Baby Monthly Milestone Blankets

If you've had a friend welcome a baby into the world lately, or have searched Instagram for #cutebaby then you've probably seen them... large blankets draped across the floor with numerals 1-12 printed on them, with a bouncing baby laid across and a marker pointing at one of the numbers.  They are called Milestone Blankets, and although they're pretty much all over social media, it is with reason...
they are a fun, cute, and creative way to document your growing baby, and if you ask me, they are a pregnancy must-have! By laying your baby in the same spot each month, you can measurably see how quickly they grow, and by marking how many months they are, you have the perfect way to document these precious baby days.
      Confession: I can be a major penny-pincher, majorly major, I love saving money. And if something isn't practical, I'm going to question its very existence, but once I love something, especially home decor or baby clothes, I'm getting it. So when I found out we were expecting a baby, I came across the milestone blankets for sale one day and thought about the purchase for a good week or two before buying... I mean, will I use the blanket? Will anyone care about these photos? Will I even remember to take monthly photos on it?!
     After a little thought, I bought the blanket and had it customized with my baby's name printed across it... I mean, at least she'll always have a blanket with her name on it, right?!

Bringing home baby is scary and wonderful and exciting, and, well, exhausting. Our first month was such a whirlwind that before I knew it, it was time to take our first milestone blanket photo. 

I thought it turned out so cute! And she didn't even care too much, she was fascinated by the sunlight flooding the window and just laid there, easy peasy! This is a cinch! And before I knew it, it was time for month two!

Okay, so riiiight around 3 months Ava was rolling over constantly and didn't want to lay still, so it might get tricky as the months progress. You will need lots of noise makers, goofy voices, and silly faces!

 It can be pretty difficult to get baby to stay still, much less smile, but if you can just grab their attention and put your camera setting on continuous, you might get lucky! Anything that makes noise... jingle bells, rattles, those crinkly books that sound like a potato chip bag, and my absolute favorite secret to get a baby to look: your phone's ringtone selection! Just open your phone's settings and click through the rings, every one will sound different and pique baby's attention.  Of course the golden rule way to get baby to smile for them to see mommy's face, but it's hard to look through the camera finder and keep their attention, so do what you gotta do!

As I continued my monthly milestone blanket photoshoots each month, I began to notice how drastically different each one was, you can really see just how quickly your baby grows. Their little toes begin pointing off the blanket, their crown gets closer and closer to the top, their face becomes less newborn and more childlike. That's when I fell in love with the monthly milestone blanket, and that's why I'm an advocate of it... it's simply a ruler of sorts to measure your baby, to show how much they've grown, and to see them side by side is truly remarkable! I will forever cherish my monthly milestone photoshoots, they were a sweet bonding experience that I looked forward to each month, and now I have the photo of my baby forever.

The baby days go by fast, too fast. Before you know it, all the "we'll take photos later" windows are gone, and the chaos of nightly feedings and diaper changing is over... and all you've got left are your photos and videos. As a Mom who didn't take many photos of my first child because "I was just living in the moment", well, if only I knew how fast they'd grow and how precious capturing this age truly is. You will not regret taking too many photos of your baby. The monthly milestone blanket is an adorable and easy way to make sure you squeeze a little moment in from each stage of infancy, and you'll be glad you did!

If you're looking for a great quality milestone blanket for your little one, or if you're seeking out the perfect baby shower gift, check out these sellers:

• Batz Kids
• Pipsy
• Empowering Decor

Which month is your favorite? Did you do anything special to document your baby's monthly growth? What did you do with the photos after you took all 12?