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New baby keepsake gifts

Updated

Most new baby gifts are outgrown in weeks. A keepsake is the gift a child still has at eighteen, and that the parents look at long before then.

These ideas mark the birth itself: the date, the time, the place, the size of their hands. Each one says what details you need and who it suits.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of the night they were bornParents who keep birth detailsFrom $49 per print
A birth announcement printA nursery wall$25–$75
A hand and foot casting kitParents in the first weeks$25–$75
A baby memory bookParents who like records$25–$75
A letter for their 18th birthdayGodparents and close familyFree
A blanket embroidered with their nameParents who want everyday use$25–$75
A first library with inscriptionsA family of readers$25–$75
A tree planted for the babyA family with a garden$25–$75
Meals for the new parentsTired new parents$75–$150
A newspaper from the day of birthGrandparents and history loversUnder $25
A first deposit in a savings accountClose family with a plan$25–$75

  1. A star map of the night they were born

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above the place a baby was born, at the minute of birth, with their name and a message. You need the town or city, the date and the time of birth. It hangs in a nursery and still suits the room of a teenager.

    Excellent idea for remembering a special date. Great service and fast delivery, highly recommend it!
    Catalina P., Trustpilot review
    Make your star mapRead more: A new baby star map

  2. A birth announcement print

    A print with the baby's name, date and time of birth, weight and length. Choose a simple design that suits the nursery. Check every number with the parents before you order.

  3. A hand and foot casting kit

    A kit to make a plaster or clay cast of the baby's hand or foot. Parents can use it in the first weeks, when the hands and feet are smallest. Some kits make prints in ink instead, which is quicker.

  4. A baby memory book

    A book with pages for first smiles, first words, first steps and growth. It works best when the prompts are simple and the pages are few. Parents of a newborn have little time to fill it in.

  5. A letter for their 18th birthday

    Write a letter to the baby about the world they were born into and seal it for their 18th birthday. Add a newspaper front page or a photo of the day. It costs little and grows in value every year.

  6. A blanket embroidered with their name

    A soft blanket with the baby's name and birth date embroidered in one corner. Choose a breathable fabric and a size for the pram or the sofa. It is used as a baby and kept as a keepsake later.

  7. A first library with inscriptions

    Give three to five classic picture books and write a note inside each cover with the date and who gave it. The child reads them for years and finds the notes later.

  8. A tree planted for the baby

    Plant a young tree in the family's garden, or give one in a pot with a tag that shows the birth date. The child and the tree grow up together. Choose a tree that suits the local climate and the size of the garden.

  9. Meals for the new parents

    Not a keepsake, but often the most welcome gift: cooked meals delivered or left in the freezer for the first weeks. Ask about allergies and diets first. Pair it with a keepsake for the baby.

  10. A newspaper from the day of birth

    Buy a printed newspaper on the day the baby is born and keep it flat in a folder or frame. In eighteen years, the headlines and prices will be a window into their first day.

  11. A first deposit in a savings account

    Open or add to a children's savings account, and write a card that says how much and why. It is not displayed, but it grows with the child. Ask the parents first, because some families already have a plan.

Get the birth details right

Keepsakes are made to order and carry exact details: name, date, time, weight, place. Ask the parents or a close relative, and check the spelling of the name. Some families wait a few days to share the name.

For a star map, use the town or city of the hospital or home, and the time of birth the midwife recorded. A daytime birth still works: the map shows the stars above the place at that minute.

Choose something that grows with the child

Avoid designs that only suit a baby's room. A simple star map, a book or a tree still suits a ten-year-old or a teenager.

Write the date and your name on the back of any print or inside any book. Children like to know who gave them their keepsakes.

For a nursery, light colours such as the Starlight theme suit pale walls. Midnight and Eclipse suit a darker feature wall.

Some keepsakes, such as a sealed letter or a newspaper, are not for display. Pair one of those with something for the wall.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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