What to write in a baby book (50 easy ideas)

By Delia Lusk · Blog

Most parents start a baby book with the best intentions. Then the first few pages fill up, life gets busy, and the rest stays blank. Usually it isn't about time — it's not knowing what to write. Here are 50 easy prompts to get you going. Pick one, write a sentence or two, and you're done.

While you're expecting

• How you found out you were pregnant
• Who you told first, and how they reacted
• Your cravings (mango atchar on everything counts)
• The first thing you bought for the baby
• Names you considered and why you chose theirs
• What the first scan felt like
• The first kick, and who else felt it
• How you got the nursery ready
• Your hopes for who they'll become
• A letter to your baby before they arrive

The newborn days

• The day they were born: the weather, the time, the drive
• Their weight and length at birth
• Who visited first
• What they wore home
• Their first bath
• How they liked to be held
• The song that settled them
• The family resemblance everyone argued about
• How much (or little!) everyone slept
• A moment you want to remember forever

The first year

• Their first smile and first laugh
• First taste of solid food — and their face
• Favourite toy
• First time at the beach or the coast
• When they first rolled, sat, crawled and stood
• Their first word
• First steps, and who they walked to
• Their first holiday
• First tooth
• How you celebrated their first birthday

Toddler and preschool

• Their favourite word right now
• Funny things they say
• What made them laugh today
• Their best friend
• Favourite food this month
• The bedtime story they ask for again and again
• What they want to be when they grow up
• Their first day at crèche or Grade R
• A typical Sunday in your family
• What they love doing with Gran or Grandpa

Little everyday things

• What you did this weekend
• The shoes they refused to take off
• A drawing they made (take a photo of it)
• Something kind they did
• A tantrum you can laugh about now
• Their height marked on the door frame
• What the house sounds like in the morning
• Who they missed when they were away
• One thing that surprised you about them
• What you love most about them, today

Tips for making it a habit

The parents who keep their baby books going usually have one thing in common: a small routine. Some write a line every Sunday evening while the house is quiet. Others save a memory every time they take a photo they love. A few ask Gran or a partner to take turns, so it never falls on one person.

It also helps to let go of perfect. Skip a week? That's fine. Missed a whole month? Add a few memories with the right dates whenever you remember them. Your child won't mind that the entry was written later — they'll just be glad it's there.

Finally, include yourself. Write about how you felt, what worried you and what made you proud. One day your child will want to know who you were in these years, not only what they did.

Keep it short and keep it going

You don't need perfect sentences. A photo with one line underneath is more than enough — and far better than an empty page. The small, ordinary moments are often the ones your child will treasure most when they're older.

If you'd like a gentle nudge, Chapter Moments asks you one question a day matched to your child's age, and saves your answer straight to their timeline. It's like having this list in your pocket. For the bigger moments, see our month-by-month baby milestones guide, and if you're deciding between paper and an app, read Baby book vs memory book app.

Got questions about how it works? Our FAQ covers privacy, family sharing and printing.