The Peachly Pregnancy & Baby Toolkit: everything you need to get started
I want to share a few things I wish someone had told me when I first started filling out my own.
I've spent time testing different pens, adhesives, and photo formats to find what actually works with our paper - not just what looks good in a flat lay, but what holds up when you're sitting down to write. These are the tools I use in my own studio.
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01 · Getting your photos right
One of the most common questions I get is about photos - how to get that clean, intentional look on the page. Here is my exact approach if you want a place to start:
- Size: 4x4 inch, square. It leaves a beautiful amount of breathing room so the page doesn't feel crowded.
- Finish: E-Surface or matte. It doesn't pick up fingerprints when you're flipping through, and it feels more considered than glossy.
- Borders: Add a white border when printing. Most printing shops have this option. It frames the photo on the page and makes it feel intentional.
💡 I'm based in Australia so I can't speak to US printing services firsthand - but I hear consistently good things about Mpix from our customers. Quick turnaround, order online, and go for E-Surface finish for a clean low-sheen look that doesn't pick up fingerprints.
Remember, there is no wrong way to do it - this is just what works for me.
If you're filling in a school years book, your school photos will already come printed - just stick them straight in using the adhesive tips below.
02 · Sticking your photos in
Photo corners look lovely but they're not the most reliable - photos slip, sit crooked, and it gets frustrating quickly.
What I use instead is a double-sided adhesive roller. It's clean, flat, and when you choose an archival-safe formula, it won't yellow your photos over time. I use the Scotch Photo-Safe Glue Roller - it's easy to handle and gives a really neat finish.
→ Scotch Photo-Safe Glue Roller
03 · The right pen
Our pages are thick enough that most pens won't bleed through. But if you want a recommendation, I use a quick-dry fineliner - the ink dries fast so you won't smudge your writing as you turn the page.
04 · Fixing mistakes without losing your flow
It happens. You're mid-sentence and you skip a word, or write the wrong date. Here are the two fixes I reach for:
The clean fix: A matte white-out tape that's a near-perfect match for our paper.
The creative fix: Write the memory on a small slip of paper or scrap of cardstock and tape it over the mistake.
→ BIC Wite-Out Correction Tape
05 · If you have the Peachly baby memory book
The baby book has a dedicated spot for hand and footprints. Get an inkless stamp pad - it gives you detailed, beautiful prints without ever getting actual ink on your baby's skin.
06 · Storing the extras
The book holds the highlights - but pregnancy and the first years also mean scan photos, hospital bands, little notes and cards you want to keep somewhere beautiful. I use a linen memory box. It sits on a shelf, it looks considered, and everything inside stays in good condition.
→ ZICOTO Decorative Linen Memory Box
One last thing
There is no right way to fill this in. The point is to write it down - the dates, the feelings, the small things you think you'll remember but won't. You will be glad you did.
Kerin Anne x
Founder, Peachly