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Jade Sleep Nanny

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. Baby's 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 and Stacey Solomon’s girls room.

 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

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