Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Santa and children?

26 replies

FTMFML · 30/09/2022 21:36

OH suggested that this year we take LO who will be 13 months old to see Santa.
I was a bit taken a back... didn't realise that I was actually opposed to it but it find it really weird ... taking your baby/toddler to see a strange dressed up man to sit on their knee get a photo and a rubbish toy for ££!? I LOVE Christmas and was brought up with Santa idea etc etc!

Fair enough when they "choose" to do that?... but at 13 months.
AIBU?

OP posts:
00100001 · 30/09/2022 21:37

You're over thinking it

girlmom21 · 30/09/2022 21:39

Most of them don't actually have child sitting on their laps anymore

Lcb123 · 30/09/2022 21:42

Just doesn’t seem worth it when they’re that young - won’t know or care

DappledThings · 30/09/2022 21:43

Pointless that young.

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 30/09/2022 21:44

Years of safeguarding warnings.
Then sit on the nice stranger's knee and tell him what you want so he can creep into your bedroom while you sleep!!. Quite creepy!!

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/09/2022 21:45

You’re not overthinking it at all. The first time DD came near a Santa at a local thing when she was 1, so not an official grotto thing, she fucking lost it. She wasn’t keen on beards anyway and she freaked out massively. We did the same event last year and she was fine to wave from a distance and no longer hated beards but she didn’t want to go near him.

People do this stuff for photos and for themselves, not their babies.

She’s 3 now and still not bothered by the idea. Last year she rejected her stocking till we said the gifts weren’t from Father Christmas and only from us. We talk about it as a nice idea people believe in but not everyone, similar to the nativity story. She’s got booked with Father Christmas in she likes but I’m not going to force the idea and I know exactly what you mean about thinking about the whole concept differently, not least someone breaking into your house at night when mum and dad are asleep!

00100001 · 30/09/2022 21:48

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 30/09/2022 21:44

Years of safeguarding warnings.
Then sit on the nice stranger's knee and tell him what you want so he can creep into your bedroom while you sleep!!. Quite creepy!!

Yet somehow through your years of safeguarding warnings you never learned the danger isn't really from strangers...? 🤔

user1496146479 · 30/09/2022 21:52

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 30/09/2022 21:44

Years of safeguarding warnings.
Then sit on the nice stranger's knee and tell him what you want so he can creep into your bedroom while you sleep!!. Quite creepy!!

Oh come on!!! Hmm

RegeJeanPageMeOnMyCellphone · 30/09/2022 21:53

We took DS when he was 4 months old to a Santa at a National Trust house. We’ve got lovely photos of the 3 of us in front of a huge Christmas tree and the Santa was lovely. He asked if he could hold DS who was asleep and he completely stayed in character. He spoke to DS telling him it was lovely to meet him for the first time.

It was such a lovely moment and I will cherish it forever. DS is now 4 and as the Christmas tree photo is on our wall, he knows that was his from first time meeting Santa.

We’ve also made each year’s Santa visit photo into a tree bauble which I love! But I am obsessed with Christmas.

I don’t think YABU though, if you’d prefer to wait until DC can ask, that’s fair enough.

girlmom21 · 30/09/2022 21:55

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 30/09/2022 21:44

Years of safeguarding warnings.
Then sit on the nice stranger's knee and tell him what you want so he can creep into your bedroom while you sleep!!. Quite creepy!!

When did Santa ever come into your bedroom?

TimeForTeaAndG · 30/09/2022 21:58

girlmom21 · 30/09/2022 21:55

When did Santa ever come into your bedroom?

Show quote history

To drop off the stocking so you don't immediately spring out of bed at some ungodly hour and rip open all the presents under the tree.

HelloDoggy · 30/09/2022 22:02

It's fun! Give it a whirl, your child may enjoy it! So might you!! My eldest is 10 now, so out grown it all :( But I'm taking him with his brother anyway, for one final year! It'll be the last :( the young years don't last long! Enjoy the magic and fun while you can 🎅

neslop · 30/09/2022 22:02

DS2 always hated the whole Santa thing and aged 4 got really anxious about the thought of someone coming down the chimney into our house, repeatedly asked if Santa was real or not so we had to tell him the truth to reassure him. (And had to tell him not to tell all his friends, or his older brother who still believed!)

girlmom21 · 30/09/2022 22:05

@TimeForTeaAndG aren't stockings on the fireplace?

Freshberry · 30/09/2022 22:07

My 1 year old met Father Christmas at a distance due to Covid. His Daddy was at home as he had Covid. We both came down with it the next day too. Christmas was quite literally cancelled. Ok, not the worst thing to ever happen but not the lovely memory it could have been!

If the last few years have taught us anything, it's to take the moments of happiness, however big or small and just enjoy them!

KatherineofGaunt · 30/09/2022 22:09

DS was just 1 when we first took him to a grotto. It was lovely! Yes, DS had no idea, but DH and I went with friends and their child and we had a great time, got a lovely wooden shaker and had hot chocolate! I'm glad we did, because the following year there weren't any grottos due to Covid.

I would find it odd only going to places my DS chose to go. Why not have some fun with your baby?!

TimeForTeaAndG · 30/09/2022 22:09

girlmom21 · 30/09/2022 22:05

@TimeForTeaAndG aren't stockings on the fireplace?

Our house didn't have a fireplace so they went on the end of our beds.

DD's stocking goes on her bedside table.

YellowRedBlueGreen · 30/09/2022 22:11

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 30/09/2022 21:44

Years of safeguarding warnings.
Then sit on the nice stranger's knee and tell him what you want so he can creep into your bedroom while you sleep!!. Quite creepy!!

What a sad world we live in today 🙁

NuffSaidSam · 30/09/2022 22:15

The baby clearly isn't going to understand it or remember and often very small children are frightened of the Santa/Father Christmas outfit, but if your DP wants to go and give it a try then it's fine. If she cries, take her home. If she doesn't he gets a nice memory and picture of her as a baby with Santa. I'm struggling to see what you're objecting to tbh. She isn't going to remember any of the shit you do, it's almost all for you not her at this age, this is no different.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/09/2022 22:17

Clearly it’s for the picture- each to their own, doesn’t hurt anyone but yes the child wont
remember.

PicturesOfLily · 30/09/2022 22:20

We took dd for the first time at just over 2. There didn’t seem much point before that. We went to an event at a historic house where the children sat down and Santa read a story for them before they went up to meet him and get a present. Everything seems so expensive this year that I don’t think I’d bother if dc had no idea what was happening.

RagingWoke · 30/09/2022 22:20

I don't see the point in taking babies and small toddlers. It's pretty much just a photo op for the parents.
Dc1 we took to 'see Santa' for her 1st Christmas because there was one at an event we went to. Pointless as she was 6mo but her GPS enjoyed it. Dc2 did it as a baby only because the then 4yo was doing it and wanted her new brother to join in- he was 4 weeks old so obviously didn't have a clue. Last year he was just over 2 and terrified, shaking and crying trying to get away.

There's no sitting on laps IME, it's either been a chair next to or in front of. I prefer the ones that's part of something else- we've done a farm with a Christmas trail/crafts/shows and a grotto, a lunch with elves playing games and crafts with DCs then a story from santa and the good old 'train to the North Pole'. Much nicer experience all round!

Rowen32 · 30/09/2022 22:24

You're not being unreasonable, it freaks me out too. At that age you're doing it for yourself/the look of it etc and not for the child - fair enough if they're older and want to go themselves but at that age, no, leave them alone and don't use them for a photo opportunity.

Original poster
FTMFML · 30/09/2022 22:39

Mixed bag of responses!
I wasn't dramatic about it- just abit taken a bit the OH would even want to do that?
I hate hate hate the thought of it and would rather take her to soft play in a nice christmas outfit as she would LOVE thar and get something out of it and we'd get a nice Christmas pick but I will be reasonable and chat with OH and if he realllllly wants a picture with Santa we shall go!

OP posts:
WeeblesWibbleWobble · 30/09/2022 22:41

No lap sitting any more
They are dbs checked
You are with them

Garden Centre ones are generally good rather than a shopping centre one. However some are pre booked. Our local one has already sold out

Swipe left for the next trending thread