Just like decorating a baby's nursery and shopping for new clothes, making a baby scrapbook is a project many new mothers look forward to. Precious moments and quirky baby habits can easily be recorded in a personalized book, but since there are a million things you want to remember about your baby, it may be difficult to narrow down the most important tidbits.

"Little ones grow up so fast, especially in their first year," says Gina Bell, a mother and blogger at East Coast Mommy. "So, it's important to have keepsakes and guard cherished memories of your baby." Bell shares her top tips on what to keep in your baby's scrapbook:

1. Important first memories
A chapter full of first memories is a perfect way to start off a baby scrapbook. "You'll never want to forget their first smile, first tooth, first word, first step, first Christmas," Bell says.

Have their first word written out in a fun font or add pictures of your baby taking her first steps. Also, be sure to keep the first drawing they ever make for you, she says. It'll make for a great addition to the scrapbook.

2. Handprints and footprints
"Baby scrapbooks should definitely have handprints and footprints," says Bell. There's nothing quite as adorable as your baby's tiny fingers and toes. You can use a copy of the prints taken from the hospital or take their handprints and footprints by using bright, non-toxic paints.

Your baby's handprints and footprints are also a fun way to decorate your scrapbook and give it a cute design theme.

3. A lock of hair
Another great memento is a small lock of your baby's soft hair, says Bell. Place it in a little ziplock bag in their baby books next to a picture of their first haircut. It'll be interesting to see how much their hair changes over time.

4. Your favourite memories
While you may be tempted to record their every waking moment, for the purpose of a scrapbook, it's much better and easier to consider your favourite moments with your baby.

"When putting together a scrapbook, try to think about the things you want to remember," Bell says. "Sometimes, the little moments that are so special are also the ones that are easy to forget – like the way they play with your hair when they're tired or how they stick their bum up in the air when they sleep."

When it comes to capturing these endearing moments, you can never have enough pictures – they take up a special place in baby books and in your heart.

5. Keepsakes from their birth
As a mother, you'll never forget the day your child was born, so have at least one page dedicated to the first day of their birth. Paste newborn keepsakes like their birth certificate and hospital ID bracelet next to one of their hospital pictures or even next to their sonogram.

"As soon as my first son was born, the nurses put a little hat on him and an ID bracelet. It was his very first 'outfit,' and both items instantly became special keepsakes to be treasured," Bell says.

6. Your baby's favourites
Even as babies, we quickly have a fondness for certain sounds, people, colours and objects. Think of some of your baby's favourite things, says Bell. What song makes her smile, what toy makes her happy? Print the lyrics to her favourite song or take a picture of her playing with her beloved teddy bear and paste them into her baby book.

7. Letters from loved ones
Keep in mind that you're not just making a scrapbook for yourself, but also for your baby to cherish as she ages. Be sure to include letters from yourself and loved ones for them to read when they get older. They'll appreciate their baby books so much more when they see how loved they were.

"I write my little boys letters on their birthdays," says Bell. "I hope to make them into books for them whey get older."