I don’t need to buy for a newborn baby, do I...?

[TheHappyHerbivore]

My first baby is due in December. It hadn’t really occurred to me to get them a gift until a friend of mine asked this week what I was getting them. I said I wasn’t getting them anything and she was horrified - she said I’ll never get back the chance to buy my baby a present for their first Christmas.

Is she right? When I am doped up on hormones and sleep deprivation will I suddenly regret not buying them a ‘first Christmas’ gift? Or is that a completely mad thing to worry about for a baby who will be days old when Christmas comes...?

[BertieBotts]

No. They won't know what day it is and they will probably get "first Christmas" stuff from family, most of it is tat anyway and will never see the light of day ever again. I think we got DS1 a jumperoo for his first Christmas, but we waited and got it in the sales as he didn't know :o

Special Christmas themed clothes for babies confuse me, especially people giving them as gifts. Why would you want clothes which are seasonally inappropriate 7 days after you receive them? And even if you buy them in November you get about six weeks in which you can put them on the baby without people thinking you're a bit OTT. Babies wear their clothing for 3-4 months at a time at those ages, so to halve that seems wasteful.

clearly :o

[BertieBotts]

It's different when you already have a child, of course then get a few token bits so they are included, but if it's the first baby and you don't particularly have any great wish for any sentimental bits then don't worry about it.

Of course if you like the sentimental stuff and want Baby's First Christmas baubles and babygrows and whatever then knock yourself out! It's your baby and your life. But if OP doesn't want to I don't think she will massively regret it later, no.

[LadyCatStark]

Definitely get a personalised stocking (not a my first Christmas one as you won’t be able to use that in future years!), a novelty sleepsuit, a teddy to poke out of the stocking, a Christmas bib and anything else can be practical stuff they’d need anyway.

[LadyCatStark]

Oh and definitely the nicest copy of The Night Before Christmas you can find!

[BabyLlamaZen]

I did. I was exhausted but thought I'd do it as a memory of his first Christmas. I'd get a keepsake gift or something for when they're older.

[MsSquiz]

DD was born a week before Christmas last year so I wrapped up:
A couple of books
A wedgewood bauble for the tree
An outfit for Christmas Day
A Jellycat elf

I didn't go overboard as it was me who wrapped and I wrapped them anyway! but I couldn't have got her nothing at all.

[Sunshineandsparkle]

Of course you should get something, even if it’s a token gift. She’ll be a member of the family, you can’t leave her out!!

[Bikingbear]

Of course baby should get a Christmas present esp if there are other children in the family, even friends kids who might ask, people buy their pets Christmas presents!.

My Christmas baby got a baby gym and a stocking which had dummies, bibs, a book and a teddy. Basically stuff I'd have bought anyway.

[3rdtimelucky2019]

Ours was 2 weeks old last year. Didn't buy a thing.

[DemolitionBarbie]

Ha ha, welcome to parenthood OP, everyone does it differently and you'll probably be judged, whatever you do!

Your baby will not know the difference either way. Get something if it will make you happy. You'll probably be too busy with feeds and nappies to care all that much!

[Mammyloveswine]

My first was due the 6th January... he got presents for Christmas off a few people addressed to the bump!

No 2 was also due very soon after Christmas... he was largely ignored (second child syndrome!).

[AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken]

I bought my kids a tree decoration for their first Christmases. We've now got a proper family tradition where we take the kids to a fancy garden centre with a Christmas grotto every year for them to pick their own. The idea is that as they get older, the tree will fill up and we'll have a full tree of decorations picked out by the kids.
When they're older, they can take them for their own trees.
This only works because I'm not fussy about my tree having a theme or looking coordinated. I love a big mismatch of decorations which shows their developing tastes. Last year they chose a cheetah with glittery feet and a glass fox! This year I'm pretty certain it will be dinosaurs.

[SquigglePigs]

It's up to you but I felt it wouldn't be right to leave my DD out. The idea of not buying her something for her first Christmas just didn't sit well with me. DH wasn't bothered either way so went along with me. I just got her a couple of things I'd probably have bought her anyway - a cute outfit, a cuddly toy and a rattle type toy.

[Isol]

Went a bit mad with 3 month old DD but lots of clothes for the next size she would have needed anyway and toys.

DS then just got her old baby toys wrapped up. Luckily she didn’t remember then! He did get one new soft toy and it’s become his special toy that he always sleeps with and takes everywhere.

[mytimeonline]

How about a Christmas ornament for baby or a Christmas stocking as a present
I would get a keep sake type of present.

[mistermagpie]

My DD was six weeks old at Christmas last year and we didn't get her anything. We were still getting new baby presents at that point and also had a two and four year old, so already had every toy on the planet, so it seemed ridiculous to buy more stuff.

I'm not even sure we'll get her a birthday present this year to be honest. She doesn't know and won't remember so it seems like pointless spending at this stage. If we didn't have other young children then it would be different but we already have so much stuff!

[NC4Now]

My birthday is mid-December. I was two weeks old for my first Christmas. I still have a little bunny toy my mum bought me. I’d always buy my baby something for Christmas.

[VeggieSausageRoll]

Our dc was about 6 weeks old for first Christmas. We got a silver money box and a book (think Alice in wonderland for DC called Alice).

[mummabubs]

Our son was 8 weeks old when his first Christmas came and we didn't buy him anything. It's a personal decision but we figured there was literally nothing he needed and he had no idea what the day was about. Similarly for the next Christmas we got him 2 small presents so he had something to open with his cousins. Last year is the first time we've done a stocking for him and this year (his fourth Christmas but he'll only recently be 3) is the first time he'll have any idea of the day itself.

Do what feels comfortable for you OP but for us we wondered who we'd be buying our newborn presents for (more for show for relatives) and we decided we'd rather have the money to do more family things later in the year.

[yikesanotherbooboo]

I didn't buy 5 week old DD anything . It wouldn't have occurred to me and I only bought 6 month old DS a present ( tiny teddy) because his sister was aware by then of FC coming and presents... likewise DC3 .

[Newmumatlast]

@TheHappyHerbivore

My first baby is due in December. It hadn’t really occurred to me to get them a gift until a friend of mine asked this week what I was getting them. I said I wasn’t getting them anything and she was horrified - she said I’ll never get back the chance to buy my baby a present for their first Christmas.

Is she right? When I am doped up on hormones and sleep deprivation will I suddenly regret not buying them a ‘first Christmas’ gift? Or is that a completely mad thing to worry about for a baby who will be days old when Christmas comes...?

There really isn't a need. Baby will get gifts from others and not be that interested especially as so new. I had a 2 month old at Xmas and did get some token gifts but not a lot and I basically wrapped up things I wouldve gotten anyway like clothing and fruit cage sucker thing. Toys wise I bought a few small musical instruments and rattles from charity shop for 50p-£1 each and looked on Facebook market place. I got the obligatory first Xmas bib, sleepsuit and xmas day outfit. She wont remember and I have nice photos. I would rather save money in an account for her to be honest especially with how the world is now.

[Newmumatlast]

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

I bought my kids a tree decoration for their first Christmases. We've now got a proper family tradition where we take the kids to a fancy garden centre with a Christmas grotto every year for them to pick their own. The idea is that as they get older, the tree will fill up and we'll have a full tree of decorations picked out by the kids.
When they're older, they can take them for their own trees.
This only works because I'm not fussy about my tree having a theme or looking coordinated. I love a big mismatch of decorations which shows their developing tastes. Last year they chose a cheetah with glittery feet and a glass fox! This year I'm pretty certain it will be dinosaurs.

I'm doing this too. Think it's a lovely idea and something I know as an adult she will look back on affectionately as I look back on my xmas traditions with my family that way

[HeronLanyon]

I think santa would very much like to give her a little something but will understand if you are not up for the visit this year.

[HeronLanyon]

The decorations tradition is great. Recently I’ve lost both parents and the decorations box was one of the very most special and poignant things
My siblings and I went through. Always up every year of my life on my old ma’s Christmas tree. A lifetime of memories. Really lovely mish mash but beloved every single one.

[Newmumatlast]

@BertieBotts

No. They won't know what day it is and they will probably get "first Christmas" stuff from family, most of it is tat anyway and will never see the light of day ever again. I think we got DS1 a jumperoo for his first Christmas, but we waited and got it in the sales as he didn't know :o

Special Christmas themed clothes for babies confuse me, especially people giving them as gifts. Why would you want clothes which are seasonally inappropriate 7 days after you receive them? And even if you buy them in November you get about six weeks in which you can put them on the baby without people thinking you're a bit OTT. Babies wear their clothing for 3-4 months at a time at those ages, so to halve that seems wasteful.

clearly :o

I did this by buying a nice outfit for xmas day that wouldn't look out of place other times and pjs which were xmassy but she wore for just as long as she wouldve as im not fussed about xmas pjs carrying on being worn.. i might wear mine all year lol. I then bought in the after xmas sales outfits for this year for stupidly cheap and plan to do the same each year.

I'm a new mum so haven't worked out all my traditions yet but I'm thinking of doing a 1st December box of things for the season i.e. the outfits and crafts which will come out of my xmas budget for her gifts then on the day itself she will have some bits for through the year. When she's little though it won't be alot and mainly things I wouldve bought anyway. She has a toy subscription so not keen on buying alot of toys as it is - we just send back old ones and re order!