Preparing for Your Baby's First Christmas
Tuesday 27th of November 2012 | Category: Baby News | Written by: Rosanne MouldingChristmas is one of the most exciting times of the year, especially if you have children or will be celebrating with children around. When it is your baby's first Christmas, chances are they'll be a few months old and won't know what's going on. However, that doesn't mean you can't start up some Christmas traditions and have a great day showing off your newborn to all your nearest and dearest!
Sleep and Christmas
The most stressful part of a baby's first Christmas is that the parents worry whether the excitement will get too much and disrupt the baby's sleeping routine. The most important thing to do is to prepare. If you're travelling to yours or your partner's parents' house for the big day, make sure you leave plenty of time and won't have to wake your little one up from a planned nap to do so. You may also want to pack extra baby clothes and nappies. Although your baby might not know it's Christmas, they will still pick up on the excitement and all that extra noise and giggling may give them an upset tummy.
Once you're at your Christmas destination, ensure relatives understand the need for your baby to stick to his or her routine. This might mean your family being a bit quieter when they go upstairs, or understanding that they can't hold the baby anymore if it is time for him or her to have a feed. To reduce the chances of your baby being disturbed by all the hustle and bustle going on in the house, take them into their bedroom or a quieter room for some 'wind down' time before you put them to bed. You may also need to wind down other relatives' excitement over your baby. Just because it's his or hers first Christmas doesn't mean they need to be dressed up like mini-Santa, an elf or a reindeer. Keeping your child happy and comfortable is the most important thing this year.
What to Watch out For
If your child was born just after Christmas last year, they might understand what is going on a bit better. It might also be harder for them to resist those sweets! Keep an eye on what your baby is eating and being fed by relatives to reduce the chances of them having too many chocolate sweets.
Other hazards to be aware of are hot drinks. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without family arguing over who's going to make the tea, but tea and coffee can be dangerous when there's a baby around. Ask everyone to keep their tea out of your baby's reach and to be careful when passing them to others. Make sure no one ever passes a cup of hot liquid over your baby. Also, to be on the safe side, keep an eye on the Christmas tree. Ensure your baby is never directly underneath it and that the tree is stable in its position and won't fall over. Watch your child around any fairy lights or candles. If you are in a place with pets, it might be a good idea to keep them away from your child, as even the nicest pet can turn nasty when over-excited or irritated by the noise and disruption.
You will have to accept that even if you tell relatives not to buy anything for your child as they won't even know its Christmas, everyone around you will want to spoil the new arrival! You could always ask for practical items, such as clothes, nappies or vouchers. Alternatively, you could set up a small trust fund for your baby and ask relatives to donate whatever they would like. This way, everyone feels like they have given something useful, and you don't end up with piles and piles of toys which won't get played with until years to come!
Finally, the best way to prepare for Christmas is to relax and enjoy your baby's first major celebration. They will be at a good age for going to see Father Christmas, as they probably won't know enough of their surroundings to get scared and cry! You can also set some fun traditions, like putting milk out on the front step.
