While it would be great if we could catalog every precious moment of the lives of our precious little ones that is not exactly a perfect solution for keepsaking those special memories. The truth of the matter is that capturing too many of this special time will often cheapen the spectacular moments that should be recorded as fond memories and for future potential blackmail. There are special events and tender moments that are important to capture and those that just seem special to you as a mother.

While there are no hard and fast rules to which events must absolutely be covered and since it is very impractical to have a camera within reach at all times there are a few moments that you will want to take great care in trying to catalog. Some of these special events for which you will want to be sure to snap plenty of baby pictures include some of the following.

1. First steps. While the probability of you actually getting the very first steps your baby takes on film your baby will have a few days of wobbly steps and a great sense of pride and accomplishment for you to capture this moment on film (or data cards as the case may be). This is an important moment for your baby and will be a bittersweet time for you as your child takes the first of many steps towards independence.
2. That first tooth. While we love our baby’s smiles there is something special about that one smile where one tooth is proudly displayed for the world to see. Your baby has labored hard and spent many nights in misery for this small trophy. You should record this moment and take comfort in the knowledge that your little one may have a day or two of peace and relative painlessness before the next tooth begins to work its way to the surface.
3. Raising her head. This is one of the first major accomplishments your baby will experience. When she begins to raise her head on her own she will begin for the first time to really see and desire to explore the world around her. A world beyond her mommy and daddy.
4. Siblings holding baby. There are few photos that are more precious than those of older siblings holding their baby brother or sister for the very first time. These are the photos you will want to grace the cover of your baby photo album and send out in your birth announcements for many reasons. First, it eases big brother/sister anxiety and lets them know that they are still important. Second, it gives the baby a reference to those times that he or she will not remember in the future. Finally, this is a huge bonding experience and a tender moment for siblings, who wouldn’t want to record this special moment?

You will find plenty more opportunities to take excellent baby pictures throughout the life of your precious little one. Don’t sweat the details so much that you forget to record a photo of baby with daddy (or several) and mommy in the process. The memories behind the photos will prove far more precious in time than the photos themselves so be sure to capture some special moments to recollect later.

Between family members, friends, and the photos that you snap yourself, you’ll certainly have an abundance of pictures to go through, organize and select for preparing your baby’s first photo album. Maybe you received a beautiful, hand-made book at your shower or have chosen one on your own, but whichever the case, you’ll want to make that first album as precious as the little bundle of joy in your arms.

And photo albums don’t have to be all about pictures. With so many new experiences about to occur for both you and your newborn, they’ll be lots of opportunities for collecting memorabilia to add to your baby’s album. And nothing is too silly, so if you adore it, include it.

Of course, the beginning is the easiest part. Starting with the very first photo taken of your baby – the hospital has already supplied you with what you need to get started – your sonogram picture, baby’s footprint, name tag bracelet, birth certificate, and even the receiving blanket your newborn was swaddled in. So your first page can incorporate all or parts of those things. For sentimental reasons, you may not want to snip that receiving blanket, but later on, a patch of the fabric placed on the birth page makes for a precious addition to your baby’s first photo album.

As we know, lots of babies are born lacking in the hair department. But once it does start to grow in and you give him or her their very first haircut, be sure to save part of those silken locks to add to the pages of your baby’s first photo album. For girls, you can also include a pretty bow they wore or their first barrette.

What about their first bowl of real cereal? Wouldn’t a few of those Cheerios be an adorable piece of memorabilia to include in baby’s first photo album? It may not mean much to your baby now, but once they’re old enough to realize what you’ve done it will surely bring a giggle and a smile when they see it, and the memory it has created for you is priceless.

First birthday photos, pieces of ribbon, and wrappings from the gifts they receive, even one of the candles from their first birthday cake are more creative ideas to add to your baby’s first photo album.

Pictures of the first day of nursery school, masterpieces they’ve created there or at home, first report cards and all of those other extraordinary firsts, are things that you’ll treasure throughout the years. As time goes on, growth and changes occur such as their first baby tooth is also something special that can be kept and cherished in your baby’s first photo album.

So include as many of the pictures and items you adore in your baby first photo album. Because it’s something that you will not only consider your most prized possession as time goes by, but you can also bet that your child will thank you for spending the time and devotion that made their first baby photo album so special.