourself of the names that didn’t quite make the cut.

Your baby will love finding out what their name could have been when they're older.

2. Congratulation cards

 
No doubt you’ll have received dozens of cards congratulating you on your baby’s birth.

And while you may not have the space to keep them all, make sure you keep the most precious ones to look back on.

3. Baby hand & foot prints

 
You can either do your own or pay for a company to take a cast of your baby’s hand and foot prints whilst they're still small.

You could also coat your baby's hands and feet in washable paint or ink and make up some prints at home.

In years to come, you’ll love looking at how much they’ve grown.

4. First painting

 
It may not be the best painting you’ve ever seen, but it’s your baby's first and will be fun to keep.

5. First family photo

 
It's hard not to take photos of your baby, but keeping the first one is a must. 

6. First pair of baby shoes

 
Unlike some of your baby’s other clothing, their first pair of baby shoes will have barely been worn and will look as good as new.

7. Growth records

 
Your baby will grow quickly so it’s a good idea to document how much they’re progressing by keeping a record of their weigh-ins with your GP or Plunket nurse.

8. Hospital band

 
This is a great keepsake to show when and where your baby was born. It's amazing how soon you forget how small their wrists were!

9. Lock of hair

 
Whether you wait until your baby’s first hair cut or cut a few strands off when they’re asleep, a lock of hair is something special to keep.

10. Newspaper published on date of birth

 
Years later there’s something magical about reading about what happened in the world on the day your baby was born.

11. Baby scan photos

 
As the first ever photos of your baby, you absolutely have to keep these safe.

12. Umbilical cord stump

 
This isn’t a keepsake that every parent will want to save, but some mums feel it resembles the connection they shared with their baby throughout their pregnancy.

More baby articles to enjoy:

• What is a naming ceremony
• Tips on getting the infant bassinet when you fly
• Benefits of baby wearing

^{Image source: Intermountainhealthcare}