Christmas with a newborn

[Tofu35]

I have waited until September to start this thread but I've been trying to figure out how to keep some of the Christmas festivities and cosiness going when we will be parents of a 1 week old baby!

I'm already buying Christmas gifts for my nearest and dearest (thanks to the Christmas bargain threads on MN!) and told our families who we usually visit that we'll probably stay home and figure out what on earth we've gotten ourselves into.

So far my mum has offered to cook some Christmas food for us and drop it round (although she lives an hour away) and she'll probably come in for a cup of tea and a grandchild cuddle. Same with the in-laws.

But, experts of Christmas, what should I be doing to make sure Christmas stays alive among the chaos of new parenthood? Is it buying lots of party food for the freezer? Getting the tinsel and lights out in November so the house is decorated? Only sing the baby Christmas songs while he wears a tiny Santa hat?

I'm joking, but I'm also interested. For those who are going to be new parents, and those who have older December children, what does tiny baby Christmas look like?

Open to suggestions for posh breakfast 😂 Usually we have a selection box! Probably some sort of pastry, maybe some smoked salmon (having avoided it all pregnancy) and MAYBE a glass of fizz!

It was memorable !

It was my own personal idea of hell, I was young and a bit of a pushover back then though so I just agreed. It's crazy how much having children changes your personality, the version of myself now would very bluntly of told him where to go if he'd even suggested it 😂

My second baby was born 20th December and it was honestly the most magical Christmas with a newborn, I loved it! I made sure I was well prepared with gifts and got the tree up on the first weekend in December, but other than that I pretty much carried on as normal, I just didn't offer to host! We had offers from family for Xmas Eve/day/boxing day which we initially said we would play by ear but actually going to all three gatherings meant it saved us cooking, and all the family got to meet the baby without a constant stream of visitors and our time at home was our own. It was lovely! Now I'm wishing I had another one due this year! 😂

I'd be working on the assumption that you're having the baby on Christmas day. My son was due 12 days after my birthday. Guess when he arrived?

@MrsTerryPratchett haha thanks lovely. I'm either very organised or I lurch the other way and go with the chaotic flow. That reply took a lot of scrolling up and down the page to make sure I'd answered everyone (and recovering from my phone switching off from having zero battery - living life in the edge when I'm writing an epic reply on a 4% battery...). But you're right, maybe I need to get some festive spreadsheets on the go 🤓

I am a bit anxious about Christmas this year. I am due at the beginning of December and have a 6 year old. I normally host and cook etc, but have said that I won't cook this year, but dp is going to and he isn't great at it.
I just want my son to have a great time and for things to be as normal as possible for him, but we cannot realistically do a lot of our usual activities.

I feel bereft you didn't bother to reply to me, your first reply!

Enjoy the baby snuggles. I did love having my newborn at Christmastime.

Oh noooo @KatherineofGaunt my first version of the reply had your name on it but I missed you from the second. I was so pleased to think about you coming home on Christmas day with your little one and having meal cooked for you so you could just ease into your new family life.

Reading all your comments really hits home if there is the opportunity for homecooked meal delivery by a family member, it really makes Christmas with a new baby feel special!

DS was born on 13th December and we took him to the in laws for a big family Christmas lunch, then on to my family in the evening. We had a lovely day and he slept loads, was passed around and loved. With hindsight though, the evening was a bit much and we could have split it over two days instead! I had a c section and DW can't drive so we relied on others to get us around and weren't able to up and leave when we wanted to.

Cards written early November and posted 31st Nov. All presents bought and wrapped by Late November. Tree up 1st December and baby arrived on the 9th.

Christmas was just exhausting and not a great deal of fun. It felt forced fun to me, I’m sure others enjoyed it but I was so tired! Several month later I met a lady who asked about the baby and when he was born. She straight away said the usual response ‘oh how lovely a Christmas baby, what a Christmas present etc etc’ and then caught herself and said I had a December baby, it’s awful the first Christmas but great after that 😂 she was completely right!

I should add we all went to a wedding on 22nd for the full day so perhaps that explains the exhaustion with a 13 day old baby!

Carry on as normal, the baby will be asleep probably! I'd go to your mums and let everyone run around after you.

I’ve had two newborns at Christmas. One just a few days and one a few weeks.

I kept everything the same - I’m the host for the festivities so I cooked the big dinner etc and had all the family round. Lots of people to hold baby and I had them in slings a lot for the parties, eating, cooking. Presents, tree, drinks. Not hosting is not an option here. With the first we did a big NYE party too. That was optional, we could have skipped it but I like parties, I like seeing people, there’s only so much baby gazing and sitting around you can do.

carry on as normal. I mean you're not the only and first woman to have a baby near Christmas.

Just have a nice Christmas, I mean I'm not trying to be rude but if you have Christmas totally alone in a 'bubble' then won't you feel lonely? No doubt the baby blues will kick in and you'll blame your family for leaving you alone and not making your babies first Christmas special.

Just relax. If you don't want anyone to have cuddles then fine but at least see your family at bloody Christmas ffs

I got out of hospital with DD on 20th Dec.
It was honestly our most special Christmas. First time DH and I were ever alone together (obviously with child!). We slept, ate chocolate, DH cooked dinner, we went to the pub, i slugged a wine after 9 months of abstinence. I'd do it again, just the 3 of us, in a heartbeat.

Accept an invite out for Christmas Dinner. As long as there is a welcome bed you can lie ( to feed if need be) on it’s fine. I was so grateful to go to my MIL with a days old baby. He slept in his Moses basket during lunch. ( that was one of the few times!)

Gave birth under the twinkle of the Christmas tree at home. Was in the park watching for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve with older kids and baby in sling. Of course it was the international space station!

He wasn’t due til new year but wanted in on the Christmas festivities. Best Christmas ever- even the baby blues kicking in as I fed him before Xmas lunch didn’t spoil it.

My first baby was a Christmas baby. Early December so I did have a couple of weeks to get over stitches and constipation. Finally mustered up all my strength to get out on Christmas Eve. DH took us all out to do a bit of Christmas shopping. I remember carol singers and pushing my pram and it was blinkin amazing 🥰
I just felt so proud.

Baby was lovely and gurgled and smiled all through Christmas - it took me a bit longer to heal.

However - I have nothing but happy memories of that first Christmas as our new little family. It must have been tough but I don’t remember the bad stuff. I just remember it being magical.

We went to my Mum’s on Christmas Day and the hardest part was getting out of the car. After that me and baby were pampered princesses. I didn’t need to lift a finger. Lovely. Best Christmas Day ever.

Loving everyone's stories of being pampered when they went to someone else's home for Christmas, you and baby must have all been like the family celebrities for the day @notangelinajolie @CornishTiger @IThinkYoullFindIWasHereFirst although what a nightmare to be reliant on other people for lifts (I know in my family a heavy hint needs to be an instruction before it's taken up 😂) and I hadn't even thought of the basic logistics of getting out of cars etc. I guess that one is dependent on how the birth goes and how I'm doing!

Huge congratulations to those who were mega busy with a tiny baby, hosting Christmas and New year (@HorribleHerstory). There must be some form of medal you can receive for services to Christmas cheer. And attending a wedding with a 13 day old (@Temporaryname158) your presence alone was the wedding gift of the century there!

Another vote for getting out and soaking up the Christmas spirit(@notangelinajolie @CornishTiger ). Also @WonderWoop was this first wine a mulled wine or a much missed other type of wine?

@fannyfan thanks for your honest reply. I suppose the purpose of this thread was to hear what a different Christmas would look like if we needed it. This thread is showing that, as always, there's more than one ideal Christmas and it's nice to read other people's memories or top tips about what made theirs special. I don't know what mine will look like yet, so keeping an open mind and heart to it all.

@Tofu35 put it this way next year you will have a 1 year old who will possibly be walking and if not definitely crawling and into everything. If you want to waited on hand and foot in a cosy bubble of baby joy this is your time.

You won't have another Christmas where both grandparents aren't bending over backwards to help. You'll just have to get on with seeing them

I've got nothing interesting to write but that is so magical ❤️

I would definately decorate before baby arrives if you can (due date arent set in stone, my first came a month early) baby will probably like the twinkly lights in the moments hes awake.

Im not really sure what to do with a 1 week old as my oldest was a new year baby (was meant to be closer to valentines) so nearly a year by the first xmas, wast starting to toddle and really got into it.

Of my 3 the youngest I have had at xmas was a few months, he didnt do much to be honest but I had older kids too so we still did the whole sherbang anyway and he was just sort of their napping through it lol.

utter rubbish, we spend xmas alone and always have... its amazing and frankly the last thing on earth I want is to have to get dressed, make small talk and act 'proper' for guests or hosts on xmas.

I want to lounge in my own house, be myself and relax.

My eldest was born on 22nd December (due 20th) and we came home from hospital Xmas eve morning.

We made sure we were organised for Christmas early with presents wrapped, cards sent, decorations up, nice food treats in etc. It was nice to have something to potter about with in the few weeks of maternity leave before she was born. My dh made a lovely beef and chestnut casserole for the freezer I remember! We decided to tell my in laws who lived further away that despite it being their 'turn' we wouldn't go to them for Xmas as we couldn't plan if baby there or not by then. We told my parents,who lived closer, we'd probably see them at some point Xmas day but couldn't plan where etc and they understood and said they'd get enough food for us!

I'd had trying to make a yule log for the first time in my head as something to do if the baby was late to keep me occupied. As it was my waters broke with no contractions so dh and I spent a day in limbo before it was time to go into hospital to get checked out, so made one together then, which in hindsight seems a surreal thing to have done in early labour!

So we came home from hospital on the morning of the 24th and the in laws had asked if they could come and meet the baby. We cracked out the yule log and defrosted the caseserole which was nice, and better hosting than they expected!

However by Christmas day the tiredness and hormones had kicked in and was very glad it was only my family I saw that day! We told my parents we wouldn't come to them as we didn't know what time the midwife was coming, and the morning was very non Christmasy with midwife visits, then dh having to drive to out of hours gp and emergency pharmacy for antibiotics for my infected stitches! But in the afternoon, my parents and sister brought round huge plated up Xmas dinners to reheat, having already had theirs, and held the baby etc whilst we ate. Then we all opened presents etc. It's a happy Xmas memory despite being a tearful Wreck by that stage!

I do remember it was nice that there was plenty of Xmas cake, chocolates etc around to get me through early breastfeeding too! And 12 years on dd says she likes that her birthday is part of the build up to Christmas and everything is always festive on her birthday.