Traditions to start on Baby’s 1st Christmas

Traditions to start on Baby’s First Christmas

There are so many traditions to start on Baby’s first Christmas, and you may be wondering how your little one can participate during their first year.
Here are some ideas that you can start this Christmas or add to your already existing traditions.

Stocking Stuffers
Fill your baby’s first stocking with age appropriate toys! There are so many things you can fill your little one’s stocking with like pacifiers, teethers, bath toys, rattles or even their first toothbrush.

Christmas Tree
Whether your tree is real or fake, tall or small, start your Christmas Tree traditions on Baby’s first Christmas!
Allow your baby to “help” you decorate the Christmas tree while listening to Christmas carols.
The sooner you put out your Christmas tree the better so you can celebrate all month long.
*Never leave your baby unattended with the Christmas tree! Ornaments can be broken and hooks can be swallowed!

Elf on the Shelf
If you have a young baby it may be too early to start playing hide and seek with your Elf on the Shelf, but if your baby is on the move, why not start this tradition on your baby’s first Christmas?
Hide the elf on low shelves or furniture so your baby notices it while exploring the house. She may not find it every day but it will be exciting for everyone when she does!
If your baby is too young to find the elf take a photo of them together to show your child when she is older, and has grown to love this fun Christmas tradition!

Cookies for Santa
Leave cookies and milk out for Santa starting on Baby’s first Christmas! Even if your baby is too young to help bake Santa’s cookies this year, it is still a fun and delicious treat for Mum and Dad!

Family Christmas Card
Take a photo together and send out an annual, family Christmas card! You can sign the card from Baby using her footprint!
Signing your baby’s name is cute, but this is a creative way to sign greeting cards from your baby. Signing the card with Baby’s footprint makes the card so much more special by turning it into a keepsake for family members and friends!

Favorite Christmas Movie
Although your baby is too young to watch a Christmas movie this is one of my favorite traditions. After a big meal (and too many sweats), the best thing is to relax and watch a movie. You can always play some Christmas music or carols instead if your baby is too young to make an exception on Christmas day.

Annual Event
Whether you attend a church service or a local Christmas event, start this tradition on your baby’s first Christmas!
Our annual family tradition is to go to the city and see all the decorations and take some nice pictures and also attend our local Carols by Candlelight event.
What are your annual traditions?

Donate
It is never too soon to start teaching our children the importance of giving.
A great way to donate during the Christmas season is simply put a gift under the Christmas tree at your local store such as Kmart. Your baby/child can select the present and put it under the tree. This can really teach them the art of sharing and caring.

Meet Santa
There is nothing quite like the anticipation of bringing your baby to meet Santa for the first time! Will she smile? Will she scream? Will she sit on Santa’s lap.
Either way, your family will have a great time introducing Baby to Santa!

Make an Ornament
Let your child get creative and make a homemade ornament to hang on the tree each year! You can imprint your baby’s handprint on their first ornament, or let your child paint one of the blank ornaments each year.
We had so much fun with this on my baby’s first Christmas!

Read Christmas Books
We read books to Grace every night as part of her bedtime routine. Introduce your favorite Christmas stories to your baby during the month of December, and enjoy reading them over and over again each year!

Meal With Family
Plan a meal to have as a family each year! Whether you meet for dinner on Christmas Eve or lunch on Christmas Day, this will be a wonderful time for your family to spend together!
Keep it simple or include your extended family members and a gift exchange! This is a tradition that will begin on Baby’s first Christmas and will last a lifetime.

What traditions will your family start on Baby’s first Christmas? Let me know in the comments!