Baby's First Year Photo Book: The complete guide to capturing every milestone

That first year flies by, leaving thousands of photos in a messy camera roll. A Baby’s First Year Photo Book turns that chaos into a treasured keepsake.

With Journi, it’s easy to preserve the magic of their beginning forever.

Baby's First Year Photo Book: The complete guide to capturing every milestone

From camera roll chaos to a perfect timeline in seconds

So many photos, and so little time. You’ve got enough on your hands with a little one! Creating a Baby Photo Book should be hassle-free. That’s why we created the Journi app to be your personal designer.

Our smart AI was designed to handle the beautiful chaos of a new parent's camera roll. 

Here’s what makes it so handy: 

  • It sorts for you: Simply select your favorite photos from your phone, and AI will instantly organize them in chronological order.
  • It designs for you: In seconds, the app creates a stunning first draft of your Baby Photo Book. Then, you can add finishing touches like text and stamps to personalize it to perfection. 
  • It works where you are: Design the entire book on your phone during a late-night feeding session or on your laptop or tablet during naptime. It’s the easiest way to make your own Photo Book online.

Your ‘must-have’ checklist for a First Year Photo Book

Not sure what to include? The best Baby Memory Books mix the big milestones with the sweet, everyday moments. 

Here is a simple checklist to inspire you:

Key moments

Details to capture

The big firsts

First smile, first bath, first solid food, first tooth, first time crawling, first steps, first words.

Monthly milestones

Create a page for each of the 12 months to show how much they’ve grown. It’s a heartwarming way to structure the book!

Family & friends

Photos with grandparents, siblings, cousins, and the first friends they made.

Seasonal holidays

Their first Halloween costume, first Christmas morning, or first Easter.

The little things

The way they slept, their favorite stuffed animal, their nursery, funny faces, and moments of pure, unfiltered joy.



Bring your story to life with personal touches

The photos are the stars, but your words are the heart of the story. 

Once Journi's AI has created your layout, you can easily add details that make your Baby Photo Book truly personal.

  • Add captions: Note down their weight and height for each month.
  • Write down quotes: Remember that funny sound they made or the first word they said.
  • Include your thoughts: Write a letter to your baby at the beginning of the book about your hopes and dreams for them.
  • Customize the look: Choose from a range of sweet themes and colors to perfectly match your baby's nursery or your family's style.


Make it a family affair by creating a book together

You're not the only one taking adorable photos! Your partner, the grandparents, and your best friends all have amazing pictures of your baby on their phones, too.

With the Journi app, you can easily invite them to a shared album. Everyone can add their photos to one central place, ensuring you get every possible angle of that first smile or messy spaghetti dinner. 

It turns creating a Baby Photo Book into a beautiful, collaborative family project.


Father and young child sitting on a bench, joyfully reading a photo book together outdoors.

A premium keepsake for your most precious memories

That first year is priceless, and it deserves to be preserved in a book of the highest quality. We print every Baby Photo Book on thick, durable, and sustainably sourced paper, with vibrant inks that are designed to last a lifetime. 

Choose a durable hardcover for a timeless heirloom or a baby-friendly softcover with pages that are safe for little hands to explore.

Don't let another precious moment slip away. Turn those memories on your phone into a beautiful story you can share with them for years to come. Start your Baby's First Year Book today.


Baby Photo Book FAQs

How many photos should I use in a baby's first-year book?

There's no magic number. The most important thing is to tell a story. Some months might have more photos (like a first vacation), while others have fewer. The Journi app can handle thousands of photos, and our AI will suggest the perfect book length based on your selection. The key is to choose the moments that feel most special to you.

What's the best format for a baby book: hardcover or softcover?

Both are wonderful options, and it depends on your goal. A Hardcover Photo Book has a classic, timeless feel, making it the perfect choice for a family heirloom that you’ll treasure for decades. A Softcover Photo Book is lightweight and has flexible pages, making it a great, baby-friendly option that's safe for little hands to explore as they get older.

What should I write in my baby's first-year book besides captions?

Words make the memories even richer! Beyond noting milestones, consider adding:

  • A heartfelt letter to your baby on the first page.
  • Funny quotes or the silly sounds they used to make.
  • A list of their "favorites" at one year old (favorite toy, food, song).
  • Your personal memories or feelings about a specific moment.

I'm not a designer. Can I really make it look professional?

Yes, absolutely. That's the beauty of the Journi app. It's designed for busy parents, not graphic designers. Our AI handles all the complicated design work for you, from sorting your photos to creating beautiful layouts. All you have to do is add the personal touches that make it yours.

When is the best time to start making a first-year book?

You can start anytime! Some parents find it easiest to work on the book month by month to stay on top of photos. Others prefer to create the entire book in one go as a first birthday project. There's no wrong way to do it; the important thing is to start. 

Molly
Author
SEO Copywriter at Journi

Molly is originally from the UK, but has been living in Vienna, Austria, for the past six years.

She loves writing and has written professionally about diabetes, feminism, education, animal rights, and chronic illness.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and drawing.

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