The earliest days with a newborn are fleeting and precious but when your baby arrives prematurely, those first moments can feel even more fragile, emotional and deeply meaningful.
In the NICU, time often moves differently. Days are measured in grams gained, breaths taken and tiny milestones reached. In these moments, keepsakes become more than just mementos, they become anchors. Something small that parents can do to feel more involved and in control. Proof of how small they once were, how far they’ve come and how strong they truly are.
The Power of Keepsakes for Premature Babies
For families with premature or small babies, traditional newborn keepsakes don’t always fit ~ literally or emotionally. Tiny hands and feet, medical environments and unexpected beginnings mean those early days often look very different from what was imagined.
That’s why keepsakes designed with premature babies in mind are so special. They allow families to:
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Capture their baby’s size at birth
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Create memories during long NICU stays
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Honour the beginning of a journey that often starts earlier than expected
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Look back years later and truly see just how tiny and mighty their baby was
From first hats and outfits to NICU specific milestone discs and hand-written notes and signs made by nurses, these keepsakes tell a story that words alone often can’t.
Introducing the Babyink Ink-Less Print Kit
One of our newest and most meaningful keepsake products is the Babyink Ink-Less Print Kit. A gentle, mess-free way to capture your baby’s handprints or footprints without any ink touching their skin.
Designed to be safe, simple and stress-free, this kit is especially suited to premature and newborn babies, including those still in hospital care.
Why families love it:
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Ink-less & mess-free means no contact with baby’s skin
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Safe and gentle for even the smallest, most delicate hands and feet
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Perfectly sized for premature and newborn babies
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Ideal for framing, gifting or keeping in memory boxes or with other NICU nursery keepsakes
Whether it’s your baby’s very first print, a moment captured during their NICU stay or a keepsake made once you’re home, these tiny prints become treasured reminders of just how far your little one has come.
Keepsakes That Grow in Meaning Over Time
One of the most beautiful things about newborn keepsakes is how their meaning deepens over the years.
Parents often tell us how emotional it is to look back at a handprint or footprint and barely believe their baby was ever that small. For some families, these keepsakes also become a way to honour babies who couldn’t stay, making them even more precious.
At Earlybirds, we believe keepsakes aren’t about perfection, they’re about presence. About capturing this moment, exactly as it is.
Thoughtful Gifts for NICU & Newborn Families
Keepsakes like the Babyink Print Kit also make incredibly thoughtful gifts. They’re meaningful without being overwhelming and offer families something they can treasure long after the hospital days are behind them.
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend, gifting a keepsake is a quiet way of saying: “Your baby’s story matters.”
Holding Onto the Small Moments
Premature babies may arrive early, but their stories are no less powerful. Keepsakes help families hold onto the moments that might otherwise blur together ~ the firsts, the tiny details, the knowledge that even the smallest footprints can leave the biggest imprint on our hearts.
