What Christmas experiences would be good for a 10 month old?

jellybeanathome · 2023-09-07T20:39:23+00:00

DC will turn 10 months old in December and I'd love to book something magical in to start off the Christmas season in a lovely way... but I'm very aware that DC is young and some things might be a waste of money (we went to the Sea Life Centre a few weeks ago and, while it was nice, DC was definitely too young to justify the cost!) Any ideas of types of Christmas activity that would be suitable for a 10mo OR specific things within an hour or so from Birmingham? Cost doesn't matter (I'll just work out which things we can budget for).

YourNameGoesHere · 07/09/2023 21:40

Honestly at that age a walk around some local houses with pretty lights on before bedtime is all he needs. Save the pennies for another day.

HarrietJet · 07/09/2023 21:42

At that age they literally won't understand any of it, and they certainly won't remember it.
Unless you're doing it specifically for Instagram the photos, it won't make any difference what activity you choose.

Oldermumofone · 07/09/2023 21:43

Dobbies Christmas breakfast was lovely with a one year old so could work. Santa welcomes them in, sits at the table with each family and they have little activities to do like biscuit decorating and then a gift.

BlueKaftan · 07/09/2023 21:44

Let her watch a cute Christmas video for babies? She won’t remember anything.

SoftSheen · 07/09/2023 21:45

Just decorate your house, play Christmas music, go for a walk to look at the lights... you really don't need to do anything more than this for a 10 month old.

supermamio · 07/09/2023 21:45

Go to a garden centre and places like the range who have dark tunnels with lights on display, snowglobes etc.

Peridot1 · 07/09/2023 21:45

Seriously nothing. Your baby won’t have any idea what’s going on. Just putting them in front of your Christmas tree to watch the lights will be enough.

Hedgehog23 · 07/09/2023 21:45

Whatever you would like to do. She probably won’t appreciate it much, though May love eg lights. Unless there are any baby focused activities eg a sensory play session or a theatre production for tinies.

EdithWeston · 07/09/2023 21:46

Things that make the parents happy.

A DC that young won't understand, appreciate or even remember any of it

LightDrizzle · 07/09/2023 21:47

I second garden centres with all the Christmas lights. Otherwise your own Christmas tree will be more than enough.

ReeseWitherfork · 07/09/2023 21:47

I took 6 month old DS to Longleat at Christmas to see the pretty lights. He seemed to quite enjoy it 😂 but ultimately it was a nice memory for DH and I. And a day out we could enjoy too.

DuploTrain · 07/09/2023 21:48

Anything with pretty lights is a good idea.

Phizpop · 07/09/2023 21:50

Agree with the above, some pretty Christmas lights somewhere free will be quite enough!

Garden centres usually have lovely Christmas displays of lights which entertained mine at that age. Or if you are in Birmingham, a walk around the Christmas Market at dusk to get the pretty lights if you are after photo opportunities.

Mine were scared of Santa at that age, so I wouldn't recommend paying out for a big santa experience they won't remember and may just cry through!

Honestly, just watching their little faces watch the Christmas tree at home, or reflections in the baubles are the ones I remember from that age. Save your money for when they remember it, as it soon adds up as they get older! 😂

Hollyhead · 07/09/2023 21:52

Nothing, just do something you want to do!

coodawoodashooda · 07/09/2023 21:52

I saw a large plastic little tykes type tree.

LittleMonks11 · 07/09/2023 21:54

A lovely garden centre that does visits with the Big Man.

NoMor · 07/09/2023 21:54

For the first few years xmas is for you, not the child. What would YOU like a cute photo/memory of?

MoltenLasagne · 07/09/2023 21:57

I agree that the baby won't really "enjoy" anything except sparkly lights at this age. One thing we really appreciate looking back though was getting nice first Christmas photos with elderly relatives, as sadly some of them aren't with us any more.

We also took some lovely photos with wider family that we try to redo each year so we've got all the cousins at ages 4,3 & 1 initially, then 5,4,2 plus new baby etc. It's so lovely seeing them all grow up captured at a set point each year.

Original poster

jellybeanathome · 07/09/2023 21:58

HarrietJet · 07/09/2023 21:42

At that age they literally won't understand any of it, and they certainly won't remember it.
Unless you're doing it specifically for Instagram the photos, it won't make any difference what activity you choose.

I really hate when people say this. DC might not specifically remember that single occasion, but the things we do with them at this age will shape them as a person and bring enjoyment to the adults sharing those experiences with the babies. Unless you are suggesting we all just leave our babies lying down all day alone and with no interaction! I take your point that it doesn't have to be showy and expensive, but I didn't ask for showy and expensive experiences - I asked for experiences a 10mo might enjoy. Do you have anything useful to add to actually answer my question or are you just going to move along now?

OP posts:

Original poster

jellybeanathome · 07/09/2023 22:00

ReeseWitherfork · 07/09/2023 21:47

I took 6 month old DS to Longleat at Christmas to see the pretty lights. He seemed to quite enjoy it 😂 but ultimately it was a nice memory for DH and I. And a day out we could enjoy too.

This is lovely. Thank you. I know DC won't remember it specifically, but we'd like to make nice memories with her doing something she'll (hopefully) enjoy!

OP posts:

YourNameGoesHere · 07/09/2023 22:01

jellybeanathome · 07/09/2023 21:58

I really hate when people say this. DC might not specifically remember that single occasion, but the things we do with them at this age will shape them as a person and bring enjoyment to the adults sharing those experiences with the babies. Unless you are suggesting we all just leave our babies lying down all day alone and with no interaction! I take your point that it doesn't have to be showy and expensive, but I didn't ask for showy and expensive experiences - I asked for experiences a 10mo might enjoy. Do you have anything useful to add to actually answer my question or are you just going to move along now?

Show quote history

You might hate that posters response but she's not wrong. Your baby won't remember it and will likely be quite overwhelmed by many of the traditional Christmas activities like Santa so honestly just doing something free and cheap is going to be just as meaningful to your child as spending a fortune on Santa trains or special days out.

HarrietJet · 07/09/2023 22:01

Whatever experience you end up doing will really not shape your child as a person, op 😂
The sheer hype in your post is ridiculous.

WeightoftheWorld · 07/09/2023 22:02

Take them to a Dobbie's/other similar garden centre for a walk around in the pram or baby carrier to look at the Christmas decorations they sell. Treat yourself to a coffee or lunch in the cafe whilst you're there if you fancy and your baby is chilled or asleep.

I wouldn't pay for anything else personally. Took my eldest to the grotto at Dobbie's at 18 months, wouldn't do anything like that any younger than that, waste of money imo.

Original poster

jellybeanathome · 07/09/2023 22:02

MoltenLasagne · 07/09/2023 21:57

I agree that the baby won't really "enjoy" anything except sparkly lights at this age. One thing we really appreciate looking back though was getting nice first Christmas photos with elderly relatives, as sadly some of them aren't with us any more.

We also took some lovely photos with wider family that we try to redo each year so we've got all the cousins at ages 4,3 & 1 initially, then 5,4,2 plus new baby etc. It's so lovely seeing them all grow up captured at a set point each year.

These are lovely ideas. Thank you! 😊

OP posts:

Mojodojocasahaus · 07/09/2023 22:03

Shape them as a person lol