Photo Books?

[jojosmommy]

Anyone use photo books for kids when they transition to daycare from an old daycare?

I used them in the past and gave one to every child with pictures of all the kids in care, things we do at daycare etc. It cost me almost $75. Every parent has said they LOVE IT and the kids look at it all the time. Looking for a cheaper alternative.

[PitterPatter]

I do something like that for the parents at Christmas. I take pics year round then just print them all out and make a photo album. We have gotten the dollar store photo albums and filled them with the pics and some colorings and pressed flowers the kids picked etc. I have also just let the kids pick a Christmas card and trim it to the size of the photos then cut it in 1/2 use the cover of the card for the album and the back of the card for the back and bind it all with my binder. It doesn't cost near $75. (I don't think anyway I always have stuff on hand)

[DCMom]

I do them for each daycare family at Christmas time, but $75 sounds really expensive. I use Shutterfly to store my photos and they have specials all the time for half-price photo books. I think I paid around $25 each last Christmas with free shipping.

I just ordered a 12 x 12 hard cover for my daughters graduation and it was $27.

For what you are doing (which a great idea by the way!) I would just do the softcover 5 x 7 or 7 x 9 ~ you can get those for under $20. They are pretty sturdy and can take lots of looking and page turning

[littlemonkeys]

I'm interested in your responses too.

I take a ton of pictures of the kids and at the end of every year give them to the parents as my gift to them. Like you said, they love it!! I usually just go to Michaels and get the foam photo albums ($2 or so) and decorate the outside. THIS year, I wanted to go all out since we're relocating and I won't have my kids with me anymore (sniff sniff). I was planning on giving them a hard cover photo book. My sister uses iphoto on her Mac computer to make them for $19.99 a piece, but I think walgreens and CVS do them as well and sometimes you can find BOGO deals.

What are you currently using?

[jojosmommy]

Let me clarify, last time I purchased photo books which we inserted pictures into. It was the photo printing that cost me the most. I made one book for every kid with quite a bit of photos inside.

Should have used shutterfly since their prints are much cheaper.

[DCMom]

Let me clarify, last time I purchased photo books which we inserted pictures into. It was the photo printing that cost me the most. I made one book for every kid with quite a bit of photos inside.

Should have used shutterfly since their prints are much cheaper.

Well kudos to you! I can't even find time to scrapbook my own family photos, let alone daycare photos!

I started using Shutterfly a number of years ago to store daycare photos and order daycare photo gifts. It is the ONLY way to go! I have order mugs, mousepads, Christmas ornaments, photo books, etc and I have NEVER been disappointed.

[PitterPatter]

Well kudos to you! I can't even find time to scrapbook my own family photos, let alone daycare photos!

I started using Shutterfly a number of years ago to store daycare photos and order daycare photo gifts. It is the ONLY way to go! I have order mugs, mousepads, Christmas ornaments, photo books, etc and I have NEVER been disappointed.

I feel like crap!! I keep forgetting to get my albums done! I print here and there of my family and just stick them in a shoebox for later. I haven't done my scrab book or basic photo album in over a year! Yet i do all the other familes! I guess I know what my next project will be on my day off.

[daycare]

we are making calendars this year for the parents. At costco they are only $15.00. I will get away cheap, as I have some kids from the same family so I will only need to make one..

You spent $75.00 per parent? Wow that is super nice of you.....Make me look cheap....

[jojosmommy]

It cost me $75 total for all the kids I have but since then a few have left and thus the reason to make new ones since new kids I have just started.

My son LOVES his book and I think will have to make new ones of all the new friends. I just didn't want to pay out another $75 just for photo books.

I saw shutterfly has these $4.99 ones that say you can include up to 45 photos. I think I will make one and see how it looks. $5 each sounds cheap enough to me.

[MamaBear]

I do it thru Ofoto (Kodak)

I order about 20-30 pictures from my Kodak / Ofoto website that I load on there and costs me about $10 at the most... Then I buy a cute little photo album from Target (around $2) and put pictures in there... They love it. It a nice gift to give the child & family when they leave the daycare for big kid school for sure