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Original poster

Booking Santa’s Grotto for 10 month old?

72 replies

Mum070322 · 22/08/2022 16:35

Is it a bit silly to book for a baby so young?

DS will be 10 months in December and is my first baby so I’m excited to make memories with him

i also haven’t been to a Santa’s grotto in a very long time and never from an adult perspective I don’t know if I’ll look a bit strange me and DH just standing in the line with a baby while there’s lots of excited children waiting to see Santa.

OP posts:
Endlesssummer2022 · 22/08/2022 17:21

He won’t remember it so the ‘making memories’ bit won’t work for him.

Also I don’t think staged memory making really works anyway.

lunar1 · 22/08/2022 17:22

I have some lovely pictures of my babies with Santa, go for it if you want to.

Megapint · 22/08/2022 17:33

Yep do it. We all have that picture of our kids screaming on Santa's knee😁

bridgetreilly · 22/08/2022 17:53

Well, the baby won’t remember it for a start.

Honestly, just live your life, do what you want, and let the memories look after themselves,

LizzieBet14 · 22/08/2022 21:34

Save your money. You'll get plenty of their 1st Christmas photos & memories at home & with family.

myyellowcar · 22/08/2022 21:36

If it brings you joy, do it.

I did and I’m glad I did. It was lovely.

WendyAndDave · 22/08/2022 21:39

If you’d enjoy it, go for it. Your baby won’t care one way or the other.

chillipenguin · 22/08/2022 21:40

If you really want to I don't see why not. Just don't do it to put all over your insta that's tacky

bakewellbride · 22/08/2022 21:43

If it makes you feel any less crazy I took my PFB to meet Father Christmas when he was 4 months old!!

Swimmer29 · 22/08/2022 21:45

I would, it’s a nice thing to do. At ten months dc will love looking at all the pretty lights and whatever present they get. You and dh can also enjoy getting into the xmas spirit and special first xmas meeting Santa pics.

Some people are miserable , why shouldn’t you do this and put the nice memories on insta for friends and family to enjoy and you can look back on it?! I’ve done it and loved it. My dc loved the lights but did cry when actually meeting Santa but surely that’s a right of passage….you’ll always be able to say ‘when you were a baby you cried your eyes out when you first met Santa!’…

Cupofteaonesugar · 22/08/2022 21:46

Whilst your baby obviously won't remember it or take it in.... you will get to experience it and have the pics to look back on and share when they are older!
I took my eldest to see Santa as Center parcs when he was 11 months old. Now he's a bit older we love looking back at the photos with Santa over the years. Definitely not a waste of money for us 🥰

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 22/08/2022 21:49

Honestly? Given how grim things are going to be, save yourself a few quid and save your insta shots until next year.

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 22/08/2022 21:53

Don't underestimate how much dc absolutely love looking at photos everyone!!
Especially ones of themselves doing Important Things.

Crack on op.

AverageJoan · 22/08/2022 21:56

I've just spent an extortionate amount of money on a 'Santa Train' for myself, DP and our baby who isn't due until Oct 1st to do on Christmas Eve 😂 they won't have a clue what's going on if they're even awake for any of it but we will enjoy it, the memories and photos will last a lifetime and it's only going to be their first Christmas once. If you can afford it and want to do it then go for it!

RainbowMumzy · 22/08/2022 22:02

Absolutely not. What lovely photos to have and a nice memory for you and DH. Go for it.

JenniferBarkley · 22/08/2022 22:06

Absolutely go for it if you'll enjoy the outing. We did the local free Santa in the shopping centre for DC1's first Christmas - he was lovely and the photo is very nice. I didn't think it was worth spending.

The following year, and every year after, we've gone to the local open farm which has been really lovely. I actually think we would've all enjoyed it that first year as well.

Champsandbubbles · 22/08/2022 22:07

Also to the person who said its August
... I had to book mine in early June, yes June and it was still slim pickings for dates, nearly fully booked.
Each to their own, if you'll enjoy it do it! X

RustySwitchblade · 22/08/2022 22:08

Jeez…so many Scrooges on this thread 😆

ive got photos of my son from every year at Santa’s grotto- it’s a lovely memory to look back on. And yes, it’s fine if it’s just for you!

the photos will look extra cute if you buy him a little elf’s outfit! I doubt it will cause any lasting psychological damage.

maryberryslayers · 22/08/2022 22:26

It's lovely. It's your life and your memories so enjoy it. You'll hardly look back in the photos and regret taking your baby to see Santa will you!

Some places actually do special baby and toddler sessions. We took DS as a baby to one at Quarry Bank NT it was beautiful.

Baby DD went for free to Lapland UK as we took DS but they still included her and gave her everything, she absolutely loved it. She was only 9 months but the lights and atmosphere were perfect for her. She also really liked Santa and the elves!

eurochick · 22/08/2022 22:30

If you want to do it for you, go for it. Be warned the baby will probably cry and you will wonder why you bothered to queue up for a shittily decorated shed to see a bored, hot grandad in a red suit. I'd go for a cheap garden or shopping centre option this time around. Splash out if you want to when they around 4-7 on a National Trust Santa or whatever is good in your area.

Loungingstevens · 22/08/2022 22:32

I actually don’t know any 2/3 year olds that have enjoyed a grotto.
most kids find the confrontation of santa too much.
i wouldn’t.
I’d book a Christmas lights type thing. Like Christmas at Kew. The lights should keep a baby wide eyed.

Snugglemonkey · 22/08/2022 22:33

WhereAreMyAirpods · 22/08/2022 16:42

2 things.

It's FUCKING AUGUST.

A 10 month old has no concept of Christmas or anything else. Book it if you want but at least own it and realise that it's all about you and not your child.

I discovered today that both my preferred Santa experience and the pumpkin picking we do every year are sold out.

Cupofteaonesugar · 22/08/2022 22:33

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 22/08/2022 21:53

Don't underestimate how much dc absolutely love looking at photos everyone!!
Especially ones of themselves doing Important Things.

Crack on op.

Yes absolutely this!!
My son LOVES looking at photos fo himself 😅

Marvellousmadness · 22/08/2022 22:39

Don't be rediculous ans say its about making memories with him
He is 10 months old. He wont remember and probably will cry like most other young babies.

But if you have the money and you feel like its something that YOU wanna do; then do it.

It's a bunch of commercial rubbish really. But i get the appeal

Justtobeclear · 22/08/2022 23:05

my dc’s were the result of ivf and so I did everything (from day 1) I could possibly cram in! Still do! If you want to do it - go for it. I took mine to Santa at that age and they cried but it was the cheap local shopping centre Santa and now it’s a funny story they love to hear! At this age it’s more for you but do it. My tip would be - find somewhere that is comfortably in budget and means you can have a few treats when you there.

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