Baby’s first Christmas is such an exciting time. In fact, when you first found out that you were pregnant, chances are it’s occasions like this that sprung to mind and got you feeling really excited. Depending on where in the year your little one was born, you might have a tiny baby or close to a toddler, and while they won’t understand what’s going on it’s so nice to mark the occasion. Whether you’ve recently became a family and had your first baby this year, or added a new member to your brood, here are some of the ways you can make it special!
Capture the Moments
Christmas is the perfect time to take lots of photos and videos of your baby. Whether it’s their first time seeing the Christmas tree lights twinkle, wearing a tiny holiday outfit, or giggling at the sound of wrapping paper crinkling, these moments are precious. You could even set up a little holiday photoshoot at home with a festive backdrop, or invest in a professional photographer to do a shoot. These photos will make great keepsakes and can even be used as personalized holiday cards for family and friends.
Start a Family Tradition
Christmas is all about traditions, and now that you have a little one, it’s the perfect time to start your own family rituals. It could be things like hanging a special ornament for your baby each year, reading a holiday book together on Christmas Eve or watching a favorite Christmas movie as a family. It could be wearing matching pyjamas- you can get some adorable infant and toddler pajamas these days! Things like Christmas eve boxes have become popular, although it doesnt have to be expensive. It could be as expensive or inexpensive as you like, but these traditions will become something your child looks forward to as they grow up.
Create Keepsake Ornaments
Ornaments are a lovely way to mark your baby’s first Christmas and create something you’ll be able to look back on every Christmas for years to come. You can buy “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments or, better yet, make your own! A simple salt dough ornament with your baby’s handprint or footprint pressed into it is easy to create, add the date and your baby’s name. Each year when you decorate the tree, you’ll have a sweet reminder of how tiny they were during their first holiday season.
Enjoy Cozy Family Time
While Christmas can be a busy time of year, make sure to carve out some quiet moments to simply enjoy being together as a family. Read holiday themed board books or play soft Christmas music in the background, watch festive themed baby sensory videos on the tv together. Don’t give into pressure of bringing your baby around to see everyone if you’re not comfortable doing that, it can be tiring and over stimulating especially if you’re freshly postpartum or dealing with parental anxiety. Have some boundaries in place and know that it’s ok to just stay as your own family unit if thats what you want.
Introduce Holiday Sensory Play
Even though your baby might not fully understand the holiday, they’ll love exploring new sights, sounds, and textures. Introduce some Christmas-themed sensory play by letting them touch different textures like soft stockings, shiny tinsel (supervised, of course), or crinkly wrapping paper. You can also let them listen to jingle bells or gentle Christmas carols.
Photo by Norman Milwood: Pexel