Becoming a parent is an experience like no other. Words cannot begin to describe what emotions it makes you feel, for it can cause a whole host of emotions, even at one time. While it can be hard to put this experience into words, it is a journey that includes a lot of growth, and we aren't just talking about physical development. Having a baby is no easy feat and requires a great deal of responsibility at all times. However, that is not to say that this should not be a fun chapter of your life!
Your baby will grow relatively quickly in the first twelve months; there is no denying this. While some parents do not want to think about this so soon after their newborn's birth, there will be others who are contemplating what they can do to monitor this growth. Documenting your baby's journey can be fun and gives you something to look back on when they are no longer babies.
If you find yourself in this position, you have found yourself in the right place at the right time. Detailed below are some tips and tricks to try, ideal for first-time parents.
Time-Lapse Video
These have become increasingly more common in recent years, and we feel confident many expectant and new parents reading this have seen the odd video on social media at some point. Time-lapse videos can portray your baby's growth in an ideal way. While the developments each day will be small, the video enables you to watch them in real-time.
Time-lapse videos enable you to be creative in your efforts too. You could choose to dress your baby up in a specific outfit for the clips or film them in a particular location. It is recommended to have something in the video you can compare sizes with; this gives you a better and quicker way of determining how much your baby has grown following the video's completion. This could include a cuddly toy or a favorite outfit you have picked out for your child.
While some parents will undoubtedly opt for a video, this is not the only means of documenting your baby's first year. This takes us to the next suggestion.
Photo Album and Prints
Taking photos of your baby is naturally going to be something that any parent will do. From their birth to their teenage years, having regular, up-to-date images of your children is all part of being a parent. This is also a great way of documenting your baby's first year and is ideal for those who want physical documentation of their baby's journey rather than a digital one.
Printing these photos out and putting them in frames and photo albums will make great presents for family and friends. Your child will cringe in embarrassment looking back at them when they have grown up, but we have all been there ourselves; why shouldn't they!
At the same time, having photos of your baby's first year in their nursery or your bedroom will make their presence known in the home and give you and any guests in your home a chance to coo over your bundle of joy. Square photos prints are an aesthetic dream come true; they can be displayed in your home in a symmetrical fashion. Order your prints here and go to town decorating your home with photos of your baby!
Foot and Handprint Prints
Another popular option for those documenting their baby's growth, getting their foot and handprint on an item is one way to mark the occasion. While this is not a suggestion that can be done every day – like that of a photo or time-lapse video – this could be something that you do in tandem with something else.
Whether you opt to do something like this once a month, or every few months, the choice is entirely up to you and how you want to mark this exciting chapter in your life. When opting for something like this, you want to ensure you use paints and other materials that are safe for your baby's delicate skin. When in doubt, consult the advice of a healthcare professional or someone in the industry to gauge what best to do. It is better to be safe than to be sorry, after all.
We hope you have found this piece insightful and exciting and leave us with a better idea of what you would like to do to document your baby's first year. As a new parent, we recognize this could be a daunting time, and you might feel pressure to act a certain way. Just know there is no right or wrong way to go about this process, and whatever you choose will be perfect.
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