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It's your little cherub's 1st Christmas! Congratulations! Your baby many not remember any of it, but seeing real Christmas magic in the eyes of a baby experiencing it all for the first time is something worth all the effort! We've got a great tip list of all the things to do this month with your baby, as well as some hazards to be aware of this time of year.
Dress em up!
You know you can't resist those Santa pajamas, "Baby's 1st Christmas" bibs, and reindeer onesies! Indulge and pick out something totally festive and don't worry that it probably won't be worn more than once or twice. The pictures will last forever!
Get that Picture with Santa
Whether it be at the mall, a party at your church, or at Grandma's home with your Uncle in the suit, get a picture of the jolly man and your baby this year! It may become a yearly tradition that you'll want pictures of. Who knows, it may also become your Christmas card.
Hang their Stocking
Add one more stocking to the mantle and find them a Baby's 1st Christmas ornament for the tree! If they'll cooperate, try making ornaments that capture baby's hands or feet imprints. Don't worry about actually filling the stocking or getting the baby a lot of presents. That's what grandparents are for, and the babe will probably love playing with the shiny paper and boxes more than anything else!
Monitor the Sweets
It's tempting to want to give your baby their first taste of gingerbread, candy canes, and hot chocolate, but these are no-no's for infants. Spare them the sweets and keep an extra eye out for relatives and older siblings who may want to sneak food to your baby. Make sure they know to cut food up into tiny pieces and save the sweet stuff for another year! The worst choking hazards for babies around the holidays are nuts, marshmallows, hard candies, and raisins. If you're making pumpkin pie from scratch, contain the pumpkin seeds since they can restrict air if a child puts the seeds up their nose.
Oh Christmas Tree
Putting up a tree can be questionable, depending on how mobile and how curious your baby is. It might be the year to do a small tree on the table if you've got a crawler. If you decide to put up the tree anyways, make sure it is not even remotely likely to topple with small force. Consider tying it up in the corner to something like a bookshelf or window frame. Place ornaments high up on the tree, since ornament hooks can be very dangerous for a baby who puts everything in their mouth.
Decorate with Caution
Most people don't think about the dozens of holiday-related hazards around the home that affect infants. Strings of lights, garland, beads, and even tinsel can become strangulation hazards, so place them high and in a way that cannot be pulled and removed easily. Any decoration that can fit through the hole of a toilet paper roll is a choking hazard, so put small pieces of nativities, Santa figurines, jingle bells, batteries, and anything else cute and little away and out of reach.
If you love adorning your home with seasonal plants, make absolutely sure that the holly, poinsettias, and Jerusalem cherry plants are off the ground and out of reach because these can pose poisoning risks. Even snow sprays can be harmful if used improperly.
Travel with Flexibly
Set realistic expectations so that you don't stress yourself out. Plan for everything to take longer than anticipated so that everyone can take frequent stops for snacks and stretching on those holiday road trips. Pack only the things that the baby absolutely needs, keeping in mind that you can buy things at your destination (like more baby food and diapers). Don't lug around more belongings than you need to, especially if you'll be returning with gifts in your luggage. Dress comfortably - both you and your baby! And don't forget their favorite toy or comfort item!
Document!
Go picture happy and relish in all the memories you are capturing for yourself and for your baby when they're older. Get pictures of the whole family and lots of just the baby. Photograph the un-wrapping, the new toys, the smiles, the outfits, the grandparents holding the baby, the little one under the tree, and every big and small part of Christmas that is magical and memorable!
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated to not only protecting what matters most -- but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
I DEFINITELY agree with holding off on sweets - they're still at an age where they won't feel like they're missing out yet, and it's not like they'll remember that they didn't get grandma's famous XYZ that one year - it's more for your nostalgic benefit than theirs. My son is 18 months old and we;re still holding off on the super sugary treats!
Amber Ludwig says
Oh my these are great tips!! I wish we would've done some of these with my kiddo!! We don't have many photos and no official "First Christmas" anything! I think we totally spaced it since my son was almost 1 on his first Christmas lol. We did decorate and go see santa though!! I have one of the kiddos that is a huge santa fan 🙂
Aimee Hopkins says
Love it! I used a lot of these when my lo was a baby. I made it a mission for lo to wake up in his own house and not to travel so much ON Christmas Day. I grew up traveling and hated it. I just wanted to stay in my pjs and lounge around the house and Play!
tammy says
Coops 1st was last yr..but we are still gonna do special pics..
Deborah D says
I love these tips.
Holly Thomas says
You have some really great ideas - I really wish I would have seen this 4-5 years ago though 🙂
Kimberly Frazee says
I Love the tips. Babys first Christmas is just a cluster of treasured moments
Nikki Strong says
I love each of these suggestions! I wish that I had done ALL of these with my older children!
Heather in VA says
I especially agree with the document! I thought I would write things down later but now it's been 9 years since my last baby had her first Christmas and if I did write it down I can't find it! I remember some things but I don't remember her reactions. 🙁
Laura Goodwin says
Love the baby's first ornament idea! We did that with both my kids and now it's a tradition to get a new ornament in their stocking every year! Also, thank you for mentioning laying off the sweets for baby. I think that's really important, and sometimes hard to convince extended family to stop handing the baby candy and treats! Haha
Mia says
Thanks for the tips especially on safety with the tree and sweets. This will be my grandsons first Christmas and we plan to take plenty of photos.
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
We put a baby gate around our Christmas tree last year! lol This year our youngest has been okay with it. She hasn't messed with it too much. She has one jungle bell she takes on and off, but that's it. Neither of my kiddos havee messed with the gifts behind the tree either. I'm so surprised about that!!
Sarah C says
Great tips!
em k says
Unless my baby is born early, next year will be their first holidays. I'll have to re-read this then 🙂 Good tips!
Sara Theissen says
All great tips! Baby's First Christmas only comes around once!
Crystal Gomez says
I'll have to keep these in mind! I'm currently pregnant., my lil ones due in May, so it'll be next year that''l be his first Christmas!
Carol Butler says
I think cute pjs and enjoy family. Great tips!
Meenakshi Nichani says
This is such a cute blog. Love these ideas and will try many of them out.
Sarah L says
It's fun to think back (way back) to when baby had her first Christmas.
Sandra Watts says
Great tips. Love the photo of the baby too. What a cute outfit!
Cynthia C says
I like the hint to document the occasion. I treasure the photographs of the kids when they were little.
Dorothy Boucher says
I love all your tips and ideas, I really think its very important about the no baby eating candy, I don't know how many arguments I have gotten into because of this one.. and YES!! take lots of pictures 🙂
Deborah D says
love the outfit
Krystal Waters says
Great tips I especially liked the holiday related hazards. I agree you can't take too many pictures and load them on photo websites like Shutterfly, and Walgreens so if you lose them you can still go get them from the websites.
Linda Mannst says
That first Christmas is always so special. I found my little ones were afraid of Santa at first. There favorite thing at Christmas was playing with the wrapping paper and boxes. Such a precious. Thank you so much for this great advice
em k says
I totally agree that the outfit is worth it even if it won't be worn over and over again. You're right, those pictures last forever and are so precious!
Melissa Hodges says
Such a doll baby in the pic!! My youngest is 6, and I really wish I would have incorporated footprints into their first ornaments! Great ideas!!
Jennifer Babich says
These are such sweet ideas. We do not even celebrate Christmas and I would love to see them!!
Rija says
Thanks for your tips,very in time for me! I was just thinking about it and voila your article!
Jerri Adams says
I remember both my kids' first Christmas, although the second child was kind of overshadowed by the first child, both times. I think making sure they have their own special ornament and making sure to take photos is required, for me at least. After that, everything is just about enjoying the moment instead.
Jeanne Jewett says
How exciting!! First anything, but Christmas tops the list! Dress em and love em... And OH MY GOODNESS!! Don't forget the camera!
Courtney Alcantara says
Fantastic tips. Will keep these in mind. Definitely bookmarked! 🙂
em k says
I agree, these are good tips. I bookmarked as well.
Mary Gardner says
One of the best tips is to decorate with caution. Children will grab and put things in their mouths that we would never notice.
Krystal Waters says
Great tips I agree about the tips with the tree and being mobile a table top tree would work.
Laurie Nykaza says
Wonderful tip and it is so much fun to looks back at the Christmas pictures with Santa when the kids are grown we have one every year when they were young up till 10 or so.
polly says
Always loved the 1st Christmas pictures and a special 1st Christmas ornament. They are on our tree every year!
Beverly Guajardo says
Great ideas! I wished I had thought of some of these when my kids were little.