My Baby Journal

As my youngest son turned two recently, we've been reminiscing about his babyhood over the past few days. Like most expectant parents, we started a baby memory book for our children even before they were born. For our second child, I chose 'My Baby's Journal' as a way of keeping a record of his early days in the world. I paid about £10 at the time, for a beautifully illustrated hardback book which is now packed full of happy memories and sentimental ...
...section to attach most of my son's birth 'congratulations' cards so they are all kept safe and to hand. There is also a specific page to attach baby's hospital tag although, surprisingly, there aren't any pages specifically set aside for scan photos. (I've stored mine in one of the pockets.)

There are so many different sections to this book - all beautifully illustrated and laid out - including pages for early mealtimes, trips and ... more

As my youngest son turned two recently, we've been reminiscing about his babyhood over the past few days. Like most expectant parents, we started a baby memory book for our children even before they were born. For our second child, I chose 'My Baby's Journal' as a way of keeping a record of his early days in the world. I paid about £10 at the time, for a beautifully illustrated hardback book which is now packed full of happy memories and sentimental keepsakes.

My copy is a sturdy hardback and is spiral bound which gives it the impression of being a quality book, although it does not allow for pages to be removed and reinstated. The front cover features a photograph of various soft toys, including both a pink and a blue toy, so this is definitely a unisex book and would be equally suitable for either baby boys or girls. There are also pink and blue versions available which would be an option for parents who discover the sex of their baby before the birth. The beautiful pastel photographs showing images of traditional toys or adorable babies continue throughout the book, which really sets this memory book apart from the many others on the market. Obviously, baby memory books are going to be a joy to read as they contain lots of images and reminders from your child's baby days but this one is beautiful to look at before you've even personalised it at all! As well as the photos, the book features quotes from various writers and traditional nursery rhymes at various points.

The journal is split into logical sections with each seperated by a sturdy card divider, featuring a useful pocket in which letters, cards, photos or any other personal keepsakes can be stored. There is a section, as you would expect, to record key moments from the pregnancy and there are also pages to record the birth story from both Mum and Dad's perspective. (I have to confess that we haven't filled that section in!) There is also a whole section for cards and gifts and messages from friends and family for your newborn baby. I used this section to attach most of my son's birth 'congratulations' cards so they are all kept safe and to hand. There is also a specific page to attach baby's hospital tag although, surprisingly, there aren't any pages specifically set aside for scan photos. (I've stored mine in one of the pockets.)

There are so many different sections to this book - all beautifully illustrated and laid out - including pages for early mealtimes, trips and outings, celebrations and baby's favourite things. Embarrasingly, there are lots of pages and sections that I haven't completed (although I have recorded the more obvious landmark moments - first steps, crawling, first tooth etc.) I think my youngest has suffered from 'second child syndrome' as my oldest son's baby book is complete from start to finish!

As this was bought for our second baby, there are lots of sections that are less relevant to us (antenatal classes, decorating the nursery etc) but they would probably be more relevant to first-time parents. This is one of the few drawbacks to the journal. There are just so many different headings and sections that they are not all going to apply to every baby and their family and it is a little prescriptive in places. It might have been better if some of the headings and questions to fill in were a little more vague so that they could be adapted to different circumstances. There are, for example, four pages in total devoted to recording potential baby names which many parents won't need (especially as many find out baby's sex before the birth so limit name choices to one gender anyway.) It does seem such a waste to leave whole pages blank in this beautiful book. To get around this, I've stuck photographs on to pages that I wouldn't necessarily fill in otherwise.

This was originally an American publication and there are some Americanisms throughout the book which could be a little offputting. There is a section to describe the 'baby shower', for example, although these seem to be becoming increasingly popular in the UK nowadays. There are also references to 'mommy' and 'colors' but I don't find that it detracts from the overall beauty of the book.

Having spent time over the last few weeks reading through this book with both my boys, I can quite happily recommend it to any parents-to-be. It is very durable and a practical method of storing precious keepsakes as well as being a very beautiful decorative keepsake in its own right. This would be a perfect present for any mums to be. The journal's RRP is £14.99 and new copies are available from Amazon currently for around £8, including postage, which is a bargain for such a lovely baby memory book. You can't put a price on memories but this is a very good value way of keeping them intact!

 

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