Baby Keepsake Box: What to Save From the First Year

8 days ago

A baby keepsake box is one place for the small things from your baby's first year: the hospital bracelet, the first outfit, a card from a grandparent, and a note from you. Most parents mean to start one and end up with a pile in a drawer by month six. This guide covers what to put in a baby keepsake box, stage by stage, what to skip, and how to choose one that lasts.

What is a baby keepsake box?

A baby keepsake box is a container for the meaningful things from a baby's early life, such as the hospital wristband, a first outfit, cards, photos, and handwritten notes. It keeps them together and protected so they can be shared with your child years later.

Baby keepsake box checklist by stage

Pregnancy and the announcement

The ultrasound photo, or your favorite one.
The way you told people, whether it was a card, a text, or a photo.
A note to your baby from you. Date it.

For more, see our guide to pregnancy keepsakes.

The hospital and the first week

The hospital wristband and the bassinet card.
The tiny hat and the first outfit.
The footprint sheet.
A few lines about the day, written that night while you still remember.

Our newborn keepsake box guide has the full list.

Months 1 to 3

A card with a handwritten note from a grandparent or friend.
A photo of someone holding the baby, with the name and date on the back.
An index card with length and weight.

Months 4 to 9

The date of the first tooth, first laugh, and first time sitting up, written on an index card.
A handprint or footprint on paper.
One photo of the first solid food. Skip the bib.

The first holidays, including baby's first Christmas

A dated ornament. This is the one item that comes back out every year.
The holiday outfit, or one piece of it.
A copy of your family holiday card.
A note from each grandparent. Handwriting is what families miss most.

The first birthday

The invitation, and a candle from the cake.
One printed photo, with the date and one line on the back.
An index card with length and weight at one year.
A letter from you about who your baby was this year.

For month by month ideas, see our first year keepsake ideas, and for the list of firsts, see 9 firsts to include in your baby's memory box.

What to skip

Hospital paperwork and formula samples. Photograph anything you might need, then recycle.
Every onesie. Keep one to three with a story. Our guide to outgrown baby clothes covers the rest.
Plastic toys and anything with batteries. They do not age well.
Two hundred near identical photos. Choose ten, print one, keep the rest in the cloud.
Cards that only have a signature. Keep the ones with a note.

How to choose a baby keepsake box

Size. A compact box holds 10 to 12 flat items. If you also want to keep clothing, a blanket, and a year of cards, choose something roomier.
Protection. Look for a lining that protects fabric and paper, and a lid that closes fully.
Room to grow. If you want to keep adding through childhood, choose a trunk over a small box.
Personalization. A name and birth date make it feel like your child's and not a storage bin.

Our baby keepsake trunk has a steel exterior and a quilted fabric interior, so paper and fabric stay protected, and you can add your baby's name and birth date. You can also browse our most loved fabrics for baby and child trunks.

How to store baby keepsakes

Dry first. Clothing and blankets must be fully dry before they go in.
Acid free tissue for fabric, sleeves for paper. Skip tape and glue.
Label lightly. Add the date and one line in pencil.
Closet, not attic or basement. Heat and damp damage fabric and paper. A silica gel packet helps.

Common questions

What should you put in a baby keepsake box?

Put in the hospital wristband, the first outfit, a footprint sheet, cards with handwritten notes, a few printed photos, and a letter from you. Add one item per major milestone, such as a first tooth date or a first holiday ornament.

When should I start a baby keepsake box?

Start during pregnancy or in the hospital. Put items in as they arrive so nothing ends up in a drawer.

What size baby keepsake box do I need?

A compact box holds 10 to 12 flat items. A trunk holds clothing, blankets, cards, and photos, and leaves room to keep adding through childhood.

How do you store baby clothes in a keepsake box?

Wash the clothes, dry them completely, and fold them flat in acid free tissue. Keep the box in a closet away from heat and damp.