9 precious moments of your baby’s first year you won’t want to forget!

The first year of your baby’s life is an incredibly special time that seems to fly by and before you know it, maternity leave is over, they are toddling around everywhere, and you are wondering where the time went. So much happens in the first year, and chances are you’ll be sleep deprived and focusing on getting through each day, and so it can be hard to record all the milestones and precious little moments.

There’s no doubt that parenting is a hugely demanding job and there’s so many occasions that you don’t want to forget but finding the time or energy feels impossible. So Gemma at Cheeky Little Smiles has pulled together her top list of ‘moments’ to help you remember all the memories you are going to definitely want to capture.

1. When you first met.

The best moment ever: when you first met your newborn. The moment you took in their beautiful baby features, touched their soft skin and heard their first sounds. The only time hearing their cry is a relief. Holding them for the first time and watching everything they do, finding every expression adorable and filling up with love when they wrap their hand around your finger for the first time.

2. Babys first smile and laugh

These have to be standout special moments for every parent. When you know it’s no longer wind and they are actually smiling back at you. Treasuring the image of their faces lighting up when they are so tiny is so precious. Then hearing their first chuckle at you doing the smallest or silliest of things, then repeating it over and over just to capture that beautiful sound. Even more so in recent times as the joy in these tiny little people is infectious.

3. When your baby cuddles you back.

We spend so long holding our babies, rocking them to sleep, cuddling them, longing for the moment when they will cuddle us back. Then they get a bit bigger and stronger and finally put their little arms around your neck and hold on tightly. Such a tender moment between baby and parent making our bonds even stronger.

4. Sleep journey

Did your baby lull you into a false sense of security by sleeping well as a newborn only to hit the 4-month regression and wake you almost every hour? Have you been lucky and blessed with a really good sleeper or a cheeky little one who likes to keep seeing you all night long? Sleep is such a big factor when becoming a parent and I am sure we all know what it’s like trying to get through the day on very little sleep; even harder when you’ve not been able to go anywhere or have anyone to help you. But that day when they finally sleep all night, or even just a long chunk of sleep for the first time is the most amazing feeling. It’s great to celebrate these moments.

5. Weaning journey

This is always a fun time. Experimenting with food, figuring out if they prefer purees, finger foods or just like playing with it. Watching their little faces and sounds when they enjoy something for the first time or equally funny, witnessing their disgust when they don’t like it at all. Did you feed your baby yourself or allow them to try it themselves? Even though weaning can be a messy journey, it’s

great to capture their grubby faces or the mess they make all over the floor to show them when they are older.

6. Baby talk

Hearing your baby coo for the first time or babbling with different sounds is such a great moment. Then watching them as they start to recognise your voice and the words you say. Seeing them wave when you say bye bye or looking towards you when you say their name. All these milestones are very precious but when the babbles mean something for the first time and they say their first word, it’s very exciting. Did your baby say mum or dad first or something completely different?

7. Baby’s developmental milestones

There are so many exciting milestones in their first year like when they get their first tooth or move for the first time; from rolling over to crawling to walking. The first time they recognise your voice and face. When they start copying your actions like waving bye bye, giving cuddles and kisses. Remembering the stories behind each milestone is so special, like crawling for the first time to reach something they love to play with.

8. Baby’s favourites

As your baby gets older and starts reaching out for objects or recognising certain sounds, you become more aware of the things that bring your baby joy. A favourite song they move their body to, a book they love to read and a game they enjoy playing. Is there something they take comfort from like a soft toy, dummy or a cuddle with you?

9. Babys first birthday

You’ve made it. They’ve turned one. You have watched your beautiful baby grow and develop over the past 12 months. This feels like such an achievement and sweet occasion for parents to celebrate. It’s a lovely time to reflect on the past year and look back on all the precious photos and memories when they were so small.

It’s important to remember, it’s the small moments that matter most. The love you have for each other and the strong bond as a result of being together all the time is what they will take from this year. I’m sure they would love to know all about their first year.

This blog was written by Gemma Lomas, who had her second daughter Ava when the pandemic began in 2020. It was a scary time, when pregnant women were told they were high risk and had to isolate for 12 weeks and then when she finally did give birth, she was left in the hospital all alone with her baby for a few days. Not the journey or maternity leave she was hoping for.

Then she realised in the loneliest and strangest of times, the littlest people were bringing us the greatest joy and she wanted to write all about it so they will remember these special, yet crazy times. Reading back one day that when you were born, your father was unable to stay in the hospital, everyone was wearing a face mask and your mother was told not to let anyone hold you is going to seem very surreal.

Gemma looked for a baby journal, but so many on the market had prompts and she felt they were missing out on some of these typical experiences, like first holiday or visitors at the hospital. She wanted to create something beautiful that she could use for her daughter to record her unique first year. She then thought other parents may like this too.

And so Cheeky Little Smiles was born.

The baby journals are perfect for parents who want to record their baby's special first year and all the memories that other journals don't always allow for. Instead of a book with prompts and detail inside which may not be relevant, they will get a separate booklet of prompts. This will help mothers and fathers remember all their special moments if busy parenthood, sleepless nights or baby brain makes them miss a few pages.

My Baby Journal

· A beautiful book with a luxurious woven cloth cover and a gold foil embossed title.

· 100 high quality pages in neutral colours.

· Packaged in a luxury keepsake box with magnetic and ribbon closure and wrapped in beautiful, branded tissue.

· Includes a separate little booklet of prompts to help you remember your most precious moments.

· Won 2 Project Baby Awards; Best Baby Shower Gift and Best Book for Mum.

· As seen in John Lewis

· Available in a choice of colours; ivory or grey.

· Prices start from £35

If you would like to capture your baby’s most precious memories in a luxury baby journal, beautifully packaged in a keepsake box, you can visit her website: www.cheekylittlesmiles.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/cheeky-little-smiles-106105915001111 Instagram: www.instagram.com/cheekylittlesmiles