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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Christmas + baby

26 replies

ThreeBeanRap · 28/09/2015 16:11

I'm due with my first about a month before Christmas, so am trying to be as organised as possible. I am starting to order Christmas presents now, and am aiming to have them all delivered and wrapped by mid-Nov.

We haven't made any plans for the day itself, as if I go 2 weeks late the baby may only be 2 weeks old, so I think we'll do a family day at home, but is there anything else I can do to get organised before the event?!

Also...what to buy a 2-4 week old baby for Christmas?!

OP posts:
HeadDreamer · 28/09/2015 16:15

Nothing! Buy something for yourself? Grin

Or just buy anything that would make a great photo with the family? Like a xmas outfit?

ThreeBeanRap · 28/09/2015 16:20

I know he/she won't need anything, or even remember a present, but it doesn't feel right to be buying for everyone else and not for one member of our family! Xmas outfit is a good idea. As is something for me Grin

OP posts:
AlohaMama · 28/09/2015 16:23

Congratulations, this will be a Christmas to remember. If you do cards I'd get them written and addressed and stamped well in advance. You may want to leave the envelopes open to add in details about the new baby or a photo. Will you be spending Christmas day at home by yourself? If food traditions are important you might want to menu plan, cook and freeze or at least have a shopping list. Even if you don't mind not having traditional christmas dinner maybe cook and freeze some easy to microwave meals. Stock up on basics and essentials so you don't have to face busy shops just to get toilet roll etc. I wouldn't worry about buying presents for the baby other than a few keepsake items, like special decoration or similar. You'll get lots of presents I'm sure and you'll end up buying lots of things over coming months anyway.

PesoPenguin · 28/09/2015 17:49

Congratulations Smile definitely get a first Christmas bauble. You could get a really gorgeous stocking as a present that could be used for every subsequent Christmas. Then little things such as snuggly socks, mittens ( these will get lost a lot!) bibs and a special teddy ( I still have the teddy I got for my first Christmas Blush)

rosieliveson1 · 28/09/2015 20:16

My DS had a nightlight and a gro bag for his first Christmas. He was only 3 months so didn't need anything but I wanted Bono have presents. He had a stocking too with bibs, socks, muslin, bodysuits, a baby sponge etc Smile

Kittykatmacbill · 28/09/2015 20:22

Dd2 Was 2 wks last Christmas, she got as a main present a posh cardigan. She also got a stocking all the practical stuff flannel etc and I think one book and a rattle thing. I could not get my head round buying a lot for a baby who wasn't there! A bauble is a lovely idea, but dd1 doesn't have one and we did not know her name in advance!

WhispersOfWickedness · 28/09/2015 20:38

Congratulations Grin
My first was due a month before Christmas (then didn't arrive until two weeks late Hmm), it was such a lovely time of year to have a baby :o
Think we got him a few things that we would have bought him anyway (bigger clothes, baby toys, weaning stuff) and family bought him lots too. I am totally with you on the wanting to buy presents for the new member of the family, it's not really the point that they won't remember!

milkmilklemonade12 · 28/09/2015 20:45

We had DS in the October so DS was 10 weeks or so on his first Christmas. We bought him a Jumperoo (lovely big box to wrap!!), clothes, books and toys (like lovely big playmat with all squashy bits on, rattles, a tummy time squashy roll, some noisy VTech toys...) that he would grow into in that year. He used everything and I even bought him a special Christmas outfit.

Lunastarfish · 28/09/2015 20:58

Ooh how exciting!

Agree with pp, stock up on basics and batch cook. I took my summer born baby shopping at 5 days and it was a nightmare so I certainly wouldn't want to be shopping at Xmas with a Newborn. If you are planning on formula feeding stock up. If planning to breastfeed buy nipple cream and breast pads in advance.

Definitely stay at home for Xmas. No way would I want to be anywhere else all day at 2-4 weeks. We attended a bbq at 4 weeks. Again it was a mistake.

What will you do for Xmas dinner? Will your oh cook?

My dd will be 5 months at Xmas. We're only planning on buying her an outfit plus a jumperoo and that's it Grin. You'll get loads of presents with a Newborn and xmas

Comingroundthemountain · 28/09/2015 22:05

My dc1 was about a week old her first christmas. I found it good going to my mum's that day (just my parents and me, dh and dd) as meant I could have a sleep and be fed and they also like giving her presents. I was exhausted and I just want to cry when I look at the pics from that day and se how very very tired I looked but I can't see how it would have been any better any other way.
Good luck. x

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 28/09/2015 22:43

I had twins the week before Xmas - we had all cheat Christmas food and I didn't care a jot because we have other DC so needed to celebrate with them - good luck with your impending arrival Xmas Grin

M4blues · 28/09/2015 22:56

My eldest was born 1/12. For first Christmas we did nothing but stay home the 3 of us. We bought him 2 things. Firstly, a sack/sticking with his name on it which he still hangs up age 12 Smile Secondly, a baby's first Christmas bauble. A nice porcelain one from GLTC. We were just in time (by 2days I seem to remember) to get the personalised order in on time. But if you know sex and name and you aren't superstitious you could order it mid November. It goes on the tree every year as it has his name and birth year and I'm very sentimental about it. We have since bought them for his brothers too.

ThreeBeanRap · 29/09/2015 12:39

Ooh lots of lovely replies, thanks all for the congratulations and the good ideas! And Olivia, twins a week before...cheat food would 100% be necessary!!

I love the ideas of getting him/her a bauble and a stocking, thanks to all who suggested those. Will fill it up with socks/hats/mittens and a little Christmas outfit.

In terms of cooking DH is the chef in our house anyway but I usually buy the food so will make sure I have that all planned in advance and a list written out so he can just nip to the shops and buy it all.

Can't wait to have a baby in our house at Christmas time (and the rest of the time obviously, appreciate babies are for life etc etc Grin ), really looking forward to it.

OP posts:
notaprincessbutaqueen · 29/09/2015 12:42

i'm due 14th December with my 4th but always run overdue so we are expecting bump to be no more then a week old on xmas day. he/she (yellow bump) is getting a bouncer and playmat. ie things we would normally buy for a new baby but not "essentials" (like a cot or pram etc). we're only wrapping as, with their being 3 older siblings, santa cant possibly leave the new baby out.
if its your first, just a nice outfit will do. as for organisation, make sure all presents and cards are bought/wrapped/written before your due date as you do not want to be worrying about those with a newborn. I think making no plans for the day itself is good. wait and see how you

FelixFelix · 29/09/2015 13:01

My DD was born on 22/12 (wasn't due until 8th January!) and I was out of hospital on Christmas Eve. We had Christmas at home on our own and had ready prepared food to just stick in the oven. Like the stuff you get from M&S - ready prepped veg etc. We didn't buy her anything as there wasn't time, but I probably would have got some sort of 1st Christmas memorabilia. Luckily my DM managed to pick something up.

I was worried about it not feeling like a proper Christmas as we usually go to family, but it was wonderful and so relaxed. I loved it so much that we are doing it again this year Smile

M4blues · 29/09/2015 13:33

these are the baubles

Buttercup27 · 29/09/2015 13:43

Internet shopping is your friend! Ds 2 was born 30th November and ds 1 was 20 months.
We bought 98% of Christmas presents through Amazon which made life so much easier. We also ordered all food online.
I would not recommend ordering the turkey online though. Ours was substituted for a much more expensive one and it was huge (only just fit in the oven) . I couldn't even send it back and go and buy one as it was 2 days before Christmas when it arrived.

BiddyPop · 29/09/2015 16:46

DD actually arrived early on Boxing Day morning.

I had a Christmas outfit, just in case. And a few stocking items - a travel sized sudocreme, buggy toy, rattle, cloth book, Christmas bib, that sort of small thing. If you want a "big" present, something like a collection of (either small books or a hardback bound version) Beatrix Potter or other classic book for bedtime stories for years. Or start a savings account.

Get a copy of "Twas the Night before Christmas" and begin a tradition of reading it at bedtime every Christmas Eve.

While you have everything else done, bookmark a website that has lovely "new baby" decorations and get a personalized one as soon as you have a moment. Or get ahead by buying something like a Waterford Crystal decoration for this year (i.e. with 2015 on it) - a once-in-a-lifetime heirloom could be worth the price.

Um, apart from arranging in your head what you will do foodwise (pre-ordering M&S or similar, teaching DH how to cook a roast dinner, agreeing which wider family household will feed you all). You could make a few things to put in the freezer - lots of regular dinners for DH and yourself (I found keeping seasoning and spices minimal was important but DD had reflux and I was bf'ing); and also a few things for Christmas dinner and season. Even things like HM mince pies or a log of cookie dough to slice and bake when you want something with a cup of tea.

I'd also, as they become available, try to book slots for online grocery shopping. You may want to get out, but you may want to get the basics delivered. But do a general stock-up of the cupboards (easy to make foods you both like, things for visitors, cleaning stuff, toilet rolls/binbags/kitchen towels etc), and especially the heavier stuff and non-perishables - mostly in advance but some in your online shops. So you can just go for a walk and wander in to supermarket for a bottle of milk and 2 chops, not have a faff about car seats, driving, baby trollies and do a massive shop while worried about you leaking/next feed/poonami etc.

And think about things like entertaining yourselves (nice DVD box sets, a good book that you don't need to concentrate on too much, Sudoku/crosswords/logic problems, board games etc). And making the house winter-ready, like having logs/coal for open fires, check boiler servicing, plenty of change for meters if needed, candles (both for atmosphere and if power out) etc.

Good pair of boots for you, and warm winter layers. And a good muff for Baby, and a buggy. So you can go out anytime it is dry for walks (and even in rain if right protection in place). Figure out about local public transport if you and DH share a car, so you can get places independently once he's back at work.

Overall, enjoy!!

whatsagoodusername · 29/09/2015 16:58

In terms of cooking DH is the chef in our house anyway but I usually buy the food so will make sure I have that all planned in advance and a list written out so he can just nip to the shops and buy it all.

Forget making a list, just order your Christmas food shopping online to be delivered. They'll start opening up their Christmas slots soon so you can get it done well in advance. It's much, much easier!

ThreeBeanRap · 30/09/2015 11:56

M4blues thanks for that link! Will check it out.

Wow biddypop, that is amazing...loads of good ideas, thank you. I have bought some good boots but need some more cold weather gear for me and the baby as I want to make sure we are getting out for fresh air whenever possible and I'm not using bad weather as an excuse to stay in! Will go through your list.

And yes online shopping for food may well be the way forward, apart from the turkey - thanks all.

Started my Christmas shopping and have a spreadsheet with all that on so I am feeling mega organised :-) cards are next on my list! Want to have them addressed and stamped and then can pop a picture of the newbie in and off they go.

OP posts:
Luciferbox · 30/09/2015 17:47

DS1 was born at the end of November. I had bought and wrapped the majority of the gifts. I also finished writing all our cards. Once he'd arrived I did as little as possible and watched a lot of Christmas films whilst eating cake wrapped up under a blanket. It was brilliant. Enjoy.

Wishful80smontage · 30/09/2015 17:55

I'm due 2 weeks before christmas.
I've got a nearly 3 year old dd so I've been busy getting her things for Xmas, then I'm going to start everyone else's shopping, plus get in a couple extra gifts- bottles wine/boxes chocs as we might have extra gifts from visitors so will keep these handy. I'm going to write all my cards ready in advance.
Then I'm ordering the ready made dishes from m and s for our christmas dinner dh normally cooks it but he'll be too busy building dd's toys I'm sure so a quick and easy dinner will suit us all.
If dc2 is coming on the big day itself then dd will have Christmas Day at my parents- hope this isn't the case really don't want to miss christmas with her but you can't control these things!

katienana · 30/09/2015 18:17

My ds was 3 months at Christmas. We got him an elf costume. Hilarious but very cute! We bought a few small toys like buggy book, ball, stuff like that. And his stocking had vests and baby wipes and bubble bath. 1st Christmas is so lovely. Also I'm a December baby and I love it!

SpaghettiMeatballs · 01/10/2015 15:54

This takes me back as my eldest was born in November and I also wanted to be as organised as possible.

I bought DD books which were too old for her but I knew we would use in the future so lots of Julia Donaldson, Judith Kerr etc. They are loved by her and her younger brother.

eastmidswarwicknightnanny · 03/10/2015 05:48

Ds2 was born end Nov last yr so was 5weeks old on Xmas day all our family are 200miles away so presents went back with my mum or in laws at end Nov when they had visited.

We obv got baby presents and brought stuff for 6mths plus also some books we didn't have other people brought some lamaze toys, clothes, cot/pram toys. We did a stocking too n had weaning stuff, teether rattles and teddy in.