Marking Babys Milestones:

You spend months intricately preparing for the big day — the birth of your darling baby — and then the following years pass in a blissful blur. To help preserve those first memories, we’ve got 10 must-have mementos of your baby’s birth and following years that both of you will cherish for years.

A baby memory book is an oldie but a goodie, and these days, baby books come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Think about your own habits when buying a book: Is question and answer more your style, or do you want longer-form spaces for thoughts? How about room for photos or baby’s first snip of hair? Traditional moms should check out the Peter Rabbit Baby Book with updated graphics and space for photos and keepsakes through the first year. For something more heirloom-like, there’s the Binth Baby Book, with beautiful screen-printed pages and a mostly fill-in-the-blank format through
the third birthday.

The nice thing about starting a journal of your new baby’s life is that there doesn’t have to be any rules. Use several pages recounting one memorable day and then skip those that aren’t — or ones that you’re simply too tired to remember. It doesn’t have to be a beautifully bound paper version, either. Consider starting an email account for your new addition and sending him memory emails. When your wee one is old enough, present the journal or give him the email password. If you need a kick-start, try One Line a Day: Five Year Memory Book, but we suggest a longer-form approach, such as a Moleskine or this butterflies journal by Peter Pauper Press.

You’re going to shoot oodles of video of your precious little one as he goes from just-born, to crawling, to walking, to destroying furniture. But what about you, parents? Why not create a running video of your thoughts, dreams and wonders just for him — starting with the day he was born and continuing through with recorded video of your thoughts on milestones and special days in his life. These days, most phones act as pocket video cameras, but if you need a stand-alone version, try the Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera. Don’t forget to back everything up on an external hard drive.

Gingerly leafing through a newspaper from the day of one’s birth is a rite of passage, so don’t forget to pick one up on the big day. Consider asking friends and relatives in different cities to grab their city’s rag, too. Who knows — in 20 years, a newspaper from the day of one’s birth just might be a true relic of another era.

Whether or not your child grows up to be a numismatist or philatelist (that’s coin or stamp collector), she’ll appreciate a set of coins or stamps from her birth year. The U.S. Mint packages uncirculated, proof and silver proof coin sets every year. Stamps, including first-day covers, and other dated U.S. Post Office materials can be purchased at local post offices or at the United States Postal Service’s online store. In the future, will all mail be paid for in plastic and sent via the Internet? Only time will tell.

If you think those hands and feet look small on the first day, just wait until your child grows up and you look back to compare sizes. Make sure to save a hand- and footprint from your baby’s first days of life. In addition to doing an ink imprint in a baby book or on a newspaper from the day of birth, try a lightweight clay imprint. There are a variety of options out there, but we like this simple round version from babyprints that comes with its own mini display easel and a pink or blue storage tin.

If you’re the type who worries that a baby memory book or journaling will require too much attention to detail and organization, a memory box is for you (organized people love ’em, too). Although you can always buy one, in this case, making your own is as easy as finding a large box with a lid, and then covering it with attractive paper and your child’s name. Simply toss in whatever you want to remember — pressed flowers from a coming-home bouquet, cards from birthdays, cute photos, first artwork, etc. You and your child will love sifting through it for years to come.

Most parents remember to buy a first-year holiday ornament, but why not follow up and make the tree ornament a yearly tradition? Try picking an ornament that represents a milestone in the child’s life — his obsession with trucks, her first bike ride. After the first few years, you can also have your child make her own yearly ornament for the tree. By the time she’s ready to decorate her own tree (and you’re ready to give up the ornaments), she’ll have many years worth of memories ready to go. Check out these white ceramic animal-shaped ornaments from Paloma’s Nest.

Whether boy or girl, the classic baby bracelet is a great gift and memento of your child’s early years. Generally under $30, sterling silver baby bracelets run the gamut from ID bracelets to bangles. We like the kind that can be engraved, either with baby’s full name or initials. This oval-tag baby bracelet works for both sexes and has room enough for a small engraving.

Having a child is the perfect excuse to celebrate, and mom and dad will often pop a celebratory bottle of Champagne or cigar on the big day, but what about buying a fine wine or Champagne? Save it until your wee one is old enough to drink (and has taste enough to appreciate a 25-year-old Bordeaux). The best place to find a bottle that will age well is a reputable wine store that deals in higher-end products — at the store, ask for advice on proper storing techniques. Your bottle is not going to fare well unless left in a cool, dark place and handled sparingly.