Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, the birth of a child is certainly something to be celebrated! As you begin to preparing for baby, how are you planning to capture its announcement, first moments, and milestones that are as special as your new arrival?

We consulted with our team of baby-celebration experts. Here’s what they had to say about some of the latest and greatest trends:

 

• Host a gender reveal party! Invite your nearest and dearest to share in the unveiling of your baby’s sex. When you go for the ultrasound that will tell all, have the doctor’s office write down the baby’s gender on a piece of paper and place it in an envelope. Bring it to a bakery and ask them to bake a white cake tinted with corresponding pink or blue coloring, depending on the results. Then ask them to frost the cake in white icing to seal the secret. When everyone’s ready to find out the happy news at the same time, slice the cake—and enjoy your sweet treat together!

 

• Not having a shower? Host a small get-together after baby arrives so that everyone can meet your bundle of joy. And since new parenthood usually means lack of time and sleep, use disposable plates and cups and just order take-out—or consider serving only beverages for a true “Sip ’n See.”

 

• No time for baby journaling? Try a baby wall calendar to keep track of important dates like the first time they roll over or the day the first tooth sprouts. Many calendars come with stickers to make marking the date even easier. To provide a record of baby’s development, do a quick video recording instead of journaling.

 

• Take monthly progress photos. Keep track of baby’s growth by taking a photo each month for their first year of life. The trick is to keep one element the same in all photos in order to stay focused on the baby’s size. For instance, pick the same piece of furniture, such as a favorite armchair, in the same location each time. Or use the same prop, such as a stuffed animal, to place next to them to mark their growth. Or keep baby in the same type of outfit throughout. White onesies are perfect for this. You can even iron on numeric stickers to show baby’s age!

Are you a seasoned mom that has some great tips to share with moms-to-be? We’d love to hear them in the comments!