With families living far away from each other, it may be hard to share pictures and video of your little ones. By creating a blog centered around your baby, grandparents and friends alike can look at photos and videos for as long as they choose. You can also use this place to link to a baby registry, or as the child gets older, a birthday request list.
Even before the baby is born, consider setting up your baby blog. Like any blog, there are many factors to consider. First, decide who will host your baby blog. If you already have a personal website, the most convenient option may be to continue with the service you already have and create a page linked to the main site. If you only have an online blog, or no online site at all, there are several factors to consider.
As a parent it is important to protect your child. Therefore you might want to restrict who can view your blog. Some blogging sites allow you to approve viewers of your site, or limit them to a select few. This is often a good option, especially if you would like to include personal information on your site. If you do decide to have your site be public, be sure not to give out personal information such as full names and addresses on your baby blog.
You might also consider how much storage space you will need. Many blogging sites give you free space on their servers, but that space can quickly be used if you are regularly posting pictures or videos. Now is also the time to consider whether or not you would like to purchase a digital camera or a video camera. Although these are not essential items, you may regret not having the pictures to document your baby’s first milestones.
A baby blog is also an easy way of addressing baby registry and birthday ideas. Linking to a registry on Amazon or a similar site allows you to give suggestions to people that might want them, while not openly soliciting for gifts. Try to avoid posts actual posts on the subject of gift giving, people can always ask if they miss your link. If you do receive a gift, be sure to send an actual thank you card, but also consider taking a picture of it with your baby. A post with a picture and a few words on how Junior loves his swing will help relatives know they made the right choice.
Even before the baby is born, consider posting ultrasound images and pictures of the expectant family on your baby blog. Also post important information such as the due date and sex of the baby in a place where it is easily located. Relatives will appreciate this information being available, especially if more than one person in their lives is expecting a baby.
Once you have written the first few posts, let your family know how to locate your blog. Emails and phone calls are an easy way to let people know you have started a baby blog, but consider sending a card in the mail. Include the address of your blog and any special instructions on how to access the baby blog. By sending out a card, you will be assured they have a copy of the correct address and won’t miss your announcement in an overflowing email inbox.
Also encourage viewers to post comments on your blog. You might be surprised at the helpful information you will receive on baby care from a relative who thought their comments were too insignificant to mention on the phone. Be sure to respond to any comments you do receive, even if it is a small one. People will be less likely to lurk if they feel that you notice their effort in leaving a comment on your baby blog.
Be certain that you want comments on the topics you write about in your baby blog. For example, do not write about your quest for the perfect baby name if you’d rather not hear suggestions. A better strategy is to keep your indecision to yourself and announce the name in your baby blog after you have made a final decision.
No matter how helpful a baby blog is, it cannot compensate for regular phone calls and visits. It is also important to understand that no matter how convenient, some people are not comfortable enough with the internet to regularly read your baby blog. For this reason, make sure to let relatives and friends know about big milestones through other means and make sure to place phone calls announcing big events before blogging about them. No one wants to find out he is a grandfather from a blog.
