Is a baby book really that important?

Question

I have a 4 mo old son (first time mom) I find that I don't keep up on his baby book or have any interest in filling it out. I just wanted to know what other peoples opinions were. And does your in-laws give you crap about it since it's not being kept up? How do you deal with them? I personally feel that pictures are priceless. Thanks for any serious answers.

Answer 1

Who has time? I have baby books for my sons bc I know they will appreciate them, but I backlog, as in I filled in about my sons 1st birthday party when he was 2.

Answer 2

I'm a first time mom of a 7 month old, and I keep a baby book for him. Although I don't fill it out as soon as things happen, I like to keep a record of things so I can look back when he's older and remember how much he weighed when he was 6 months or whatever.
I also write things down in the back page of his book that I think he might want to know when he's older, all the things I think were important milestones and when they happened. It's also good for when he has children, that way it will give him an idea of a time line when his children might get their first teeth or things like that. I don't know, maybe he wont even care to look at it when he's older, but I know I'll enjoy looking at it.
Also now that I have had my son, my mom is always talking about how she wishes she wrote things down because I'm always asking her questions about when I started doings things. I also take millions of pictures though as I agree with you that pictures are priceless, I just have pictures to go with everything that I write down.
It's none of your in-laws business about your son's baby book, if you don't want to keep one then don't, he's your child and you'll do what you want, as long as you have pictures to look back on!

Answer 3

I personally love to look at my baby book. It is interesting to compare when I did things and when my son is doing things like walking, talking, etc. I would say that keeping a baby book is not something that you do for yourself, but for your child. The sad thing is that you might feel like you will remember everything, but you won't. So much happens in the first year alone. What I did was write down big milestones on a calendar then I could look back when it was time to put them in the baby book. My son is now about to turn 3 and I am on his 7th month in the baby book!! There is still time, just keep a record of everything, you never know when you will get inspired.

Answer 4

My mom had 5 kids and my oldest sister was the only one with a baby book. My mom got as far as putting her name and birth weight in the thing. I have two kids one 8 and one 3 weeks. My eight year old's baby book is so full I started to write on the outer pages and cover of the book. I love going over this with him now that he is older. But I do beleive I went a little overboard. I actualy wrote in it until he was 3 or 4. With my newborn I do have one and I do fill it out occasionaly but I don't put as much time or devotion into it. I guess what I'm trying to get at is it all depends on you as a person. Your in laws shouldn't get upset with you! Heck we all know how hard it is to be the mother of a newborn, right? Ask them to help you if it would make them feel better. Grandma's can always write letters to baby or even fill in the dates of milestones if there around enough to know. Just remember your doing great and not recording every moment does not make you a bad mom. Best of Luck.

Answer 5

I know how you feel about trying to make time to do the "little stuff" like filling out a b aby book--but in my opinoin, it's well worth the trouble in the long run. I keep two baby books for my 5-month-old son (one is more scrapbook style, one is more typical baby book). Sometimes I skip a few weeks or a month or so, and have to go back and remember things to write them down. For instance, a few weeks ago, I finally put down the day that he rolled over for the first time (a few months ago).

I think it's worth it to take the time, and I'm inspired by my mom, who raised 10 children (yes, 10!), and kept a baby book for each of us. I love looking through mine. There are so many interesting things about me as a baby, and about my family during that time period. There's a congratulations card from the woman my parents named me after with three two-dollar bills in it, which I remember begging my parents to let me spend when I was 7 or 8, and being told that it was special, and it was for when I grow up.

Now I love looking through everything in it--and I figure, why not at least make that a possibility for my son, if he wants to look at his when he's older, he can--and if he doesn't, then I'll have something to look at, and reminisce about the times (now) when I could hold him in my arms and rock him to sleep.

Answer 6

Well, I can tell you that our baby books have been priceless in terms of my older children. They both had late onset autism, and knowing exactly when they did certain milestones was very helpful when doing evaluations and setting up therapy.

You never know when something will come up and you'll need that information. Pictures belong in there as well, but the dates can be confusing. You're never sure if THIS picture of baby sitting up was the first time, or if it's weeks later. If you don't want to do a lot of touchy-feely talk, just bullet-point highlights.

As for in-laws...tell them they are welcome to fill out any baby books that they care to. Maybe that would be a good compromise anyway...they can do the work for you and you'll have the momento later one.

Answer 7

I wouldn't listen to the in-laws. If they're so concerned, they should do the baby book. Personally, I did keep a book for my first and I'm working on one for my second right now. I got those "baby's first year" calendars wherre you fill in the dates and add pictures--I found it's easier just to add things to a little box on the calendar. I do them because I loved looking at my baby book when I was little and my mother kept ALL vital records in those books--birth certs., ssn's, baptismal certs., etc. Also, I did the book for my first so I'd have a reference for milestones in future kids. I can look back and see when she was drinking juice and eating certain foods--and other important things that new mommies forget to ask the doctor--so I'll know when it's appropriate to start doing those things with my other kids.

Answer 8

I said the whole time that I was pregnant that I was going to do a baby book, guess what I never did. I have a keepsake box that I put things in for my son when he gets older and I just take alot of pictures. I have no desire to fill out the baby book. I don't think that they are that important

Answer 9

Interestingly enough, at 47 and as a new grandmother, I found my daughters baby book and was THRILLED that I had "bothered". The whole reason is rememberance of the importance of this drastic and wonderful change in YOUR life as well as the babys. I read and remembered and was touched by my eagerness and willingness to document this information. I didn't know why at the time but now I do. My daughters daughter will hold that same book, along with her mothers and hopefully her own daughters when she is 47 and remember.

Time is the only truely important thing in this life, you can't get it back so use it wisely. Since it is so fleeting and precious, take the time to document it for sharing with others. This is our only way to extend time.

Answer 10

I dont keep a baby book. I do keep a small plastic box with special items in it. I also take a picture on big days and write on the back of the picture why it is so special. It makes it easier years later to remember why the picture was special.
If people dont like the way I choose to do things-oh well...they will get over it.

Answer 11

I myself feel like it is overwhelming and silly.

it could stem from how you feel about your baby book though and how you treasure it (or lack there of).

I say, if your not that into it, then STILL make small efforts to record the major things and relax on the minor details. That way if your child grows up and asks about it, you have something more than sad face you can't fix.

Tell your relatives that they can FEEL FREE to do an extensive baby book if they feel the NEED to, because your doing it your way.

Pictures are priceles and maybe incorporate them into the book or even use them to cover up the questions and pages you don't want to fill out :)