Baby Time Capsule Ideas

Time capsules are a lot of fun to make, and even more so when you’re making it for your baby to open years later. Together with your child, you’ll share a beautiful trip down the memory lane and you’ll come to realize how wonderful the journey was.

In this article, we’re presenting you with all the information you need about baby time capsules starting from the best baby time capsule ideas and how you can build one to where you should bury it and for how long.

Why Make a Time Capsule?

A time capsule is a container that holds a collection of items put together to save certain memories. Each object may refer to the memory of a place, a person, an experience, or a period of time.

Think of how fun and touching it can be to create a time capsule for your baby, whether at birth or on their first birthday, and have them open it years later when they’re an adult.

What is the Purpose of a Time Capsule?

A time capsule is meant to preserve items over an extended period of time. The materials used in making the container and wrapping the included objects serve to protect the contents, keeping their condition almost as good as new.

This way, when your child opens their time capsule in the future, every memory will still be intact.

How do you Make a Time Capsule?

Making a time capsule is a lot easier than it may sound, we promise! Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you create your own baby time capsule:

1. Gather the Contents

The first step in building a unique time capsule for your baby is to gather all the items you want to include inside the capsule.

A good place to start is by making a list of all the possible items you’d like your baby to see when they’re older.

These objects could be personal signifying your family, your interests, and the baby’s early life, or they could refer to current times and the state of the world.

Remember, you may be tempted to pile up items for your baby, but you’re limited by how much space is available in your capsule and how well your capsule can protect the contents.

2. Pick a Suitable Container

After assembling the contents of your baby time capsule, you’ll need to choose a suitable container for safekeeping.

Start by determining the duration of your time capsule; how long it’ll remain unopened. For example, some parents plan for their kids to open the time capsule on their 18th birthday while others want them to open it whenever they get married.

In any case, the container should keep out air and liquid, as well as be strong enough to protect the contents if something is dropped on it or it gets dropped.

Also, it should be made using a chemically-stable material (such as polyethene) to resist decomposition and prevent reacting with the contents. A durable plastic storage box can do the trick.

3. Choose the Right Location

Now that you have your baby time capsule ready, it’s time to find the right spot to put the capsule. For this task, there are many options to choose from.

You can go for the classic approach and bury the time capsule in your own backyard or a special spot that you’ll frequently visit with your kid, such as a park or a playground.

A safer but less captivating alternative is storing your baby time capsule indoors in your basement, attic, or far back a closet. Another interesting option is keeping the time capsule outdoors, above ground but camouflaged inside a hollow rock or log.

4. Track the Time Capsule

Whatever place you end up picking, make sure you mark the container with the date of sealing and the intended opening date.

Also, do something to remind yourself and at least one more person about the baby time capsule. You can record the location and intended opening date digitally and on paper, set reminders each year, or schedule an email to be sent to you on a specific date.

5. Seal the Deal

You made it to the last step! All that’s left for you to do is seal the time capsule tightly and completely using a plastic bag.

What are some Things to Put in a Time Capsule? – Baby Time Capsule Ideas

So you know all the steps necessary to make a baby time capsule, but the question now is: what do you put inside a time capsule for your baby? Here are some ideas to inspire you:

A message from mum, dad, grandma, grandpa, siblings, and close friends.
A personal note from the creator, if mum is not the creator. Describe your connection with the family, if needed.
Photos of mum’s pregnancy progression and the growing bump, month by month.
A lot of photos. Choose a day before the baby shower or baby’s birth, and take as many photos as you can. Some examples of places or objects to include are the front of your house, local grocery store, your favourite restaurant, the movie theatre, the gas station (and make sure to show the price of gas on that day!), the neighbourhood, the local park, down town skyline or store fronts, cars in a parking lot, and advertising billboards. The ideas are endless but your priority should be things you think could change over time.
Photos of mum and dad’s car, their workplace, the inside and outside of the baby’s home and room, photos of the parents/ family having fun. Include a photo of the parents on their wedding (if possible) and another one taken as close to the day of the baby shower/ baby’s birth, as possible.
A video recording. It could be a walk-through of your home or your workplace or a bunch of interviews with mum/ dad and close friends or relatives.
Identification bracelets that mummy and baby wore at the hospital.
A copy of a national newspaper or your local daily newspaper from the date of the baby’s birth.
A popular magazine (Time, Newsweek, People, or anything you normally read), also from the birth date.
Year-in-review issues of magazines or newspapers to summarize the events of the year of the child’s birth.
A flash drive with the Top 10 songs/music on the day of birth. If you are unable to create a flash drive, type a list and print it out.
A floor plan of your home.
Your extended family tree up to the date of birth.
Stamps.
Current coins and banknotes.
A receipt from the local grocery store with the parent’s favourite items.

What Can you Put Inside a Baby Shower Time Capsule?

A baby time capsule is a fantastic idea for a baby shower gift. Here are some items you can include in a time capsule for a baby shower:

Baby’s birth announcement.
Photos of mummy and daddy as kids.
A small, popular toy.
A local map or a printout from google earth.
A Sports Trading card or other valuable collectables.
A menu from mummy’s and/or daddy’s favourite restaurant.
A merchandise catalogue or travel brochure of the parent’s favourite store or honeymoon destination.
A tax return, a pay stub, a credit card bill.
The current New York Times bestseller list.
Any information about the current president and the political landscape.
A bus or train ticket.
A piece of art.
Money printed in the same year of birth.
A weather report of the day of birth.
The best selling book of the year of birth.
Baby books for bath time.

What Can you Put Inside a First Birthday Time Capsule?

You don’t have to finish the time capsule before the baby is born or in the first few weeks, you can wait until their first birthday to personalize the contents of the time capsule even more! The following are some first birthday time capsule ideas for your baby:

Baby’s first photo.
Any hospital memorabilia, like the baby’s name card or identification bracelet.
Baby’s first outfit.
Photos of the baby’s first Christmas, New Year, 4th of July, Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s day, and so on.
The most recent baby cards and letters.
A Factsheet of your baby. For example, (I am this ___ tall, I weigh ___. ). Include anything special or memorable about your child.
Photos from the baby shower.
Baby’s first family photo.
A copy of the birth certificate.
Drawings or letters from siblings.
Baby’s keepsakes, like a lock of hair from their first haircut. You can also include things like a pacifier or a sock.
Handprint or footprint. You can use a kit for this one.
Time capsule kits: there are readily available time capsule kits to help you keep track of information you’d want to remember, but they’re a bit small. They come in a can/container so they won’t get wet.
A heartfelt letter. You can use letter writing sets or cute stationery for the future capsule opener.
A baby book.
A photo album or scrapbooking set.
Your baby’s favourite book.
Throughout the year and towards your child’s birthday, you can collect newspaper front pages with major headlines.
Your child’s favourite toy. If it is too big or they’re still attached to it, take a picture of it.

After You Put Together a Time Capsule

What is the best material for a time capsule?

The container should be made using a chemically-stable material such as polyethene to resist decomposition and prevent reacting with the contents.

What type of container is best to use to bury your memories?

The container should keep out air and liquid, as well as be strong enough to protect the contents if something is dropped on it or it gets dropped.

Also, it should be made using a chemically-stable material (such as polyethene) to resist decomposition and prevent reacting with the contents. A durable plastic storage box can do the trick.

How long does a time capsule last?

A time capsule can last for a long time up to 150 years.

Can you bury a cardboard time capsule?

It’s best to avoid burying a cardboard time capsule because the cardboard material will decompose over time, exposing all the contents to environmental factors and they’ll end up ruined.

Tips for creating an undisturbed time capsule

Put silica or desiccant gels inside the time capsule with the contents to keep everything dry. You need the interior to be humidity-free especially if you’re planning to bury the time capsule for a long time.
Wrap the items individually in plastic before burying the time capsule to ensure better protection.
Seal the entire container in a plastic bag before burying.

Where do you put a time capsule?

You bury the time capsule in your own backyard or a special spot that you’ll frequently visit with your kid, such as a park or a playground.

A safer but less captivating alternative is storing your baby time capsule indoors in your basement, attic, or far back a closet.

Another interesting option is keeping the time capsule outdoors, above ground but camouflaged inside a hollow rock or log.

How deep should a time capsule be buried?

Generally speaking, a time capsule should be buried 18 to 24 inches deep. You want it to be deep enough down in the ground for stable temperature.

How long should a time capsule be buried?

A time capsule can be buried for a really long time from 10 years and up to 100 or even 150 years!

When should I open my baby’s time capsule?

That depends on what occasion you prefer.

Parents commonly plan for their kids to open the time capsule when they turn 18 or when they’re about to get married.

Precious Memories with Your Baby

There you have it – everything you need to know about making a time capsule for your baby.

We included a huge number of baby time capsule ideas that could work as gifts in baby showers or as a fun family tradition to keep your intimate memories!

Is your baby growing out of their toddler bedroom essentials? Why not include that in the time capsule, if you’re out of ideas? You can also check out any of their playthings that you might have hidden away in toy storage.

Eager to start making memorable moments? Check out our range of baby products and start making memories!

Baby Time Capsule Ideas: What to Put in a Time Capsule for Your Baby