Baby keepsakes

Those early days and months of a newborn's life are so precious that we parents are always looking for new ways to preserve the memories of them forever

It's amazing just how fast your newborn will grow and change, and with digital photography available to many parents it's easier than ever to capture those unique moments.

There are other equally poignant ways of immortalising our precious babies' own individual characteristics and achievements, from casting her tiny hand- and footprints in plaster to having a first lock of hair encased in a paperweight.

Something to look back on
You can buy baby books that have pre-printed spaces for you to record your baby's name, birth weight and other birth details, as well as envelopes for a first lock of hair and spaces to stick your early photos. And it's just as easy to make your own memory book: Take a simple scrapbook (available in stationery shops) and cover it in good-quality wrapping paper. Divide the book up into sections: for example, 'Early days'; 'Meeting the family; 'First foods' and so on. Record and add whatever you like to the pages to remind you of the early days. You could, for example, start by sticking in your baby's ultrasound scan picture; her hospital ankle tags; a photo taken immediately after the birth, and build the scrapbook up as she reaches those all-important early milestones.

'I look back through my baby book often,' says Cassie, mum to 18-month-old Luca. 'I just can't believe how much he's changed,' she says. 'It seems like only a couple of months since he gave me that first really big smile of recognition that I've used as the front cover. I'm really glad I took the time and trouble to make the book at the time. It's something I can pass on to Luca when he's grown-up, too.'

Everyday reminders
If you have a digital camera, there are endless numbers of ways in which you can preserve your baby photos. Snapfish is one online photographic company that specialises in transferring and sharing your favourite images: you can personalise a mug, mousemat or baby stretchsuit by simply uploading or emailing the picture to Snapfish; alternatively, they can help you create a slideshow or online photo album to share with family and friends.

How about giving a mug printed with your favourite baby photo to your mum for Mothers' Day? Or treat yourself to a throw, T-shirt or tote bag featuring your newborn's image? Don't forget it's Mothers' Day for you, too.

'My daughter sent me a T-shirt with my granddaughter's cheeky little face on the front for Grandparents' Day last year,' says Alice, who is grandma to baby Mia, now a year old. 'It was really different way of letting my friends admire her without constantly getting a worn-out snapshot out of my handbag!'

You've been framed
Whether it's for showing off your baby's first lock of hair or pair of pram shoes, box frames make great display pieces. You can either fix the items in place with panel pins, staples or glue, or scrunch up some tissue paper and use that to support your arrangement. The finished frame's 3D quality makes it feel like a really special 'exhibit', and will make a great piece of artwork to display on your wall.

Box frames can also complement your favourite photos: you could mount the pictures with double-sided sticky pads for a really professional-looking finish.

Look at me!
There are other clever ways of displaying your photos, rather than having every surface covered with framed pictures. Snapfish can create hardcover or ringbound notebooks featuring your baby on the front cover and/or on the top corner of each page; pages of stickers you can add to greetings cards, letters and envelopes; permanent photo books, where the pictures are printed on to the pages rather than being removeable - and many other imaginative products. You could achieve something similar by using plastic laminating film to hold your photos in place on the cover of a notebook or scrapbook.

Box of keepsakes
Try furniture stores or the more eclectic homeware shops for the most beautiful storage boxes. Why not choose one for keeping your baby memorabilia in? Otherwise, you could transform an ordinary lidded cardboard box (such as a printer paper box) by first covering it in a thin layer of foam, then finishing with a layer of fabric. You could even have a poster-size print of your baby on the lid. Snapfish offers this service, too. In it you could keep your baby's homecoming outfit; all your 'New Baby' cards; her first weaning spoon; a pram blanket; scratch mitts - whatever brings those lovely memories flooding back.

Babyhood immortalised
For a truly lasting memorial of babyhood, you can have plaster impressions made of your baby's hands and feet. There are companies that offer this service, either at a studio or in your own home, or you can buy a DIY kit and take your own casts. One internet company that supplies home casting kits is www.bodycast-studio.co.uk. Visit the site or call 01234 822229 for more details. When your baby has her first haircut, you could even have a paperweight made with a lock suspended in it. Go to the US-based www.shoreroadstudio.com to find out more.

For more details of the products and services from Snapfish, visit their website