9 Memories to Make With Your Baby During Their First Year

Your baby may not remember their first year, but don’t let that stop you from doing lots of fun and special things with them. Introduce your baby to new experiences and take plenty of photos to look back on and share with your child when they’re all grown up.

1. Meeting Grandparents, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles…

Your new arrival is going to be highly-anticipated by members of your family, so expect a queue of people waiting to meet them. Soak up the joyous moment your parents, your siblings and your other children meet them for the first time and take lots of beautiful photos of their introduction.

2. First Holiday

A trip with your new baby is like no other you’ve had before - your mini-me tagging along, giving you a whole new view of your favourite places and activities. Whether you go camping or book a house by the beach, you’ll need to prepare to have lots of luggage so that your baby is well taken care of, but it’s worth it to have your first holiday together. It’s the perfect excuse for photos!

3. First Cultural Holiday e.g. Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Easter

If you celebrate any religious or cultural holidays, having your baby join you for the first time can be incredibly poignant. You can make it memorable without going overboard - wear matching pyjamas, read seasonal children’s classics at bedtime, decorate their room, and save a special outfit for them to wear during the day or ceremony.

4. Interacting with Pets

Introducing your baby to a pet such as a cat or dog and seeing how they interact with each other is not only adorable, but can help to teach them how to behave with animals, form relationships and feel empathy. Pets can even help build a baby’s motor skills by playing fetch with a ball. Safety should always come first, with your baby and the pet slowly introduced to each other and supervised by an adult at all times. If the pet is your own, the sibling-type bond that’s formed can help when a new baby is born in the future.

5. Making Friends

Book playdates for your baby with others of similar ages to increase their social interaction. From a very young age, it will help with their language and cognitive development, as well as adapting to different situations and building self-esteem, which will benefit them as they grow from baby to toddler. It’s also very cute to see them with their first ‘friends’ who they will grow up with, even if you are influential as to who that may be.

6. First Experience with Sand or Snow

A baby learns through sensory experiences - touching different textures and looking at different colours. Therefore, they can be mesmerised by their first experience with sand or snow. They’re very different from the surfaces and environments that babies are used to, so seeing their reaction can be a beautiful sight to see.

7. First Swimming Lesson

Swimming is one of the first physical activities that babies can be introduced to and take with them through life, much like learning to ride a bike. Start your little one off early and see them take to the water. It’s particularly special if you’re in the water with them, splashing and cheering them on.

8. First Bedroom

Throughout their life at home with you, your child is likely to go through many different looks and styles of bedroom as their interests change, but their first may remain the most special to you. It contains their first bed, their first teddies and toys, their first wardrobe - all chosen and decorated by you. Prepare to have less of a say as your baby grows up!

9. First Birthday Party

Your baby is a whole year old and this deserves celebrating! Throw them a birthday party with your and their closest friends and family with a cake, balloons and a special birthday outfit, perfect for photos. It may not be a memorable birthday for them, but their big smile and excitement all day is one for you to remember.

Include these special memories and many more in a BabyCube!