Watching your baby grow is one of the most magical experiences, and capturing those tiny milestones month by month makes it even more special. But honestly, it can feel daunting to figure out the best way to capture them—and keeping it consistent for all 12 months is no small task. If you already have other little ones to care for, taking these baby girl monthly milestone pictures can feel like one more task on top of everything else. That’s why I prefer keeping it simple yet meaningful, focusing on capturing real moments that truly celebrate each stage of their first year. Here are my tips for Baby Girl Monthly Milestone Pictures-
Tips for Capturing Baby Girl Monthly Milestones Pictures
- Pick a Monthly Theme
Choose a theme for each month to make your pictures feel cohesive. It could be seasonal (spring flowers, autumn leaves), occasions or festivals that are special to you that month, or something special for that month (a first smile, favorite toy, or milestone). You can also encapsulate all of them. - Pick a Simple Marker to Highlight the Month
I personally love using a wooden marker, as it blends beautifully with any backdrop. A milestone mat is another great option, and if you want to include all the highlights of the month, a changeable letter board works perfectly to showcase your baby’s achievements. - Capture at the End of the Month
Instead of doing it on the actual day of the birthday. I recommend taking pictures at the end of each month to help you document the milestones your baby has just reached that month—like sitting up, crawling, or standing. This way, each month’s photo reflects their latest achievements. This also takes away the pressure of doing it on the day, and you can actually enjoy the day - Keep It Natural
Avoid over-staging—let your baby’s personality shine through. Simple backgrounds, cozy lighting, and real moments make the photos feel authentic and timeless. - Highlight Milestones
Each month, focus on the milestone they reached—sitting, crawling, first steps, first words. These small moments are the ones you’ll cherish the most later. - Use Props You Already Own
Props are a great way to add a seasonal touch or complement your theme. For example, I’ve used hay and little pumpkins from our home decorations for fall, diyas and battery-operated candles from our Diwali setup. I’ve also used this pretty crib skirt as a mat to arrange props for most of the pictures. You can get creative with what you already have at home! The key is to keep props minimal, so your baby stays the focus and the milestone truly shines. - Enjoy the Process
Don’t stress about perfection. These photos are about capturing love, growth, and the fleeting moments that make the first year so unforgettable.
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Baby Girl Monthly Milestone Pictures
My daughter was born in December, which meant we got to experience and capture all the seasons and festivals throughout the year.
Month One- January (No Theme)
For my elder one, I took his monthly milestone pictures the same way as shown in the picture above—on a lounger, using the same wooden marker. I wanted to do the same for my daughter, so I could place their pictures side by side. That was my thought process, and I didn’t focus on any specific theme at first; it was simply about starting and finding my rhythm.
Outfit Details
Sweater Pant (similar here)
Backdrop Details
I put the pack-and-play mattress underneath the lounger and used this crib sheet for a simple and cozy backdrop setup.
Month Two – February (Valentine’s Theme)
A Valentine’s Day theme felt so fitting for February. I had never really done Valentine’s Day décor before, so it felt extra special to do it for my baby girl and capture a few sweet pictures of her—and of us!
Outfit Details
Loved Sweatshirt (also comes in toddler sizes)
Baby Girl Tulle skirt + Headband set
Backdrop Details
V Day Party Decoration Kit I used for the heart garland and heart shapes
Used this Crib Bed skirt as the mat under the lounger
Month Three – March (Holi & Spring Themes & Smiling Often Milestone)
For March, I couldn’t decide between a spring theme or a Holi theme, so I ended up doing both. She also started smiling more this month, which made taking pictures even more enjoyable and inspired me to capture as many moments as possible. For spring, I added flowers from our vase, bringing in that fresh, blooming season feel.
For Holi, I played with bright colors by placing plates filled with different powdered Holi colors around the lounger and applied a touch of turmeric on her cheeks. It was a beautiful way to celebrate both the changing season and a festival close to our hearts, and the contrast between the two made the month feel extra special and joyful.
Outfit Details
similar White Bodysuit (another option here)
Backdrop Details
Used this Crib Bed skirt as the mat under the lounger
Month Four – April (Easter Theme & Rolling Over Milestone)
This was a special month, as we celebrated her first big milestone—rolling over (I’ve also shared a separate post on baby kicking activities we did that helped encourage this milestone). I made sure to capture a few pictures of her rolling over, marking the month she reached this exciting stage.
For the theme, we chose Easter. I dressed her in a cute pastel romper and added Easter eggs and a basket in the backdrop to highlight the season. I picked pastel-colored eggs to complement her outfit, and I loved how everything came together. I did pigtails for the first time, and omg! She looked absolutely adorable.
Don’t hesitate to play with gentle patterns like checks and florals in soft colors—they photograph beautifully and add just the right amount of detail without overwhelming the picture.
Outfit Details
Similar tights here—we love these because they come with non-slip feet)
Backdrop Details
I put the pack-and-play mattress underneath the lounger and used this crib sheet for a simple and cozy backdrop setup.
Month Five – May (Annaprasana: First Food Ceremony Theme & Tummy Crawling Milestone)
I’ll be sharing a full blog post on the Annaprasana ceremony, which will explain all the details I included in the backdrop. I had planned to share it before my Starting Solids series, but I didn’t get the chance, so it will be posted in the new year. These are, hands down, my favorite pictures of my daughter. I had been dreaming of this yellow and pink Pattu Langa for her, and my MIL sourced the fabric and had it stitched in India, so unfortunately, I don’t have a link to share.
In the fifth month, she had started crawling on her tummy, so I captured a sweet photo of her in that pose to mark the milestone.
Outfit Details
Custom-made in India
Backdrop Details
similar Banana Leaf Placemats (used these in my baby shower backdrop)
Month Six – June (Summer Theme & Sitting With Support Milestone)
Summer and the beach just go hand in hand for us, and living in Maryland means we’re lucky to have gorgeous ocean beaches nearby. So whenever I think of summer, the beach is what immediately comes to mind. She absolutely loves splashing in the water, and she had so much fun on all our beach trips this year. Since she started sitting with support at this time, I made sure to capture some adorable pictures of her sitting at the beach.
Outfit Details
Not pictured, but the cutest Beach cover-up
Backdrop Details
Month Seven – July (All Things Girly Theme & Standing With Support Milestone)
I wanted a fully girly theme for this month, filled with cute details like ruffles, bows, pearls, florals, and butterflies—and this setup included all of them. This month was especially memorable because she started sitting independently, and in the same week, she also began standing with support. I shared a video on her birthday that beautifully captured both of these milestones.
For the backdrop, I used our coffee table and covered it with the crib skirt you’ve seen in most of her milestone pictures above. She happily stood with the support of the coffee table, and it felt like the perfect way to capture her growth—and her cute outfit!
Outfit Details
Dress (similar options here, here, and here)
Backdrop Details
Used this Crib Bed skirt as the mat under the lounger
Month Eight – August (Ganesh Puja Theme & Standing Independently Milestone)
Ganesh Puja is my favorite festival, so it felt only right to capture this month with a cute Ganesha theme. I did the shoot outdoors on our lawn. For the backdrop, I used a silk dhoti fabric layered over a picnic blanket we already had. I sprinkled fresh flowers from our garden, added our little Ganesha doll, and placed the milestone marker near Ganesha’s trunk. It came together so beautifully.
Outfit Details
Custom-made in India
Backdrop Details
Month Nine – September (Apple Theme & Waving Hi Milestone)
It was the season of apples and pumpkins, and when I found the prettiest apple sweater with a matching apple clip, I knew I had to go with the theme. Around this time, she also started waving hello at her grandparents and us during FaceTime. It wasn’t easy to capture that moment, but I managed to get something close enough.
I took the pictures in our lawn, and the roses in full bloom made the perfect backdrop. I laid the same crib skirt on the grass and added apples in a fruit basket—that’s all it took to pull the look together.
Outfit Details
Sweater Cord set from Marshalls, couldn’t find it online to link (Pre-owned available here; love this cord set)
Tights (love them; comes with a non-slip sole)
Shoes (cute but not suitable for snow)
Backdrop Details
Used this Crib Bed skirt as the mat
Month Ten – October (Diwali Theme & Walking Milestone)
It was the month of Diwali and the beginning of the festive season. Around this time, our home looks its most beautiful, filled with Diwali décor and slowly transitioning into fall, Halloween, and Christmas. Watching her start to walk during Diwali felt like welcoming a little Lakshmi into our home, bringing so much joy and positivity with her. I also shared a full video of her walking in this setup on Instagram—check it out here. Watching her take those little steps was one of the most beautiful things I witnessed in my life.
I couldn’t quite capture her walking in pictures, but the one above captures a small, sweet moment, and I’m convincing myself to be happy with it.
Outfit Details
Silk Dress from Kalas Couture (this dress is $37; this is not pure silk, but if you’re looking for affordable Indian wear, check this store)
Backdrop Details
Similar Diya
Month Eleven – November (Fall Theme)
This was the last monthly milestone picture before her big birthday. It felt a bit bittersweet, and honestly, a bit of relief that the year of monthly milestones was coming to an end. I wanted to try something different with her outfit—something with a bit of edge and rowdy vibes that matches her little personality, since she absolutely makes sure she gets what she wants from us 😄. When I found this leather jacket set at Marshalls, I was overjoyed!
For the décor, I kept it simple: I just used our front porch decorations and layered them on top of a splat mat—that was it.
Look at my little poser! I can’t resist sharing a few extra pictures from this month—they give me all the fashionista vibes.
Outfit Details
BTWEEN brand set from TJ Maxx (similar here)
Boots (these are great—they have a non-slip sole and are waterproof. She walks comfortably in the snow in them)
Backdrop Details
ONE – December (My Little Princess Theme)
I’ll be sharing a couple of posts on her first birthday. We didn’t have a big party—just an intimate celebration with close friends nearby. I did a simple décor for her cake smash, and I’ll be sharing those details along with some birthday outfit ideas in separate posts.
Outfit Details
Pattu Langa set from Madhu Sri Creations
Backdrop Details
Coming soon in the cakesmash post
That’s a wrap! I’d love to hear how you captured your baby’s first year—looking forward to reading those!
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