Nice stories of Christmas babies?

[shell96]

We are expecting DC2 at the moment and are due on 27 Dec. Everyone that hears this rolls their eyes and says things like "oh gosh that will be a difficult time" or "Oh poor baby will never feel like it's birthday is special if it comes at Christmas".

DS was exceedingly late when he was born so am really hoping DC2 might copy so as to avoid the havoc of the festive season but does anyone out there have any nice stories of babies born at Christmas?

Did it cause chaos with your Christmas or was it just a lovely addition? DPs brother was born 2 days before Christmas and apparently he never got much of a birthday celebration and many others echo this but surely as long as DC doesnt arrive on Christmas day then we could still make his/her birthday special?

[CleanHankie]

I was born on 23rd dec and DD2 arrived a minute into Christmas Day last year so I LOVE Christmas babies

Practical things - ensure you have everything done and wrapped at least a week before Christmas. Make sure DC1 has 2 stockings, if DC1 is being looked after elsewhere while you are in labour, they will still have Father Christmas visit. Accept that if baby arrives Christmas day you or DH may not want to cook and eat a Christmas dinner so stock up on the cheese and crackers.

I was lucky enough to have a home birth so yes it was a lovely addition to our Christmas Day, although in hindsight I might have postponed the midwife coming for their first visit/check at midday. I don't do strangers in my house on Christmas Day. The lounge was havoc for the next couple of days with Christmas presents, baby presents and baby paraphernalia.

I love my (nearly) Christmas birthday. Just don't ever ever ever buy joint presents or wrap birthday pressies in Christmas wrap. My friends used to love my parties as I had all the christmas decs and tree up and it made it more party-like apparently. I think we are going to celebrate DD2's birthday on Christmas Eve so we have 3 days of merriment in our house.

Oh and place a bet on having a Christmas Day baby - still regret not doing that!

[mamsnet]

My nephew arrived on Christmas Eve and he was chosen as the baby in the manger (I'm sure it was a question of seconds..) at midnight Mass..

My sis has often celebrated his birthday a week or so before and there is an unwritten family rule that we make the distinction in everything we can, even down to not wrapping his Birthday prezzies in Christmas paper!

SHe also keeps aside some of his presents for a few weeks.. and he's always been fine with that!

Congratulations and don't worry about it at all!

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

DD was due on 21 Dec and arrived in the early hours of 23 Dec, and yes I got all the comments too. She was born at home with her toddler brother upstairs, in the light of the christmas tree

My memories of that Christmas are fairly hazy, but very happy. My mum was staying with us and so cooked a Christmas lunch. All I had to do was feed the baby and nap.

I did present shopping reasonably early early, and got stuff wrapped (the bump gets in the way!). DH did get shinglges when I was 39 weeks, so I remember doing all the food shopping on my own which wasn't ideal.

Congratulations and good luck with the pregnancy.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

Oh, and DD is only 18 months so she's not really aware of the whole Christmas Birthday thing - we'll deal with that when we get to it...

[Prosecco]

My dc2 was due on Boxing Day.

I really wanted him to stay there until after Christmas Day, and he duly obliged .

In fact, he held on until a few days into January.

I remember it as a special, (if slighty frustrating given his tardiness) time.

It still is a special time.

Once Christmas is over and everyone is back at work, we still have something special to celebrate.

When the weather is cold and frosty, I always remember my trip to the hospital.

He loves his birthday right when it is.

I know you are asking about Christmas babies but just thought I would let you know that it will be fine whenever because it will always be special to all of you.

[shell96]

Oh great thanks for all the nice messages

Lots of good tips there especially about not using xmas paper as birthday wrapping paper - i hadnt thought of that. I'm normally quite organised for Christmas so will have to be extra-so this year.

Love the stories of home births by the Christmas tree but not sure I'm brave enough for that. It would be enough for me to know we are coming home to a nicely decorated house if DC2 does arrive early. If its anything like DS though then it probably wont arrive until well into January so maybe I'm worrying over nothing

[ReasonableDoubt]

My two were born either side of Christmas and personally, I think it's a great time of year to have a new arrival.

It's cold, so you have every excuse to stay in being cosy for as lomg as you want.

It's festive, so you have every excuse to sit about scoffing nice food and watching crap TV all day and breastfeeding.

It's mid-winter, so you can throw on a huge cardi and no pressure to spring back into shape for months and months

Birthdays are still celebrated heartily in our family and it makes the whole season even more exciting for then kids.

[websticks]

My ds was due on christmas day and i got all the comments from people that i didnt time that very well ect. Which i found upsetting at the time. However ds had different ideas and arrived early on the 8th of dec and made it a wonderful christmas as i had recovered from the birth well by then too.
Twelve years on i am expecting dc2 on the 26th dec and hope s/he follows their brother and comes a little early. So this dec i will have a newborn and a teenager! Now that i feel i didnt time very well! ha

My advice would be do all your christmas shopping and prep early and dont worry too much if christmas is not as it usually is.

[Miffster]

Ooh, lovely thread.
My DC1 is expected 14 December - but as first babies are on average 8 days late (or so I hear)he or she could well arrive 22nd December - or later. I too was thinking 'poor baby, having Christmas birthday' but this thread has cheered me up.

There's an antenatal thread for December babies here, not sure if you are already on it shell, as it is quite huge and very busy!

[withorwithoutyou]

No experience of this as I have two summer babies but just wanted to say that I've had a load of stupid comments about how terrible it is for children to be the youngest in the year so people carry on this kind of twattery about other due dates too.

Christmas baby sounds wonderful, enjoy

[Disenchanted3]

My daughter was born on Christams eve at home on the couch, it was lovely and now xmas eve is even more special!

We both fell asleep the next morning when the kids were opening their presents (me and the baby i mean) we were both knackered!

[TimeForCake]

I had all the Christmas baby comments and I was due on 4th Jan! DS was very late so no experience of having a Christmas baby as such. But, a friend of mine had a baby on Boxing Day and when it came to celebrating his birthday, she decorated the dining room with birthday decorations / balloons etc with not a Christmas decoration in sight. That way the xmas tree and decorations were in the lounge and he had birthday treats next door. Mamsnet's comments about the birthday wrapping paper reminded me of this and I thought it was a lovely idea.

Good luck with your plans and the rest of your pregnancy. A Christmas baby will be great!

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

A friend has a Christmas day baby, called unimaginativley Joseph. He has an official birthday on June 25th.
DH is a very early January birthday, his Xmas was spoiled by his parents giving him a present for christmas and birthday so dont' do that. They are/were odd, luckily for me there is only 50% of them left

[meandjoe]

Christmas baby sounds beautiful. I had an August baby and it was hard being so pregnant and sweaty all through summer and also loads of people comment on how he'll alwyas be the youngest in his class so he has a disavantage academically blah blah blah.

Just enjoy it and try and decorate your house up for Christmas and wrap your presents early!

[cupofcoffee]

My dd was born on new years eve last year. It was really nice because i went on maternity leave just before Christmas and dh took his paternity leave after his Christmas holiday so it seemed like an extended holiday. Looking forward to her first birthday party this year. (although dreading the birthday parties she may plan when she's in her teens!)

[Dysgu]

I agree with everyone who says to get everything ready in plenty of time.

DD2 was due on 29th Jan and arrived around lunch time on Christmas Eve. As she was so early she was kept in NICU but I was home by 8pm and wrapping Christmas presents ready for the next day as I had planned to do it that day!

DD1 was just over 2yo and it was the first time she had had a stocking so really felt I had to be home for her (and she was 8 weeks early and it is much easier to leave the second one in NICU!)

I made a point from the very beginning of reminding everyone that DD2's birthday is Christmas Eve and we had all the family round on that day - and made sure presents were not wrapped in Christmas paper and everything.

This year we have started what I hope will be a tradition of buying both girls their Christmas present in the summer. DD1 is an autumn baby and this way we can justify buying them stuff in the summer - and they will still get stockings from us and loads of stuff from other people at Christmas. Hopefully we will keep it this way until they are old enough to decide for themselves.

Oh - and should you need to be in hospital over Christmas, don't worry, Father Christmas 'found' DD2 in NICU and gave her some small gifts - which was lovely as we had bought no presents for her!

Still, strange to think that at the age of 2 years and one day this coming December, she will then be 'celebrating' her third Christmas with us!

Congratulations and enjoy it - even the dressing the baby as a Christmas Elf!

[MrClaypole]

I was born on Xmas day and I love it! Noone ever forgets your birthday and as a child I always got 2 lots of presents - fab!

[watchadooin]

My DD1 was born on Christmas Day, much to my surprise! She's so pleased, and thinks it makes her very very special (which makes up for sometimes not getting the full quota of presents due).

We started off having an "official" birthday in June, until DS2 was born then, and now her birthday and parties are back to being in December. This works brilliantly as we always have her party on the day after the end of term, which makes it the official start to the Christmas Hols!

Good luck with your new arrival.

[daisy243]

Hi, my birthday is Dec 26th and my dd's is 11th Dec. The only downside I can see is it all (Crimbo and Bday) being at the same time and a whole year for them both to come around.
But neither of us know any different. I never had to go to school on my Bday and have only worked once (I'm a nurse).
I had dd and we went away over Christmas....bit of a mistake, tried to do too much and should have stayed home....so that's one to bear in mind.
I am also letting dd have a summer tea party this year as she is aware that her birthday will always be in the winter, ie, cold! So that's nice...2 parties. Can't be bad!
Bee

[CleanHankie]

Dysgu's comment reminded me of something else. Should you give birth on Christmas Day and are in hospital, be prepared for the local newspaper and photographer doing the rounds. They do like photos of Chrimbo babies so remember your make-up! Ahh the advantages of a home birth...

[Ozziegirly]

daisy you could move to Australia, or come here on holiday one year at Christmas and have a summer celebration for you and your DD....

My birthday is November, and now we live in Oz it is fun and odd that I am a "summer born" and my DH, an August birthday, is now a depths of winter birthday....

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

My birthday is on Christmas day. It's fine. Ds3's is right after new year and I think that's a but harder as everyone is fed up of presents/parties byvthen.

[coolma]

My dd was born on christmas eve 2005 three weeks late (!) and apart from not actually remembering a thing about that christmas there's been no problem really, Now shes nearly five, she is beginning to get a bit cross about everone else having a birthday during the year, but has also very much enjoyed having two days of presents and celebrations!

[WidowWadman]

My daughter was born on 20th december. My waters broke just when I wanted to set off to buy a christmas tree. We didn't have one because of this (although we had been back home on 23rd December), so we decided to make it a tradition to put the Christmas tree up together on her birthday.

She's only 18 months old now, so didn't realize it was her birthday last year, but I guess it will be more exciting in the future.

I think it's important to mark the day seperately and not to lump in presents together.

We also still consider introducing an official birthday in summer, to break the time up a bit. What's good enough for the queen...

[lobsters]

The other reason that it seems to be good to be born Xmas day or boxing day is that the labour wards are really quiet, and they'll be loads of bored staff hanging around waitinf for women going into labour. I had to go to DAU regularly over Xmas, and on Boxing day we had midwives and drs chatting to us for over an hour, never happened any other time. They were telling us there are normally about 30 babies a day born on that labour ward, on xmas day there was 4, and boxing day 12, so it was quiet for the staff. First week of Jan when DD did arrive was a lot busier there