No matter what time of year it is, there always seems to be a newborn on the way! Whether it's your friend who's due in just a couple of weeks, or maybe you are having a child of your own, baby keepsakes are cherished gifts. They are the kind of things that a child will hold on to as they grow older as a reminder of when they were a child. From stuffed animals to picture frames, or maybe things that are a little more unique, you can't go wrong with a keepsake for a baby shower gift or for your very own little one. Many keepsakes work well for both boys and girls, which is great if you don't know the child's gender. Pick the right keepsake and you'll have something the child will love forever.
Traditional Keepsakes
If you want to go with something tried and true, these ideas are classics.
* '''Stuffed animals''': Getting a child their "first" of a stuffed animal is always a great way to go, whether it's their first teddy bear of their first stuffed Mickey Mouse.
* '''Piggy Banks''': Encouraging kids to save early is great idea. Mom and dad can keep some spare change at first, and when the child gets old enough they can learn to save their pennies too. It's a great gift they'll use for years.
* '''Photo Frames and Albums''': These can be personalized with a name and birth date or a sweet message on the frame or cover.
* '''Personalized Baby Shoes''': Getting pewter or porcelain baby shoes is a popular keep sake that will be a nice decoration for the baby's room.
* '''Baby Blankets''': You can never have enough warm, fuzzy blankets for a baby, so this is always a good choice. If you want something a little different, baby robes are great for after bath drying off.
Unique Ideas
If you want to get a gift that no one else will think of, here are a few unique choices for keepsakes.
* '''Time Capsule''': There are plenty of baby time capsule sets you can buy. Parents can keep track of certain moments and items for the first year of the baby's life, then seal it for them to open when they are an adult.
* '''Crib Medallions''': These beautiful keepsakes are silver medallions usually engraved with a quote or baby's name and birth date, that can be hung on the outside of the crib.
* '''Snow Globes''': Growing in popularity, a baby's first snow globe is a beautiful addition to their room. They usually have designs of building blocks, teddy bears, or rocking horses in the center to name a few.
* '''Growth Chart''': A great idea that can be used when the child gets a little bit older. Many growth charts can have pictures or keepsakes added as mementos as they grow.
* '''Hand print kits''': These kits turn the baby's hand print into artwork to be hung on the wall. Give the parents a way to always treasure their children's youth, and the kids a way to look back on when they were little.
