New Baby Gift: Personalized Book or Photo Album?

By Baptiste Geissmann · August 19, 2026 · 5 min read

A baby has just been born, and you're looking for a memorable gift. You've heard about personalized illustrated books, and hand-laid-out photo albums. Both come from Pitiboo, both are unique. But they don't tell the same story. This guide helps you choose.

Two objects that don't tell the same story

A personalized illustrated book and a photo album have one thing in common: they're made to order and only one copy exists. But their content is radically different.

The illustrated book creates fiction. A baby named Zoe sets off to discover the forest animals, overcomes her fear of the dark, or welcomes her little brother. The watercolor illustrations show Zoe the way her parents described her. It's an invented, beautiful, timeless story.

The photo album documents real life. Mom's pregnancy, arriving at the maternity ward, the first baths, the first smiles. It's a record of real life, precious for different reasons.

Who gives what?

Here's the practical question: you're not all in the same position relative to the family. And that changes everything.

You're a friend, a colleague, a distant cousin

You don't have the pregnancy photos. You won't necessarily be around every week. The personalized illustrated book is the best choice: it only needs the name, age and a physical description. The bond with the child forms through the story, not through shared memories.

You're the grandparents, the godmother or godfather

You have photos, you're present. The photo album lets you tell your own perspective on the child's arrival, with your own images. It's a very personal gift. But the personalized book also works very well, especially if you want something the child will enjoy more as they grow up.

You're the parents, for yourselves

The photo album is for you. The first weeks fly by at a wild speed, and the photos sit forgotten on a phone. An album laid out by hand, printed and bound, is a keepsake you'll look back at in 20 years.

Both at the same time?

It's possible, and some families do it. An illustrated book given at birth by relatives, and a photo album ordered by the parents a few months later, once they have photos from the first months. Both objects coexist and play different roles in the house.

Can you order before the birth?

For the illustrated book, yes, if the name is known. You can fill in the form ahead of time, and the order is processed as soon as the details are complete. Many relatives order the book before the birth to have it ready in time for the homecoming or the christening.

For the photo album, no. You need to wait until you have photos from the first months, then send them to Pitiboo. The layout takes a few days.

What each one costs

• Personalized illustrated book: from CHF 48 (softcover, 1 child) up to CHF 150 (all-inclusive Deluxe formula)
• Photo album: from CHF 59 (20x20 cm format, 30 pages, delivery included)