Which is the best photo book for baby?
It's a question we hear all the time—especially when someone spots a beautiful baby book sitting on a coffee table or bookshelf and wonders, “Is that from Shutterfly or is that a baby memory book?”
One of our Baby Notebook users recently got that question and was so excited that she made a three-part Instagram story sharing every detail of her book. Spoiler alert: She made it with the Baby Notebook app!
If you're trying to decide between a Shutterfly photo album and a custom baby memory book app like Baby Notebook, here's our take on what you should consider.
What is a Shutterfly Photo Book?
Shutterfly is known for its custom photo books and gifts. You can upload photos from your phone or computer, choose a layout or theme, and order a printed album. Their baby photo book templates are designed to help parents tell the story of their little one's first year. It's perfect in theory, but not always easy in practice.
To use Shutterfly, you typically need to:
- Set aside time to upload your photos from different sources
- Customize the layout on your desktop or tablet
- Remember to actually finish the book
For busy parents juggling bottles, bedtimes, and a million milestones, that can be a tall order.
Why Baby Notebook is Different (and Easier)
The Baby Notebook app was created by parents for parents. We know how hard it is to keep up with memory keeping when you're short on time and sleep. Founders (and sisters) Davia and Suzanne designed a solution for busy parents to make a photo book for baby effortlessly.
Instead of logging into a website and hoping you remember to finish everything later, the Baby Notebook app:
- Sends you weekly notifications prompting you to document key memories
- Offers guided journaling prompts so you know exactly what to write
- Lets you upload photos directly from your phone or tablet (no laptop required)
- Includes aesthetically-designed pages like “firsts,” “letter to you,” and “how big is baby”
- Allows an incomparable level of customization so you can skip what doesn't apply and make it your own
Whether you want a minimalist photo book for baby with just the highlights or a detailed keepsake packed with images and stories, Baby Notebook adapts to you.
Memory Book or Photo Book: What's the Difference?
A Shutterfly album is a photo-first product. Beautiful layouts showcase pictures. But if you want to tell the story of your baby's first year – with the feelings, memories, and little everyday details – you'll need a lot more than just pictures.
Baby Notebook blends the best of both worlds. You get:
- A memory book with prompts to preserve milestones and thoughts
- A photo book with plenty of room for images, including layouts you can swap
- A printed keepsake you can hold, treasure, and share with your little one when they're older
It's not just a photo book for baby. It's a time capsule of your baby's first year. You want to preserve all the big and little moments that make it special.
Designed for Real Life
We know you probably don't have hours to sit at a computer arranging photos or designing pages. That's why Baby Notebook allows you to work right from your phone in short, manageable bursts.
When you have three spare minutes, you can add:
- A funny photo from bath time
- That sweet thing your friend said to your baby
- A quick note about what it's like to wake up for those 3am feedings
And when you're ready, you can print your book with just a few clicks. No reformatting, no rearranging. It's designed to be easy and effortless from start to finish.
So… Which is Better?
If you're a professional scrapbooker who loves spending hours on layouts, Shutterfly might be your thing.
But if you want something:
- More streamlined
- Built for real-time updates on the go
- Designed with prompts, flexibility, and your schedule in mind
Baby Notebook is the better choice. It makes it easier to keep up with memory keeping while you're living the memories.
We love hearing from users like the mom who proudly showed off her Baby Notebook when someone asked, “Is that a Shutterfly album?”
Nope. It was even better because it wasn't just a photo book. It was a record of the little moments that made her baby's first year magical.
Want a memory book that works for your real life? Download the Baby Notebook app to start creating your custom photo book for baby today!
Thank you to Sara Welch Photography for these beautiful photos of the Baby Notebook baby book.