Baby Scrap Boxes | Minimalist Family Life (2018)

[@karenbennett3788]

I put my baby's hospital hat, hospital bow and wrist band into a clear glass Christmas bulb. We love seeing them every year!!

[@elizabethshaklee8450]

Oh my goodness. Coming back to this video so many years later is adorable. Gage was so tiny. 🥹❤️

[@sues4239]

My kiddos are 32 and 28. I made first year totes for them when they were born. I even kept a diaper (a clean one, of course 😜) of each size when they moved up a size. I’m so glad I did. When we look through our oldest’s tote, her diapers had Muppet Babies designs on them and I preferred Luvs. When the second came, the diaper companies changed to make the notch in the newborn size for the umbilical cord. His had a different design and I preferred Pampers for him. Of course we have other awesome stuff in there. They were 10 and 6 when the new millennium came. I bought two newspapers with the date Dec 31, 1999 and put them in plastic bags and put them in their totes. Great memories in their totes.

[@PUA6969]

As a mother, who has an angel due to SIDS, I took no offense into what you said. I agree that minimizing your things allows you to enjoy life more with your other children. Over the years we have gotten rid of more of our son's possessions along the way. Thanks to niecy nash's recommendation on clean house many years ago, we honor our son with a little display and his 50 days of memories. Being that he was our 2nd child, our kids have always been told about him and we talk to him whenever we want to. At this point, my husband and I agreed that on his 18th birthday we would scatter him at a beach in our hometown since this is when our kids would have left the nest anyways... thanks for inspiration... I look forward to seeing new videos from you!

[@TheMinimalMom]

I'm so sorry to hear this, but what a beautiful way you are remembering and honoring him 💕

[@PUA6969]

Mahalo nui but I honestly envy him. I know he is already in heaven. One day I'll be there, too, in God's perfect timing!

[@megslennon9830]

I love the idea of scattering his ashes on his 18th! My husband And I have been trying to think of the perfect thing for our son. He’d be 10 next year.

[@PUA6969]

@@megslennon9830 awww... ours turned 11 this year... our little 😇

[@mcdc101201]

Thank you for acknowledging fertility issues! Have lost 9 I truly appreciate it.

[@lizzylake]

Hug.

[@CMBauer]

❤️❤️❤️

[@watchwoman16]

20 years and 2 kids later this still made me cry that you mentioned the pain of infertility and loss. Thank you for your sweet heart and kind words.

[@wendecarter8607]

Thank you so much for your kind comments about infertility and miscarriage. I had two miscarriages and years of secondary infertility, and it is such a painful process. Interestingly, I'm watching this video now because I am decluttering scads of stuff I've kept throughout my only child's life - and he is going off to college this week! When you only have 1 child, the time goes by so fast. You only get 18 years of parenting a minor. To everyone else who has struggled with secondary infertility, I want to say that there are many benefits to having an only child, and I am at peace with it now, even as my son is leaving home.

[@alishajennings2013]

Oh my gosh! Gage was so adorable (and still is). I can't believe how much he's grown and changed in 1.5 years. I'm loving this video though. I searched for baby memory box and when I saw your video I skipped all the others bc I know I love your content.

[@janethunt4037]

I'm a remedial declutterer, so watching this again to get an idea of the size of container since I'm ready to start this. One thing I've learned is that a container that is too big won't be looked at because it's overwhelming. I have things from my growing up years in a huge container, and I have not looked in there since I put stuff in it. I'm planning to replace it with one that is the size of yours and to downsize my collection.

[@kimberleybenschop4785]

I have 2boys and a girl, each have a baby box, with the same things you presented in the video. I also have a big box with clothes they liked or their favorite, yet not special enough to save in the baby box. I plan to make a quilt using those clothes or pieces of the clothes to give to them when they go off to living in dorms they have a piece of their childhood with them and that when they see a piece of it, I can tell them the story behind each clothing item.

[@TheMinimalMom]

LOVE the quilt idea!!! 💕

[@janethunt4037]

I wish I had been told about this 23 years ago. I'm planning to get one of these boxes now to put baby things in that are in random drawers and cabinets around the house. And I love that you have one also.

[@jannamccuistion5036]

I love all of your vidoes ~ including this one! It was encouraging and inspiring and I so appreciate your encouragement to let go of the unnecessary things and of the fear that you will forget these sweet days ❤

[@abbykartzinel2292]

This is perfect and solves the sticking point of what to do with these precious items that I love but do not have a place for as my children are past the baby stage. I also LOVE that the space is limited and forces me to only choose what I truly adore and brings up the sweetest memories. ❤️ Thanks again for your fabulously helpful and practical advice!!!

[@donnaluzier603]

How fun to see your youngest. Our lives are very different, but I still find things that apply to me. I especially like what you said in a prior video about the fact that you have to manage everything that comes into your home. That has helped me decide against some purchases. I have enough to manage right now. Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank YOU for the kind words Donna, it is greatly appreciated!! 💕

[@barbarafrancis8870]

He has the sweetest smile! Bless him!!!

[@penguinlady6287]

I have 2 of these special baby boxes for my adult daughters. I decluttered their stuff over the years because we moved and still moving, not at the present moment. Moving has helped keep us from getting too cluttered but it still manages to creep into our lives. What I need is to be more consistent with it. Thank you for sharing your methods to madness involving stuff.

[@jessicabradley8307]

I love this idea! I had a couple small boxes that were crammed with the baby items I'd retained, but recently upgraded to a couple cute, larger storage boxes I got on sale at AC Moore - I am excited about having a single place to keep any of the super special items for years to come!

[@thecherishedlife]

Thank you SO much for not only helping me to see that it's OKAY to keep certain things for my kids that are special to me, but also helping me to know WHAT to do with the stuff!! This video almost made me cry just because I love my kids so much and the special things I have from them and I have struggled my whole life with organization and clutter and this just gives me so much hope! THANK YOU!!! From the bottom of my heart ❤️

[@amberhebert2062]

It took my husband and I 7 years to have our first and I am so grateful but the clutter has made me not enjoy many thing. I am glad you mentioned being grateful and enjoying them. It is so interesting to me that most people are struggling with clutter and the stress that comes with it. Thanks for inspiring me. We are moving into a new home in a couple of days and I have thrown out and donated during the whole packing process but I know that I have more to toss before it enters my new home.

[@alishajennings2013]

I do this too. We bought treasure boxes and put things in there. I kept journals during their pregnancies so I put that in there, the stuff from the hospital, baby book, their favorite stuffed animal, even the graduation certificate from preK.

[@hikegardentravel6546]

Love this! We have a small box for each kiddo as well. I’m not sure my kids are going to want these but since two of our kids are adopted I want to save things for now. I’m making each of my children a small photo album for Christmas but I’ve stopped taking so many photos.

[@TheMinimalMom]

YES, I've been trying to take fewer pictures too! I made a small album for each of the kids after our trip to FL this past winter and they have SO much fun showing other family members and friends the pictures. But what I realized, there are only 20 photos in each book, and that is plenty to archive our week vacation! It only takes a few to recall the memories :)

[@megslennon9830]

Thank you for acknowledging miscarriage and infertility ❤️ you’re so gorgeous. Our middle baby died at 38 weeks gestation, the tragedy of our lives 💙

[@TheMinimalMom]

Oh my goodness, I can't even imagine, all my best to your family 💕

[@88heyheyyou]

Did not even watch this yet. But I love your videos. Just want to ask for you to do a video on your Wardrobe. I'm so overwhelmed with mine. Thank you

[@TheMinimalMom]

Yes, wardrobe video coming up next! And thank YOU!!! 💕

[@Beepbopboop19]

Omg the its a boy story made me cry. Such joy 💜

[@laurat7324]

That is such a fun story about Corbin! But God knew the whole time. :) What a nice surprise.

[@vazlet]

I will be doing this for me two girls. In still binge watching. I'm almost out of videos to watch....ahhhhhhh nooooo!!!! I love all your videos. Have a great weekend. Lety from Chicago ❤️

[@GreenMommaLana]

I love your labels! Boxes for us parents as well is a great idea cuz i dont know where to put our things!

[@simplificatuvida]

I have two boys.. praying for the girl!

[@AlliV286]

I've been trying to simplify this area. Watching this today!!!! Thank you!

[@susiemccoy7]

Hugs & more hugs to Gagey.... What an absolute darling. I just want to kiss those cheeks💞 Thank you Dawn... I went through all of our family photos & gave each one of our 4 children a gift bag full of their photos last year💗

[@itschamamama2466]

So excited for your future discussion on the book and that’s exactly why I am in the process of decluttering & simplifying our home too - to enjoy the blessing of being a mom to my children as much as possible! 💖

[@han.nah.]

Can't believe your third "girl" turned out to actually be your first boy! I love that story!

[@bluesouthpaw6326]

Awww what a nice surprise. A boy! That's a great story!!!! Maybe he will have a girl some day and be able to use it. My kids all have baby totes too. My daughter's is huge, people made her so many blankets and things. I kept the most important ones but there is still a lot. As for my twins they don't have much. I think the first baby always gets spoiled by everyone. I'd like to pair down hers someday.

[@TheMinimalMom]

YES! Our oldest definitely has the most! I didn't realize how little our youngest had until we started going through it ;)

[@jangle318]

Love all your videos and tips. I actually have twins after trying for a family for a year and a half (which is nothing compared to many others). It felt like a lifetime and hit me hardest when we made it to that one year TTC mark. I was blessed to only have to go through taking clomid, and three months into it got pregnant with my twins. I have several items put aside for them, but have yet to take the time to make memory boxes for them. They are 5 1/2 years old.

[@Angela-os4hk]

I have 3 boys. Each of them has a gallon sized storage bag with their first year memories.

[@arlh2309]

I have a 2 month old baby girl and started a box for her. I received a fancy keepsake box at her baby shower so decided to use it. I put in her hospital bracelet, baby shower outfit etc. 🤗 I was also thinking of just printing pictures of outfits etc instead of saving the actual stuff 🤔👍

[@carolynreed4020]

I have been watching your videos all morning long. You are such a wonderful person. I love your videos. You have so much more to offer than alot of other minimalist videos I've watched. Keep up the awesomeness. ~New Subscriber

[@TheMinimalMom]

Wow, thank you, that means a lot to me!!!

[@anneholthaus6259]

Great ideas thanks! When I have momentos that I dont want to keep I take a photo for a file (vacation tee shirts, athletic and academic awards). I like to review them and see them every 10 years or so but no longer need the physical object as you say it's nice to have the memories sparked. My babes are young adults ; ) and they really dont want to store them either.

[@JoanneBB-eng]

I didn’t finish my daughter’s baby book, but this is a great idea and motivation to collect together the bits and pieces from around the house! (And I’ve just put in a hold request for that book at the library.)

[@TheMinimalMom]

Yes! I could never keep up with baby books or scrap books, but this I can do ;)

[@KathelleStrandom]

Love it! I have these too but you've given me a better guideline for what to put in them 😊👍 x x x

[@annyg1757]

This was awesome, Dawn❣️🙏🏻💖

[@maunakeapoloclub7468]

Thanks for all you great tips.I have learned so much from you. I am wondering if you might share your method on Photos, photo storage, albums, using all these great pictures we have so many of. Thanks

[@tanya2269]

We didn't think we could have kids. My spouse was 42 and I was 36 and we both were thinking it but never said it to one another "well I guess we will never have kids". BUT when we were thinking this I was pregnant. We call her our miracle child. Well long story short, she has enough toys for 5 or more kids and now we are trying to get her to part with things. She started to do it by herself yesturday and got overwhelmed. I told her we will sit down together and do it. She did give up 10 stuffed animals by herself though.

[@pavlamusiolova6608]

Hi Dawn, thank you for sharing your experience. You have mentioned the book - Love languages for kids. I would like to hear your tips when your kid is a gift type, but you as a mom want to keep minimal amount of staff at home. Thank you.

[@TheMinimalMom]

YES, good question! We'll talk about it more when we do the video on the book, because we have two gift-children. But, alot of times it can be small things like surprising them with a juice box or our five year old LOVES plaid shirts and I found one at a thrift store, or art supplies and flower seeds for our 8-year old. It is more that they feel that they are being thought of, than about the size of the gift :)

[@nikkikoz4720]

I have been trying to do a scrapbook for my oldest's for so long let alone my youngest these baby boxes are brilliant there's some outfits I just can't bear to part with and this is what I'm going to do now

[@jasminegriffy5339]

Thank you for both the video, ideas and the message at the end. We are adopting and part of that is due to probable infertility. I love the kid videos and I'm always tweaking them or wondering g how they will fit into our lives when we do have placement of kiddos from Foster care. I might have two boxes if we can store them, one where they can keep their own things. Things that they have strong attachment to because of their many placements. Thank you

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank YOU and I'm sorry to hear that. I love the idea of two boxes, I think that would be really meaningful to them! 💕

[@kellyl7610]

I have bins for both my boys that I started when they were little. They are now 19 and almost 16. I did a purge a few years ago and got everything sorted into one bin for each. This weekend, I am going to go through again and purge more and only keep really important stuff like report cards and awards. I know I have interim report cards in there so there should be lots to get rid off as well as other non-important stuff I find along the way.

[@dustinmelissahill7156]

I love love this idea. Thank you!

[@SwissSnoopy]

Hello Dawn. Even on the other side of the world, your videos are appreciated and I always expect them eagerly :) I'm following you since a couple of weeks here on youtube, and I must say: Your videos are brilliant!! Great and practical tips, helpful and easy to maintain. Even If we don't have kids: the more I see your simple and clean (and still cozy) livingroom/home, the more I'm convinced and sure, that I wanna have this on our own. Already started project minimalism, and everything that we don't use anymore, and leaves the house, feels sooooooooooooo great. So keep on doing what you do.All the best and God bless you and your lovely sweet family. Petra, from Switzerland. PS. Just a small and friendly tipp: Just try to speak a little more slowly. Sometimes you tend to swallow the words. Didn't meant to be rude or so. But I know the problem from myself...lol..

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement and I'm so glad to hear that they have been helpful! And will gladly receive the feedback...thank YOU!!!! 💕

[@BigSmashKing]

Oh my Gosh! He is gorgeous!! I could just pinch his little cheekys

[@TheMinimalMom]

Lol, thank you!!! 💕

[@Jesussavioursonofgod]

Love this idea! Will you consider doing one on fridge and freezer?

[@TheMinimalMom]

YES, absolutely!

[@michelle8143]

First! And thanks, this is one I need...I keep too much from the kids!

[@nancymcnee2707]

Thumbs Up for the Wonderful laugh from Gage! Not that the rest of the video isn't worth it but your kids seem so darn cute!

[@lvlc5]

I am listening to the book right now. Can't wait for your video... I have a shoe box... just the minimum... but sometimes I wish it was bigger for for example their favorite blanket and it doesn't fit! :(

[@bluesouthpaw6326]

Can you vacuum seal the blanket in a bag and then just buy a tote a little bigger than the shoe box? Maybe something like would work.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Yes, that would be the only drawback about a smaller container!

[@kathyschieb6686]

I love this and I am going to get totes just for this and small ones at that!!!

[@93kimodaat]

Adorable!

[@JJ-cx8gl]

When my only child was born, there was no such thing as ultrasound and we found out at her birth. How wonderfully childbirth has become.

[@lorit2003]

Hello Dawn! I love you and your station! Question for you.... when your kids grow up and move out, will you send these memory tubs with your kids or keep them?

[@amydepaul3039]

I loooove this.

[@emoryslater3026]

Our second was a surprise boy- very similar story! Lol

[@lindseyhetu1109]

I'm going to make this, thank you!

[@TheLuzy18]

Would love to see a viv on ur hair routine... what products used or and how u style it???

[@TheMinimalMom]

You got it!

[@kafo9263]

I kinda gulped when you said certificates because I just got rid of tons. I laughed so hard at how many totally junk ‘certificates’ my children received. I have kept very special ones but not all of them.

[@TheMinimalMom]

I agree! A certificate for EVERYTHING!!

[@EmeryShae]

I used a small diaper box for each of my four kids. I may switch to something a bit more durable though.

[@balboathedog]

Hoopla (app on your phone that links to your library card- free) also has the audio version of the book.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Oh that's really good to know!!! Thank you!!

[@janetlindsey3286]

I’d like to see the paper clutter Visio again.

[@margaretanderson5011]

What do you relabel the "Baby Box" adding life event memorabilia as they become teens and young adults?

[@Nancefc]

Hi ~ can you tell me how or what program Clip art, etc. you used to make the labels for the baby boxes. If this post went through the first time, please forgive.

[@meagankeele2835]

I'm trying to use the app Chatbooks to keep up with pictures.

[@TheMinimalMom]

YES, I'd be curious to know how you like this. I never kept up with groove books, but I like how this is more automatic :)

[@meagankeele2835]

@@TheMinimalMom financially we haven't bought the latest 10 but I am still able to send pictures. If you set I for automatic, after 60 pictures they will send an email letting you know that they will print the next book in 3days. There's other options but it's very simple. Maybe not the fanciest but for me at least I can get a picture book

[@HuhDuh0]

Oh. Baby Scrap Boxes. Now I understand. At first I was disappointed. When you opened the boxes, I expected to see leftover baby parts. :)

[@TheMinimalMom]

Hahaha, that's funny, I may get kicked off of KZbin if that were the case ;)

[@katrinago4896]

♥

[@astraviil3043]

Dear parents! When Your kids are very good behaviour all the time and always taking good care of their things, keeping their rooms very clean, loving their favorite things and want to make nice childhood collections of their things: books, clothes, toys, video games, clothes, DVDs and etc, then donataing is very wrong thing to do. If You have few space then storage boxes and shelves will help You out and Your kids will be very happy and thankful then, if they can keep their favourite things. Childhood things are very valuable and it is very sad, if they won’t see them anymore in their life. Every child should have the right to keep their things, if they can take good care of them all the time!!! Respectfully, Astra Viil

[@stacyhigginson170]

I live full time in a RV 🙈🙈🙈😂

[@TheMinimalMom]

Hahaha! Love this!! 💕

[@charlotteshurtz2602]

How did you do the labels on the boxes? I love them

[@EverTheOptimist37]

We've had a girl name since before our eldest too but 4 boys and we think #5 is a boys too 😅

[@amielibby1491]

Thank you, I am always weighed down with Mommy guilt.

[@jenniferwilliams3861]

Do you put any of the stuff your children made for you in their box?

[@shiyunwong1487]

Having a boy next month and I'm still half hoping he'll turn out to be a girl 😂😂😂 I love my daughter to bits and I'm not sure how I will deal with having a boy...

[@TheMinimalMom]

Oh yes, it was an adjustment, but I bet you will be surprised how quickly you adapt and how fun it is to have a boy :)

[@VerySelena]

This is my request to volunteer to babysit for you Dawn lol. Gage is such a cutie 🥰 You’re so blessed & you work so hard so you deserve all of life’s blessings❤️. Thank you for you acknowledging that you are as well as acknowledging those who are not as fortunate. That makes us love you even more. You have a heart of gold. I’ve been trying for a year. My best friend says “God is just saying it’s not my time yet.” It’s hard to hear sometimes but I know there’s a reason. I’m just so happy to have a good, patient husband and when a baby is ready to come to us, we have such a wonderful family to welcome that baby. ❤️❤️