The first year with your baby will fly by – even though it may not seem like it when you’re elbows deep in yet another dirty nappy. So, snap up every precious item that your baby no longer needs as you go and add it to your baby’s memory box or scrapbook. You’ll thank yourself later when you can coo over it at your son’s 18th birthday (even though he probably won’t be as happy to see it).
13 Things You Need To Keep From Your Baby’s First Year
1 of 12First pair of baby shoes
Unlike your baby’s first babygro, which will no doubt have been re-designed with flecks of sick and dribble, their first pair of shoes will probably have barely been worn and will look as good as new.
2 of 12Feet imprints
You can pay to cast your baby’s oh-so-tiny hands and feet or if you’re lacking in funds, you can coat them in washable paint and make the prints yourself. In years to come, you’ll marvel at how their feet were ever that teeny.
3 of 12Scan pictures
As the first-ever photo of your baby, you absolutely have to keep these safe. And when they're a toddler, your tot will love looking at photos of themselves growing inside you.
4 of 12Newspaper published on date of birth
There’s something amazing about being able to read about what happened in the world on the day your bubba was born.
5 of 12Congratulation 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 save the most precious ones to look back on later.
6 of 12First artwork
OK, so it may just be a splodgy palm print on a piece of paper, but to you, it’s as good as any Kandinsky.
7 of 12First family photo
This snapshot absolutely has to be saved – and is a staple in any baby book. Make dozens of copies just in case some go walkabout.
8 of 12Baby name list
Whether you've scrawled your options on a napkin, a post-it or on an email, keep it to remind yourself of the names that didn’t quite make the cut. Your little one will love learning about what their name could have been.
9 of 12Hospital band
This is a great keepsake to show when and where your baby was born – and you’ll soon forget how small their wrists were!
10 of 12Growth records
Your baby will grow quickly – too quickly for your liking, no doubt. So a great idea to document how much they're progressing is by keeping a record of their weigh-ins, which your GP or health visitor can provide you with.
11 of 12Umbilical 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 pregnancy.
12 of 12Lock of hair
Whether you wait until your baby's first haircut or sneakily cut a few strands off when they're asleep (they won't miss them), a lock of hair is something you definitely need to keep.
READ: YOUR BABY'S DEVELOPMENT FIRST FROM NEWBORN TO THREE MONTHS