Digital vs. Traditional Baby Book

arekeweg

Forgive me if there was already discussions on this.  I couldn't locate one in the search.

What are your thoughts on digital (created online and printed) vs. traditional baby books? The traditional baby book we registered for is $30!  I'm probably more inclined to type rather than write.  I assume we could just leave some pages blank in a digital one to cut/paste things like first hair cut, etc?

It looks like we can get a digital one for less than a traditional book! https://www.today.com/tech/no-time-baby-book-not-so-these-sites-976853

Anyone done these digitally?

wtfisup

You can also create a truly digital book -- as in, made digitally and shared digitally -- for free using iBooks Author. It won't include hair clippings, but it can include audio clips, embedded videos, sideshows, etc. I design digital publishing for work. You can share them with anyone who has iBooks app. Or you can make one as an ePub with a few less features and share with anyone.

wtfisup

FYI -- I think the Shutterfly ones are super overpriced. If folks have Pages or Publisher on a computer, you can make your own and order it bound. I know not everyone has the time or interest, but I always encourage folks to DIY with digital projects. They're often not as complicated as people think; the internet is full of free tutorials, etc.

Again, not for everyone, but often easier than folks think.

katekat8721

I'm going to be doing Shutterfly photobooks for their newbie stage. I do the same for 'family yearbooks', since scrapbooking is nice and all but ain't nobody got time for that.

elsa1688

FWIW: My mom passed a few years ago. She didn't finish much (second baby) but I cherish all the things I have hand written from her. She started this journal for me and I adore it. She typed my birth story and it's special, but doesn't have quite the same value.

katekat8721

Hmm, you guys bring up good points - the sentimental value of something handmade/traditional is something to consider!

shellbell813

@wtfisup‌ I agree. Shutterfly is definitely overpriced and not as easy to use now that it has become so popular. But they offer good deals regularly. The moral... never get a Shutterfly book unless you are getting it free/reduced. (Wait a few weeks and they will have a deal).

liberty95

I vote for both.
I cherish my own traditional book, with all the clippings, notes and such (hospital bracelets, hair clippings, newspaper articles, footprints) and made one for DS. I will be making one for this baby as well.

I do love digital albums though. They are versatile, easy to share, etc.

steprozz

I have a traditional baby book for DS that I love, it's special and I love the keepsake aspect of the hair clippings and hospital bracelets and such. I do regularly make photo books on shutterfly though since I take all pictures on my iphone and they are all on the computer. it's just easier than printing them all out and putting together an actual album. I will say I kinda got lazy towards the end of the baby book and it's not quite as detailed as the beginning is.

mam62787

I like traditional. I liked what someone said about it being your handwriting and including things in it. I am making a pregnancy journal right now in a smash book and loving it. I'm not a huge fan of my writing so I have been doing some but also finding words and headlines from magazines. I really like the way it is turning out. I kept our nursery sketch and ultrasound pics, shower invite, I wrote down embarassing things from my pregnancy and folded the paper it was on and glued them in. But it feels different from a scrapbook bc the pages are already cute. I just work on it for 15 min here or there.