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The 20 Best Baby Memory Books for Marking All Their Milestones

Shop the best baby books for collecting photos, stats and more.
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profile picture of Martina Garvey
By Martina Garvey, E-Commerce Editor
Updated August 1, 2023
mother holding a book with baby photos
Image: Arturs Budkevics | Shutterstock
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It’s the longest and shortest year of your life—or so they say. You spend months preparing for baby’s arrival, and before you know it, you’re singing “Happy Birthday” to a bright-eyed one-year-old. So how do you hold onto all those little moments that make up the first 365 days? Many parents turn to a baby keepsake book to record milestones, photos and stories throughout that all-important first year and beyond. Here, shop the best baby memory books available now, from easy-to-tackle one-liner journals to scrapbooks with completely customizable pages.

Classic Baby Memory Books

Not sure what type of baby book you’re looking for? You can’t go wrong with a classic baby journal. Here, check out our favorite timeless designs that are sure to become treasured keepsakes in your household.

Five-year baby book

Lucy Darling "Baby's First Year" Celestial Skies Memory Book
Image: Nordstrom

Lucy Darling creates baby memory books with some of the trendiest themes out there; this version is just one shining example. The celestial journal is decorated with shining stars and has a neutral cloth-bound cover. The 48-page book includes two pregnancy sections for photos, ultrasound prints and notes, plus plenty of space to document baby’s growth and development month by month over the course of five years.

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Camping-inspired baby book

Lucy Darling "Baby's First Year" Little Camper Memory Book
Image: Monica + Andy

Lucy Darling’s baby books are so charming we couldn’t resist adding another option to the list. This woodland book has a dedicated page for each of baby’s first 12 months, with concise writing prompts and a spot for a photo. There are also blank pages for you to use creatively, plus a section dedicated to your family tree that fits in with the whole forest theme.

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Whimsical baby book

Chronicle Books Le Petit Baby Book
Image: Amazon

Log milestones and photos as your little one grows in this whimsical baby memory book. Boasting charming drawings and rhymes, it’s organized into handy sections for pregnancy through the first year. Additional envelopes are perfect for storing extra keepsakes, like a lock of hair from baby’s first haircut or a letter to your child. Other features we love include pop-up illustrations, a family tree page, a spin-wheel to display baby’s star sign and a pull-out growth chart for your little one’s room.

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Cloth-bound baby book

Artifact Uprising "The Story of You" Baby Book
Image: Artifact Uprising

This gender-neutral favorite makes recording memories easy on parents, thanks to prompt-filled pages. The fabric binder comes with a pen, adhesive for pictures and mementos and a free set of Everyday Prints to get you started. Choose from a range of timeless color palettes with luxe foil detailing.

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Baby photo book

Ronica First Year Baby Memory Book and Journal
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$34.97

Think of this next option as a baby photo album and diary in one. The illustrated keepsake book has places for notes, pictures and other memorabilia from pregnancy through their fifth birthday. It also has unique charts to document baby’s first scribble, tooth and holiday celebration. Choose from boy- and girl-specific designs or gender-neutral animal themes. Bonus: This journal comes with stickers to customize each page.

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Inclusive baby book

RubyRoo Baby First Year Baby Memory Book & Journal
Image: Amazon

This baby photo book was created with inclusivity in mind. The binder-style format makes it easy to include only the pages that apply to you, with language and scenarios that accommodate LGBTQ+, adoptive and single parents. It’s adaptable for every type of family and captures your child's first five years.

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Contemporary baby book

The Baby Memory Book: Beautiful Modern Baby Book
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$26.87

Searching for a modern baby book? Look no further than this aesthetically pleasing pick. The baby journal offers monthly sections where you can document the highlights of your child’s first 12 months, followed by spaces for annual updates up until the time they’re 5 years old. Simple and contemporary, the gender-neutral design would make for a perfect baby shower gift.

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Baby book with writing prompts

Pearhead Hello Baby Polkadot Baby Memory Book
Image: Target

This memory book is perfect for parents who want to keep track of baby’s first year, but feel overwhelmed at the idea of logging every last detail. The book features 50 guided journal pages with spaces for photos (along with a slot for baby’s sonogram on the front cover). There are pages to jot down memories and information about baby, as well as sections devoted to artwork and pictures. Not to mention the chic black, white and gold foil cover.

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Personalized Baby Memory Books

Baby books come in all shapes, sizes and styles, and these personalized journals are no exception. From beautifully unique covers to customizable pages, these picks are sure to have a special place in your heart—and on your bookshelf!

Custom baby photo book

Modern Baby Photo Book
Image: Shutterfly
Buying Options
Shutterfly|$61.24

Leave it to Shutterfly to give parents an extensive amount of personalization options. Upload your favorite snapshots from baby’s first year, type in whatever text you wish and accessorize the pages with cute frames or digital stickers—it’s really all in your hands. This baby photo book is as customizable as they get.

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Baby book with personalized cover

Rag & Bone Bindery Personalized Baby’s First Book With “Zodiac Blue” Cover
Image: Etsy | Ragandbonebindery
Buying Options
Etsy|$92.95

Personalize the front of baby’s first year book with their name, birth date and a beautiful illustration. There are different themes to choose from, but this stellar one is centered around baby’s zodiac sign. Interior pages include prompts and plenty of room for photos and big milestone memories, and vellum envelopes are spaced throughout to store mementos.

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Custom adoption baby book

Print Smitten Custom Adoption Baby Memory Book
Image: PrintSmitten | Etsy
Buying Options
Etsy|$67.73

This Etsy seller makes beautiful personalized baby books for adoptive families. Pick the color scheme, and request additional customization on the cover. Better yet, all of the wording is gender-neutral—for baby and their parents. You can even tear out certain pages if they’re not applicable to you.

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Collage baby book

Mixbook Photo Co. Baby Magazine
Image: Mixbook
Buying Options
Mixbook|$48.84

Baby can star in their very own glossy with this completely customizable baby photo book. Pick the size, shape, paper type and cover type (from softcover to leather jacket-bound), then get to work designing what’s inside. This is the ideal baby memory book for ultra-creative parents who want to wrap up baby’s first year with the ultimate keepsake. (FYI: Mixbook also sells adoption photo books.)

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Embroidered baby book

Marcella Gifts Baby Memory Book in the Baby Garden Collection
Image: MarcellaGifts | Etsy
Buying Options
Etsy|$88.00

This baby memory book has a decidedly upscale feel thanks to personalized embroidery stitched on front. The cover features your choice of a multicolor, blue, or lilac toile cotton scene of children in a garden. Inside, flip through a three-ring binder filled with illustrated pages with space to record important events such as your baby’s weight, first steps and words all in one place. Add baby’s name, up to four initials or a monogram to create a treasured family keepsake.

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Unique Baby Memory Books

On the hunt for a baby book that’s as one-of-a-kind as your little one? Look no further than these unique baby memory books. From prompt-filled journals to keepsake libraries, there are options for everyone.

Lifetime baby record book

Promptly Journals Childhood History Journal
Image: Promptly Journals

If you love to journal, this is the baby record book for you. This prompted diary will take you from pregnancy through baby’s 18th birthday (there’s also a book for adoptive parents). But what really sets it apart is the tech it comes with. Download the Promptly app to get reminders to add to your baby keepsake book, so you never forget to record special milestones. How genius is that?

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Baby keepsake library

Savor Deluxe Baby Edition Keepsake Box
Image: Uncommon Goods

Next up on our list of the best baby memory books is something a little different. This unique keepsake library is just the thing to keep all of your precious mementos organized. It comes complete with labels, envelopes, files and acid-free drawers, so you can store everything from sonograms to their graduation certificate.

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Letter-writing set

Chronicle Books “Letters to My Baby”
Image: Walmart

Capture baby’s first years with the help of this unique writing set, composed of a series of fold and “mail” letters. The letters can be post-dated for your child to open in the years to come. Helpful prompts make the words flow easily even for less-experienced writers.

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House-shaped baby album

Tree by Kerri Lee Welcome Home Baby Album
Image: Tree by Kerri Lee

How sweet is this house-shaped baby photo album? It has slip-in sleeves to store notes, photos, cards and other precious keepsakes. Better yet, the hand-painted album is made from responsibly harvested wood, so it’s sturdy enough to keep all your precious memories safe. And, yes, it’s pretty enough to leave out on display. For an additional fee you can personalize this baby book on the Tree by Kerri Lee website.

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Baby book gift set

Little Pickle Memories New Baby Book Gift Box Set
Image: LittlePickleMemories | Etsy

Here’s a baby book gift set that offers serious bang for your buck. Each gift-wrapped set includes a baby record book, a scrapbook and sticker sheets. Parents can record their happy memories and create a custom scrapbook that they’ll cherish forever. Inclusive language is used throughout, making this set the perfect gift for all types of families. Browse the Little Pickle Memories storefront for even more great gift bundles.

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Daily baby journal

Rockridge Press “Baby, You’re Here! A One-Line-a-Day Baby Memory Book”
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$15.99

Short on time? This one-line-a-day book will take you through baby’s first year, highlighting all of the early emotions and memories without too much pressure. It’s a great way to record the smaller, everyday moments you might not think to put in a traditional baby book.

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Baby milestone book

Preserve precious memories over the course of baby’s first five years in this adorable baby book. The journal features spots where you can stick in favorite photos and prompted lines to help you document milestone moments in detail. Plus, thanks to the gender-neutral, inclusive language throughout, it works for all types of families. Choose between three whimsical themes: seaworld, wonderland, or adventureland.

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How We Chose the Best Baby Memory Books

Baby’s first year goes by fast, and many parents will want to write down important milestones before they forget them. The best baby memory books allow a protected and easy to follow place to do just that.

To choose the best baby memory books and to help you find a book that meets your family’s needs, we considered a list of criteria, including ease of use, durability, design and value. We used our familiarity with leading brands to make sure the items we chose are from reputable companies. We also read user reviews to learn more about how these books work for families, and only chose products that have at least four stars.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

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