CELEBRATING BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

First, in the past year, you've received the most wonderful gift of all, a newborn baby!
Chances are, you are tired and may be feeling overwhelmed with all the season has to offer, yet you would like to somehow recognize and create special memories of this once in a lifetime occurrence.


Dressing Baby for the Holidays

• Keep baby's comfort in mind at all times and be practical when choosing from the many holiday related outfits available today.
• Get more than one outfit, babies love to spit up as soon as you dress them up!

Memory Making Ideas

• Include a picture of the new baby in your Christmas cards to introduce friends to your newest family member.

• Start new family traditions that include your infant. For instance, you might sing a special Christmas carol or read a special book to the baby that you will continue to do each year.

• Consider beginning a special holiday scrapbook or journal that you will update each year. Record how you celebrated the season and of course include pictures and special mementos from each occasion.

• There is no end to the selection of Baby's First Christmas ornaments available. A favourite are the ones that allow you to record a special message each year!

• Some parents start a unique collection for their baby at this time. Baseball cards, spoons, jewelry, antique toys and books are just some ideas.

• Create opportunities for other children to help their new brother or sister during the holiday celebration, such as opening the infant's gifts, or reading a story to him or her.

• Take lots of pictures! Even if this your third child, take lots of pictures so you can remember the baby's first Christmas. In this technological age, you might even want to videotape it with your digital camera or camcorder. Not only you will enjoy watching the tape as your child continues to grow up, but he or she will want to see what Mom an Dad looked like back then.

• As the years go by, you might start to forget you gave your infant baby on his or her first Christmas, so write the date on the presents so that you'll remember. This is especially true for books. On toys, games and other items, you might just write the year, the children's name and "Christmas" in magic marker on the bottom.

• Even if your child is almost a year old, he or she isn't going to be worrying about how much you spend or how many toys are under the tree. In fact, most babies are more interested in colourful ribbons and wrapping paper than what is inside a box. 

Treasure your Baby's First Christmas by making memories rather than breaking the bank on presents, and focus on taking pictures or starting a scrapbook. By year two, kids are already starting to develop the gimme's, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Source: 

Canadian Parents
Steve Thompson