Christmas eve box

[LauraElizabeth92]

This Christmas will be my baby's first Christmas, I want to do her a Christmas eve box, but have no idea what to put in it, so far I've got a first Christmas sleep suit. She will be 11 months old on the 27th December.

[tistheseason2bjolly]

Seriously?!? At 11 months old?!? Pace yourself! Childhood lasts for 18 years and you'll be exhausted by the time she reaches 3 the way you are going!

On the other hand, you could this year make yourself a Christmas Eve box, and have some of the contents for her as well. You could buy some fancy baby friendly bubble bath and both have a relaxing bubble bath on Christmas eve. Then once she is asleep, enjoy the naice chocolate and cuddle under the new cashmere blanket (either reading a book or watching a movie, whatever floats your boat).

[just5morepeas]

A nice bedtime story, soft toy?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Ahh First Christmas

In our house CEH (Christmas Eve Hampers) were a way of getting very over excited DC into the calming down zone.

PJs/Sleepsuit
Something for the bath (there are some nice luxury baby bath products about, maybe a lavender one for sleep inducing)
Tiny cuddly toy

You'll need a photo of your LO on a festive fleecy blanket too (to send out to GParents and keep for your album)

There will be loads in the shops soon.

[tistheseason2bjolly]

Do you have a toy library in your area?
My local Children's centre has one. When my 2 boys were small, I would borrow toys to play with on Christmas eve. Last year (my boys were 5.5 and 4) I borrowed a mini indoor trampoline (with handle for the children to hold onto). They had great fun, and it only cost £4 (including delivery and collection).

[Hermagsjesty]

We just do new Xmas pyjamas and a festive bedtime story in our Xmas eve boxes

[tistheseason2bjolly]

The year before that (4.5yo and 3yo), I also bought a massive roll of large bubble wrap. I laid it on the floor, and my boys had so much fun popping it

[tistheseason2bjolly]

The year before that (3.5yo and 2yo), I bought a bubble machine. My boys spent hours trying to pop all the bubbles :)

[DisneyIsMyDrug]

It was my son's 1st Christmas last year & I bought him the night before Christmas book & wrote a little message inside saying something along the lines of "happy 1st Christmas, we love you lots" with the plan to take it out each Christmas eve & read it to him & hopefully once he's grown up he'll keep it as a memento.
I was thinking about doing a 1st of december box rather than Christmas eve box, & put advent calendar, pyjamas he can use for the month (obviously not the same pyjamas for the WHOLE month ), Christmas themed toys etc.

[2014newme]

Nothing.
She won't care or be interested. She won't know what xmas is. Save your money for the very expensive stuff she'll want when older!

[wheresthel1ght]

We started this tradition when dd had her first Christmas. She was 4 months.

We did the following for her first;
1st Xmas sleep suit
1st Xmas bib
Xmas story
1st Xmas blanket
Rudolph slippers

For 11 months I would maybe get some Xmas cutlery for her, a bib, toy, story, maybe some colouring or playdoh

[2014newme]

Why would you not give those things on Xmas day?
I never understand this desire to extend gift giving over 2 days.

[StylishDuck]

I started this for DD’s first Christmas 3 years ago. I try not to go overboard though and include everyone so I generally just put:

New Christmas jammies for me, DH and DD
A Christmas film to watch together
A Christmas book for DD for before bed
Some booze for me and DH
Some Christmassy snacks

I’m due DC2 in January so next year all I should have to add is an extra pair of jammies!

[Brittbugs80]

We have a family one. New PJ's each that we wear Christmas day (all day!), Bath bomb each, and a snack for each of us for the evening after pub and church.

I also read DS the night before Christmas every year, have done for 9 years.

[Brittbugs80]

Why would you not give those things on Xmas day

This will be my 37th Christmas, I've had new PJ's every Christmas Eve from my Dad for as long as I can remember, and those I can't remember have been captured on film! Since my Dad died my Stepmom has got mine and DH's PJ's and I buy DS's PJ's.

She does it for my siblings and partners too and they buy PJ's for their children.

It's something I hope to carry on as with my eldest sibling, it's now a 50 year old tradition.

[Allthepinkunicorns]

You can get that's not my books for Christmas we have a reindeer and santa one which is still loved by my 4 year old. Maybe add a small snack, bubbles, a Christmas dvd of your childs fav tv characters, a Christmas sticker book.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

We do the Hamper now on 1st Dec (teens)

when they were little we took them out (feed ducks or reindeer) , I'd "Oh I'll just check the back door is locked" and put the CEH by the fireplace.
Of course the Elves popped in while we were out

Lot of people say the 24th is their favourite day.

With all the adverts , school activities, Christmas in the shops, the DC get hyped up then you have the school holidays which might be a week before depending on when they finish.

I say spread everything out over a few days, it is too much to cram into 24 hours.

[PelvicFloorClenchReminder]

You could get a really gorgeous copy of a Christmas book, such as a PP suggested The Night Before Christmas, which can be brought out every Christmas Eve for bedtime story and maybe she will end up reading the same copy to her own children one day.

[Hermagsjesty]

Xmas Eve is definitely my favourite part of Xmas. We usually go and see a show in the afternoon then snuggle in for the eve. I think spreading the gifts out makes it extra special

[Snausage]

My DS is just 3 and this will be the first Christmas that he's really understood what's going on. He's almost as excited as I am!

I'm doing a hamper on December 1st (the elf might deliver it, although I'm not yet decided) with his advent calendar, a Christmas jumper, Christmas pyjamas and his santa train ticket.

He was a little douchebag at Rugbytots this morning, though, so I don't feel like giving him anything at all.

[LauraElizabeth92]

Thank you so much for all the lovely ideas. I'm super sentimental, so love the idea of getting a Christmas book to read every year.

[peachy94]

Pyjamas, the night before Christmas book, short Christmas film - one from a tv show she likes? My 1st Christmas bauble or a bauble to put her handprint on you could do on Christmas Eve, treats for Father Christmas plate, reindeer food to sprinkle, a 'big girl' mug for hot chocolate or just warm frothy milk, a stocking to leave out for Father Christmas, gingerbread man you could get a plain one to decorate. Who cares if she's only small and won't know it's Christmas she will still enjoy doing all those things. I would also suggest trying to go for a walk or drive to houses that are ott decorated im sure she would love the lights :)

[Summerdays2014]

My son was 11 months old last Christmas and we did a box for him. It included Christmas pjs, a Christmas outfit, books, the snowman DVD, Christmas plate for his dinner, a soft toy. I know he didn't know what it was all about but I loved it and will do the same this year!

[Summerdays2014]

Oh and reindeer food!