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
Christmas

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

Original poster

What age did your children enjoy Christmas?

44 replies

FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 10:45

So I'm having a bit of a rubbish time, so as usual I'm thinking about Christmas to try and cheer myself up! I have a nearly 9 month old, so he was just 5.5 months last Christmas and clearly had no idea what was going on.

I am wondering if at nearly 18 months this year, whether he will 'get' it a bit more. I would love to hear your stories of when your children started to enjoy it and what you did with them Smile

OP posts:
Wetwashing00 · 28/03/2018 11:46

the Christmas just gone has been the best year for my youngest (age 3)
He really enjoyed the whole build up, advent calendar, going to see the towns lights, visit to Santa, letter writing, putting out the mince pie and carrot.
I suppose going to nursery helps to set the excitement as all the children are talking about it.
The year previous he was 2, and although he enjoyed it better than age 1 he didn’t really understand too much about what it was all about. He loved having a chocolate every morning from the advent calendar but got quite pissed off when he didn’t get one on Boxing Day and everyday until January. He was more interested in ripping paper than the actual gift and he didn’t like the look of Santa.
So every year he has enjoyed Xmas a little bit more, I’m sure your little one will enjoy it more than this year, he just won’t understand much about it.

NoWordForFluffy · 28/03/2018 17:34

I agree. 3 was the key turning point for both of ours.

I now have two Christmas obsessives, however, as they enjoyed it so much last year (they're 3 and 4)!

Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 18:06

Oh man, seems I have a few years to wait then! Thanks for your replies. I have a million Christmas books, I can't wait to read them to him!

OP posts:
catkind · 28/03/2018 18:17

DD loved it at 9 months, have video evidence of her having a ball. Obviously didn't fully understandwhat was going on but loved opening gifts and playing with them and nice food and seeing family. Hey even the dog gets excited, why wouldn't a baby?
The year after that she had more of a clue what was going on with advent calendars etc. But yeah would definitely expect a 1 yr old to enjoy presents, make connection with santa etc. Why don't you make him a little gift advent calendar - easily filled with a few sets of little board books, bath toys, bubbles, crayons?

Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 18:54

Thanks Catkind, that is a great idea! Something nice to plan now to beat the blue mood. I did obviously read to him last Christmas but I'm looking forward to him being a bit more engaged with books.

He will be 1 in July so good time to see how he is with 'opening' presents etc.

I'm thinking of putting together a little list of things I can do with him this year, any other suggestions?!

OP posts:
BexleyRae · 28/03/2018 19:01

DD was 15 months last Christmas and she loved opening presents and looking at the lights and decorations.
I decorated the house in November cos she liked looking at the shop decorations so much.
She did not like father Christmas though

Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 19:48

Oh that's good to know BexleyRae! I wanted to do the lightshow at Kew Gardens last year and ran out of time, so will definitely put it on the list for this time.

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 28/03/2018 19:50

3yo here to really start and get it.

He's 6yo now and off the wall! Last Christmas he didn't sleep until 4am Shock pyjamas full of jumping beans!

Mol1628 · 28/03/2018 19:53

3 was the age where mine got it. But 5 has been my absolute favourite. There was a big build up to it at school as well as at home and it really was magical.

Makingworkwork · 28/03/2018 20:09

My 19 month old knew that Santa was going to bring presents of ‘toys and weets’. She knew the presents were for her and she enjoyed opening them.

I tried to limit the number of gifts but I still think it would have been better if she has fewer gifts.

HappyHedgehog247 · 28/03/2018 20:13

I'm not always with my DC for Christmas so we have made lots of rituals in the run up- decorate early, pick a new decoration every year, real tree, watch the Snowman, visit Christmas lights etc. The only thing I wouldn't do again is pay for Santa visit when really young- dc was terrified!

laddylonglocks · 28/03/2018 20:40

Yeah I would agree age 3 for getting excited. 4/5 for proper understanding of it all.

Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 20:42

This is giving me a lot to look forward to, but equally feeling frustration that I wont be at 'peak child Christmas' this year Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 20:43

I have a lovely picture of my DS with FC from last year, he is smiling which is just lovely. I hope he continues to like him!

OP posts:
Muddlingalongalone · 28/03/2018 20:46

Last year was the best yet aged 6 & 3.

ShowOfHands · 28/03/2018 20:47

DD was 19 months old at her 2nd Christmas and absolutely loved it but with limited comprehension. 2.5 was magical, 3.5 was extraordinary. It gets better and better. They're 10 and 6 now and it's just brilliant.

Sorry you're feeling a bit down op.

CoodleMoodle · 28/03/2018 20:54

First Christmas, DD was 9 months and had no clue, but she was happy enough and liked the lights on the tree. Second she was 21 months and had a good time opening presents (not just hers!) and being the centre of attention. Third she was 2 and had a ball. Fourth (last year) she was 3 and had the best day ever! Really got into the whole Santa thing, was so excited all day long.

By the time Christmas arrives this year she'll have a baby sibling to contend with, but I imagine she'll love it even more.

KNain · 28/03/2018 21:45

DS was 20 months at Christmas and yes it definitely wasn't Peak Christmas but he was sort of in to it. Some things he liked/disliked:

  • I have a picture of when DH and I took him to see Father Christmas for his first Christmas up in his bedroom all year. From about September I would start pointing it out and saying "mummy, daddy, DS, Father Christmas" and then saying "Father Christmas says Ho Ho Ho". He wasn't scared of FC at all and loved visiting the grotto; he went straight in, waved and said "hello Ho Ho Ho"
  • I put lots of big plastic non-fragile baubles at the bottom of the tree so he could take them on/off and decorate the tree. Everything breakable/sentimental went high up.
  • he did not like opening presents. He refused to unwrap anything, but once unwrapped he would play with the new toys.
  • my friend's DC are a similar age and were terrified of crackers (Christmas, not Jacobs).

Everything festive became 'Ho Ho Ho...' He had a meltdown a few weeks ago. Cried his eyes out. Eventually I calmed him down and asked what the matter was; he whimpered "Ho Ho Ho tree gone" (this was in March!!)

Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 22:13

KNain, that is a lovely story and I hope my DS is as sad as me when the decs go down! I lovw the idea of putting a picture up all round and getting him used to it, stealing that idea for sure!

General consensus seems to be that 3 is the best starting age. Roll on December 2020 Grin

Thank you ShowOfHands. Currently on maternity leave but due to my last employer not renewing my contract (and in general beimg really awful about my HH pregnancy)I need to work again from July. I have had a few interviews and just found out I didnt get the last one which I honestly felt I had and which was perfect. I am a worrier, so even though I have a few more months I am now terrified of not working. It is so soul destroying applying for jobs, and very hard to do with an 8 month old... We are also trying to sell our house but with no luck, so just feels like it's all on top of me and I am feeling the pressure Sad

Christmas is always my escape, so thanks for all the replies.

OP posts:
Original poster
FilthyforFirth · 28/03/2018 22:14

Sorry, HG pregnancy.

OP posts:
Allthepinkunicorns · 29/03/2018 13:51

My ds really started to get it when he was 3. I think it helped with him being in a school nursery as they did the nativity play and lots of Christmas activities. And this year at 4 he was so excited, he's already asking when is it Christmas again.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/03/2018 22:54

DS liked the lights at 2yo , we took him out to London and Lakeside, he was high up and cosy in the backpack carrier (DH carried him, I was pr with DD)

When he was 3yo , DD was 6months we have a video of him coming downstairs to the presents under the tree proclaiming "What a mess "
Xmas Grin , it was what the Nursery staff used to say if the toys were untidy Grin.

We made him Action Man Sandwiches for Christmas Eve lunch, DS will never eat if there's something more interesting going on , so we told him that Action Man made them (wrapped in silver foil with tinsel ! )

SoftSheen · 30/03/2018 22:57

4/5 is the best age IMO. Old enough to get it, young enough to unquestioningly believe in Father Christmas and to be innocently delighted in everything.

Tringley · 31/03/2018 19:06

4 was amazing. Probably absolute peak Christmas. I remember taking DS to see Santa arrive at the local shopping centre and his excitement floored me. He's a joyful, excitable child on the most mundane of days so I was expecting a big reaction to Santa but I was still taken aback at the pure awe and joy that shone out of him at 4. 5 was great too but at 5 Santa was like an amazing, favourite friend that he was glad to see again, at 4 seeing Santa was like a favourite celebrity beaming in from the moon.

HeartShapedFox · 05/04/2018 11:08

Ah this is a lovely thread! My ds was born at the same time of year as yours and the first Christmas was really hard, he barely slept, I was exhausted and felt the "perfect first Christmas" pressure.
Like everyone has said, it DOES get better and better - he's 5 now and the last two years have been amazing, it's just wonderful creating your own traditions and seeing how excited he gets. I bloody love Christmas!

Swipe left for the next trending thread