10 Items to Add to Your Baby’s Keepsake Box

A baby keepsake box is like a gift that keeps giving. It allows you to have a dedicated place to put all of your special momentos so you and your child can appreciate them for years to come.

You can turn any box into your new keepsake container. It can be something pretty you saw at Hobby Lobby, or a leftover box from your last Amazon order. It can even be an old shoebox. What brings the magic isn’t the box itself (though adding personal touches certainly helps), it’s what you choose to put inside the box that matters.

Rather than waste your time wondering, keep reading for 10 items you can add to your baby’s keepsake box today.

1. Hospital items

If your hospital visit is anything like mine, you’ll be provided with a wide range of items to take home. Perhaps the most sentimental of the items is their hospital bracelet. Though the little hat your baby first wears at the hospital would be a close second. Add both items to your box, along with your hospital bracelet if you still have it.

Call me a packrat, but I added several of the other hospital-provided items, like the thermometer they first used when my daughter was born. I figure it’s easy to remove items if you change your mind in regards to their importance.

2. Polaroids and printed photos

Store everything from your ultrasound to your 1st birthday photos and beyond. Fill that box with all of your favorite photos. Yes, most people have them digitally available on their phone, but there’s something special about being able to hold a physical picture. On that note, if you have a Polaroid camera or something similar, I recommend you get snapping! Those photos always turn out so cute, it’s like there’s magic built into the process.

3. 1st birthday decorations

Your baby only turns one once in their life. Capture the experience by saving their first birthday decorations. Everything from banners to balloons, streamers, or even clean, themed plates or table cloths.

It’ll be cute to look back and hold up the same balloon (albeit deflated) that they first played with on their big day.

How to keep birthday balloons:

4. Crafts and artwork

Sure, the scribbles might not look like much, but if you keep a few “drawings” from every year, then you’ll get to see the progress as they grow.

You can also store any artwork you’ve made with them, like first-handprints or footprints. I made salt dough ornaments with my daughter’s handprint and gifted them to grandparents, but kept a few for myself. You can bet I’ll be keeping at least one copy in my baby keepsake box!

Pro tip: Add the date to the back of the artwork for an even better progression timeline!

5. Memorable outfits

Keeping special outfits can be a slippery slope. After all, baby clothes are just so cute! My suggestion is to keep their birth or coming home outfit and their 1st birthday outfit.

Additionally, if your child had a baptism, that outfit would be a very special memento they could even share with their children one day.

Lastly, if any articles of clothing were their (or your) absolute favorite, pack them inside. As I mentioned above, you can always edit what’s in the box if you need additional space in the future.

6. Favorite toys or stuffed animals

Do you remember your first toy or favorite stuffed animal? Chances are, unless your parents saved it, you might not have a clue what it was! At this age, most favorites are small and can easily fit in a box.

If your child’s favorite toy or stuffed animal doesn’t fit, you can still retain the memory by photographing them with the item and keeping the photo.

7. Baby memory book

Nowadays, there are plenty of well-designed baby memory books available for purchase on Amazon or Etsy. It’s as easy as ordering and filling it out as your baby grows. You can then take the completed book and place it inside your baby’s keepsake box.

However, if you’re anything like me, life might get the better of your intentions, and you’ll be left with a half-finished book. If that sounds like you, I’d recommend trying my approach. Simply keep a note on your phone and include special memories and details as your baby grows. Each year on their birthday, print the note and insert it into the box. DIY memory journal complete!

8. Thoughtful cards, books, or special messages

Undoubtedly, your sweetheart will receive special messages. Whether it’s a grandparent’s card or a family friend’s personalized book note, keep those treasures tucked away in their baby box.

Many parents also start traditions, including letters for their children to open in the future, and their baby’s keepsake box would be the ideal holding spot until they’re old enough to read them.

9. Something from the year they were born

Do you know what current events were occurring the year you were born? What about the price of milk or eggs?

Including items or details about the year your child was born is so simple, but also so unique. It provides a time capsule feel, and if you want to provide perspective, you can also include the details about the year you and your partner were born and how things have changed.

For an added twist, you can include something physical from the year they were born, like a coin or stamp printed the same year. Who knows, it might be worth something in 20 years!

10. Handmade gifts

Did your child receive any handmade gifts? Things like crocheted blankets or knitted hats? These gifts are priceless and would make great additions to your baby’s keepsake box.

I feel like gifts should be used rather than kept locked up in pristine condition. So in my daughter’s case, we used the gifts while she was young, and then as she outgrew them, they were added to the keepsake box.

Optional: Biological matter

For some people, a lock of baby hair is an essential keepsake box item. For others, the idea of including biological material of any kind is a big no! That’s why I left this idea as optional.

If you want to physically capture a piece of your baby’s DNA, the umbilical stump, or first hair or nail clippings are easy options to add. Alternatively, you can save all the baby teeth the tooth fairy retrieves and add them to your box!

If you love the idea of retaining something physical, but you didn’t save these items, you can also make something like an impression. Impressions are easy to make and can be used to capture many stages of growth. Websites even sell casts you can make of your pregnant belly!

Baby Keepsake Boxes Are Like Treasure Chests

Years from now, you’ll be looking back at all of your baby’s treasures and remembering a pivotal moment in your life. Was there anything I missed that you plan to add to your keepsake box? Feel free to share a comment below!