The 10 best baby milestone books for treasured memories

This charming, Peter Rabbit-themed milestone book from John Lewis is perfect for those who love a bit of nostalgia, as it features the beloved characters we all know and adore. Reviewers love its stunning illustrations and detailed prompts; plus, there’s lots of space to fill in as much information as you like. They also raved about its timeless design and said that it’s ‘bigger’ than expected.

We particularly love the pocket at the back for storing keepsakes, with one reviewer commenting, "bought this book whilst pregnant and have thoroughly enjoyed filling it in over the last 9 months. I like that it has an envelope at the back to keep things in, I've put all of her scan pictures in there so far. Beautiful quality and illustrations," but we recommend popping them into envelopes first so you don't lose anything.

However one reviewer commented that the pages are about the "expecting parents" and she said, it could be "a sensitive issue as some women are raising children alone."

This creatively designed pregnancy and baby journal is definitely for parents who love a unique gift. It was illustrated by Claire Laude and Aurélie Castex, whose work has been featured in many high-fashion magazines and on branding campaigns with huge brands. One reviewer said, "bought this book for a Baby Shower and the mum to be couldn’t have been more delighted. A gorgeous book and a beautiful format."

Everything, from the design to the content, is one-of-a-kind and thoughtful. The design oozes high quality – we love the fabric spine and foil-stamped cover, as do reviewers. There’s space for all of the expected treasured moments, such as ultrasound scan photos and envelopes for notes, but there’s also a pull-out growth chart, an astrological sign spin wheel, a family tree and more.

Some reviewers would’ve enjoyed a few more detailed questions or prompts and wished there was space for things like hand and footprint photos. Others also noted that there’s a lot going on, so those who prefer a simpler design might not get along as well with this option and some reviewers commented on the spelling of mummy with one saying, "it does say mommy instead of mummy, but it’s of high quality."

We adore the design of this book, and the fact that it can be personalised makes it even more special. It allows parents to detail every memorable moment, from ‘waiting for bump’ and the family tree to first words and steps and even their first day at school. One reviewer said, "love, love, love this book. Great quality, includes all the expected milestones plus more, and the personalisation on the front cover is a really lovely touch." Plus, the book is available as a hardback or with a luxury cushion cover for an extra fee.

Reviewers praised the book for its user-friendly layout, which makes recording your child’s milestones a relaxing and enjoyable experience. It is a more expensive option than others on the market, but its quality is reflected in the price. As this book is quite prescriptive, it might not be best suited to those who prefer a bit more flexibility, or want to add detailed description, but it will work well for those who would like simple prompts.

This beautifully designed memory book lets parents document their child’s first year of life, including space for a family tree. It has plenty of space and pockets for keepsakes and photos. Plus, as this is from Annabel Karmel, five recipes are included to inspire you to make delicious food for your baby at various stages, including a birthday cake recipe.

Reviewers liked the month by month sections the book is split into, along with the helpful prompts and charming illustrations. However, some users found the prompts weren’t all relevant to their lives and that leaving space for some customisable ones would’ve been useful. Overall though, reviewers are pleased with the design and quality of the book and it does allow you to document a baby's first year with one reviewer saying, "great way to record all those things that happen in a first year of a baby's life. Right down from the small things that may get forgotten to the bigger things like first teeth and hair cut."

This simple but effective baby milestone journal is the most affordable on our list, coming in at under £5. It would be a brilliant addition to a gift hamper for a parent-to-be and one reviewer said, "this book is so so cute! Its prompts / content inside really helped my bro and his girlfriend as first time parents who wanted to create a book with some memories to look back on but no idea where to start!" We really like its cute, no-frills design and structure, which reviewers said makes filling in milestones such as first steps, first words, and more, simple.

Some reviewers mentioned that it might not be suitable for all families as it specifically says ‘mummy and daddy’ – having more inclusive terms would be preferable. As it is a more affordable option, the quality isn’t as high, with some reviewers noting that the metal ring binder is a bit flimsy as one reviewer said, "he metal rings that hold the book together keep coming apart, which is a shame as it’s a lovely book."

This gender-neutral baby book is perfect for those who find solace in journaling or perhaps would like to try it. It features a more traditional journal layout, with titbits of advice and quotes, along with lots of space to write down more free-flowing notes amongst the guided sections with one reviewer commenting, "plenty of space to write what you want, whilst be guided to key milestones. And love the funny bits in it too." We love the modern aesthetic of this baby book, which should please even the pickiest of gift receivers.

Reviewers loved the variety of the sections, covering everything from baby’s first days to their first birthday and beyond. They noted, however, that some of the prompts could be more flexible to accommodate differing family structures and experiences.

If you’re searching for something more visual, such as a photo milestone book, or love scrapbooking, this might be the one for you. A beautifully designed handbound photo book, it allows you complete flexibility and can be personalised to suit your family. One reviewer said, "absolutely stunned my album and personalised beautifully."

We also like the fact that it’s made from recycled leather, making it more eco-friendly. It is an expensive option though and requires a lot of creativity because there are no prompts and the pages are plain, however we think it’s one that you’d be proud to have on your coffee table for years to come, especially as it can hold up to 160 photos.

This baby milestone journal has a minimalist design and is another option that’s reminiscent of a typical journal – we feel calmer just looking at it. Its elegant design means it would make the perfect gift and would surely take pride of place on the mantelpiece for all to see.

There’s a handy contents page at the front, covering a broad range of milestone moments, everything from baby scan pictures and the baby shower to their first day of school. There are lots of prompts and ideas to keep you inspired, as well as plenty of space for your stories and photos. One reviewer said, "beautiful high quality book, perfect to capture big moments from birth to first day at school."

Reviewers praised this baby book for its high quality and beautiful packaging, and many buyers have purchased it again for their second and third children or as a gift for friends or family members. Make sure you don’t use marker pens or Sharpies, as they will bleed through the paper.

If you’re searching for a two-in-one option, this milestone book comes with a clean-touch inkpad, meaning you can capture baby’s handprints and footprints with ease. You can also add a photo to the front cover to personalise it. It has sections for a family tree, pregnancy details, photos and more, and is available in three colours.

Reviewers enjoy the straightforward prompts and the clean-touch ink system, which keeps baby’s skin clean and free from irritation. One reviewer said, "my favourite part about this was the ink pad to get hand/footprints, as the system they use the ink never touches baby's skin! And the outcome is fabulous and a lovely sentimental touch." However, they also mentioned that the ink pad is quite small, making it challenging to use with older babies or those with larger hands and feet.

The section on the parents’ story could be more flexible to accommodate differing family structures and experiences, as it specifically states ‘mummy and daddy.’ Also some reviewers found the order of the pages a little odd, for example the 'my first prints' section is before the 'birth announcement' page and one reviewer commented, "it would make more sense to have the 1st Christmas page before the 1st-5th birthday and school pages."

If you're looking for something a little different to mark your baby's milestone moments, then these elegant and adorable Dumbo milestone cards are a super simple way of recording your new arrival's firsts. Each time they reach a milestone, take a snap with each card so you'll never forget the day they smiled or crawled for the first time. Perfect for hanging around the house or adding to your own personal photo album and ideal if you struggle to find the time to sit down and write in a book.

Reviewers enjoy the quality of these cards but noted that they might not cover all the unique milestones that parents may want to capture and there is no space to add any special memories.

We've also rounded up a selection of the best baby milestone cards, just in case you're keen to check out alternative ways to mark your baby's major moments.