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?

Keep it simple!

You don't know how you (and your DH) are going to feel at the time.

You don't have to replicate the 'perfect Christmas'.

I was stressing about it (my first baby is due end of November - 1st grandchild on both sides). But now DP and I have decided to stay at home this year, DP has promised he will cook. No stressing trying to get out of the house to visit people or feeling uncomfortable and self conscious trying to feed/ change the baby in a house crowded with extended family.

Was worried family might be upset with this decision but they’ve actually been ok about it! Im sure they won’t be able to resist popping in for a quick visit to us at some point on the day which is totally fine by me.

So I’m actually quite looking forward to it now the pressure is off 😊 Plan to put the tree up in November (I know, I know, but I just want to make sure it’s done incase baby comes early!). And will probably start shopping soon.

I actually think (hope) it will be lovely being all cozy and tucked up in the house having newborn cuddles and just enjoying being our own little family.

Had a gorgeous, chilled Christmas with first born who was two weeks old. Loved nesting with Christmas decorations all up just before he was born, and snuggling and relaxing and feeding with fairy lights and living room all cosy when he was brand new. I'd made sure Xmas presents were all sorted and sent off well in advance (sadly we were out of sight, out of mind for most of the recipients and didn't receive many gifts back. We didn't travel to see anyone that year). I remember having the most relaxed day on Christmas day, easy roast, sleepy baby, breastfeeding while sipping on sherry, short stroll after lunch. It was such a special time.

@Beanniebaby22 if you want a November tree, there is no judgement here! We need to do what makes us happy/feel organised in the face of what is likely to be a very different December :)

@DisappointingAvocado I love my friends who reminded me that if I wanted a wee glass of Christmas spirit, the best time would be during BF. This thread has definitely inspired me to buy more twinkly lights, I will be going full cosy grotto this year! Did feeling out of sight/out of mind make you rethink who got presents in future years?

Dd was due on 25th, but thoughtfully waited until late evening to start the journey and arrived 6am on 26th instead.

I had organised some freezer meals. We went to my DGPs house (15 minutes away in car) for Christmas dinner (we normally cooked for ourselves when we stayed at home - both sets of parents close to each other 2.5 hours away). Did a long waddle down the pier locally earlier in the day (got about 2/3 of the way before I admitted defeat).

I had presents organised early but only did the wrapping once I was on mat leave. We have them to family when they came to visit us. I also only wrote and sent my cards then - but that was partly because work was absolutely manic in the run up (the day I finished was the day ALL my team flew to Hong Kong for a massive international negotiating meeting for 10 days - delegation of 35 to be organised!).

In case DD arrived early, I had a stocking, a 1st Christmas baby grow (present from a friend) and bib, and a few small things like mini Vaseline (useful for changing bag size) and a rattle to put in there.

I should have thought more about things like biscuits or mince pies for visitors after she arrived. (Internet groceries wasn't yet a thing so Dh had to face Christmas hordes...).

Dd turns 17 now so a lot has faded on me - I remember the hospital bag in the boot but I know we ran out of babygrows on day 2 (she had reflux so threw up a lot) and had to ask a DAunt to lend us some (she had a 5 month old at the time). As shops were stripped bare in sales.

Good luck. Enjoy. Keep mobile as long as possible (I was walking to work and doing pg yoga which made a huge positive difference).

Oh, we definitely put the tree up - I think the weekend I had finished work.

I had a,4 week old and I spent that month being thoroughly spoiled by my in-laws, my MiL had recently retired and did everything, all I had to was sit down and recover ( ok birth awful post partum). My enduring memory of this is dfil RIP offering to change his nappy only for ds1 to wee in his face.

@BiddyPop that is so lovely that you had a Christmas stocking waiting for them, and very polite of your DD to wait until the evening/boxing day to make their entrance so you were able to spend time with your family. I have just started pregnancy yoga, and definitely feeling it's making a difference (just entered the third trimester so the aches and pains are starting!)

@GettingStuffed aww what a funny memory of your dfil, doing a good deed and getting a surprise 😂 my dh and I were talking about Christmas postpartum recovery, and how while it's a busy time- it's quite nice that family etc will be off work and can be around to help if needed!