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

[jellybeanathome]

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).

I've done Christmas Activities since the DC were very small

Watch the Snowman DVD or some of the cbeebies Christmas Specials
Candlelit bathtime
Make a decoration - we've got a cardboard snowflake DD1 did fingerpaints on as a small child and nursery always did decorations based on saltdough for us
Homemade christmas playdough. Scent with almond essence or mixed spice or mint essence and use red or green food dye and add glitter.
Listen to Christmas Songs - Elizabeth Mitchell did a good Christmas album for kids which is not too annoying but there will be lots of kiddy versions of Christmas tines available
Make Christmas cards for grandparents - there are lots of ideas on line for designs based on hand prints. Or do potato prints.
Indoor snowballs might be popular
Get a traditional paper advent calendar, you can get some nice 3D ones
Get some Christmas themed picture books or board books. That's not my reindeer etc
Put out birdfood and watch the birds in your garden

If you want some bigger 'events' to do then see if there's a christmas light trail nearby. Or just go and look at the civic lights in your own town. Or go to a Carol service.

DD will be 7 months at Christmas, we have booked Sir Harold Hillier Gardens light up event in Southampton.

We live 1.5 hours away so we booked a hotel for 2 nights too, nice little getaway for us with baby who will either be asleep or she'll like the pretty lights. We will enjoy it even if she is asleep so win/win 😊

Telling people who've taken time to answer your question to 'move along' is quite a precious mindset.

I agree with that poster, just do what makes you and your partner happy and save your cash, energy and effort for future years. Things like family photos or carol- singing are nice ideas as they are so low-key.

Add crackly paper to the empty boxes and she will be set up for life. At any rate she will enjoy the sounds and feel of it.

Sorry OP, just seen you're in Birmingham.

Light trails nice for the adults too

None at that age. Might as well be any other day except they will feel happy with loving family being around and cheerful.

The Christmas experience at Clearwell caves should be just about within distance of your to the south side of Birmingham. We took my 9month old niece last year and she seemed to enjoy seeing the lights. It’s underground so no worries about rain/poor weather.

The Santa was happy to hold her for a photo with her parents either side which is lovely to have and she was given a lovely cuddly toy. I think bookings open at the end of September.

I get what you’re saying @jellybeanathome 😊 realistically, she won’t remember the specifics - but it’s all time spent as a family, and you’ll remember it 😊 so go for it!

I agree with some of the other suggestions:

• wrap up cosy and go for a walk looking at the lights.
• garden centres etc usually have great displays too 😊 well worth a nice visit
• we have a local place that does “breakfast with Santa” which is really lovely. Definitely wouldn’t advise it for this year for yours but worth keeping an eye to see anywhere advertising similar and keeping it in mind for when they start advertising next year 😊 things usually book up pretty quickly
• making christmas tree decorations 😊 I have bought these plain ceramic ones from Hobbycraft each year and each year DS paints one. I then pop his name and the year on it and varnish it and add it to the tree 😊 Grab some non-toxic paint and let her have a go with her fingers. We made some as little extras for grandparents to add to their trees too and they went down really well 😊
• Lots of singing & get some sleigh bells to play with 😊 Especially while you decorate the tree.
• Don't forget her first Christmas dinner 😍

😂😂 thank you!!

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/hanging-ceramic-star-decoration-12cm/6653001000.html

the ceramic ones that I forgot to include 😅🙄

We took our dc to the local church to see their Christmas tree festival. Loads of trees, lights and decorations. That would be suitable for a tiny one.

When my first was a baby, 9 months at Christmas, I didn't put up any lights or anything until Christmas Eve, so he could see it was different.
It's mainly twinkly lights tbh, at that age. All mine have lived a stocking on Christmas morning from being time! (Still do and eldest is 37!!)

Already mentioned a couple of times but I was going to suggest a garden centre if there is one near you that does really good Christmas displays - lots of twinkly lights and baubles.

My wee one was born on the 23rd of December so this will be his second Christmas. Here's what I'm looking forward to doing with him, hopefully some of it will be helpful for you!

Paid for things-
Light walk in a nearby forest (although that's happening in November)
Visiting Santa (going with friends who have an older child so we can see her being excited while our one looks bemused/baffled)
Going to a baby sensory Christmas party (they'll have sleigh bells, lights and songs)
Also hoping baby cinema has some Christmas films playing!

Free things -
Going to John Lewis to look around their Christmas display
Similar trips to garden centres, homebase etc. Basically if there's a twinkly light, I'll be there!
Going to a carol service
Finding the salvation army band in the city centre
Walking around the local area to see all the houses dressed up
Putting up decorations at home (maybe making one with him using salt dough) so he can feel the tinsel, see the lights).

I was still very much in recovery last year with stitches etc (and just general '2 day old baby') so I'm looking forward to this year and having a curious baby to show the most sensory time of the year!

Do you have any friends with baby in similar age. Me friend christmas gone had a day doing baby christmas crafts with her friends. They made cards with footprints, at dough ornaments etc, like most things it had little input from the children but it sorted the cards and they have some lovely photos to look back on.

You said around an hour from Birmingham so I'm not sure where you are, but I'm sure there's a local village that goes all out for lights near you and local people all visit and make donations for charity. I can't for the life of me remember where though! Join local Facebook groups and you'll soon seen people mentioning things like that though.

At that age lights and music really are your best bet. Starting Christmas stories is nice as well. I really wouldn't spend money doing anything you wouldn't be doing anyway as they often don't live up to expectations!

Keep it simple. Yes, it's nice to do something and start traditions as a family but don't spend a fortune or do it because you want to, not because you think you should as you know have a baby.

DD loved garden center displays, seeing houses lit up.

We have seen people with small children at light displays at 7-8pm and they were all tired, grumpy or sleeping. Go early if you want something and take a carrier instead of a pram.

Unlwss you want an Instagram photo with Santa, save your money when they are 4 and older and actually understand about it.

I guess, anything that’s a nice sensory experience, and is calm, rather than something that will be overwhelming. So just going to look at Christmas lights, Christmas trees.

Nothing crowded or too loud

Do lovely Christmas things with your baby and enjoy the memories for yourself, it doesn't matter if they remember. My 5 year old DD absolutely loves looking at her baby photos and the places we went.

Things to do...
Planters Garden Centre Tamworth - lovely displays, reindeer, nice cafe and specific baby sessions with Santa

Other lovely garden centres /shops: Melbicks, WM Wheats & sons (also has free fairy trail) Frankie Doodle at Heart of Country (also every shop in complex has themed decorated trees outside and there's another free fairy trail), Garden King (also has a short decorated woodland walk, Santa and soft play)

Light trails - we are doing national memorial arboretum this year, while route is buggy friendly

I’ve just had a look back at the photos from my DD’s first Christmases. DD1 was a little younger at 8 months, but I have some lovely pictures of her in her pushchair mesmerised by the lights in a shopping mall. They had them hanging from the ceiling and she couldn’t take her eyes off them. I was still on mat leave but popped into work for our Christmas lunch day with her dressed as a cute little reindeer, and our local
baby group had a little Christmas party too.

DD2 was almost one for her first Christmas and she came along for some of the more extravagant experiences we did for DD1. She looks decidedly underwhelmed under a mountain of blankets on the light trail walk we did (it was freezing but she was toasty), and she’s not too impressed by the stupidly expensive Santa Claus either. Definitely wouldn’t have paid for the Santa visit for her if we’d just had her, but the rest of us all had a nice time at the light trail and, while she doesn’t look fussed in the photos, I’m sure she enjoyed looking around.

My favourite Christmas memories of both of them are them gazing at the tree when we’d just put it up. We’ve taken a photo every year of DH lifting DD1 up to put the star on the top, and we have some lovely ones of them playing with the baubles. I have a really strong memory of cuddling into my DM next to the tree and us talking about the baubles when I would have been nearly 3, and there’s a photo of us my DDad took. I can still remember how cozy, excited and happy I felt, and I hope my DD’s end up with a similar memory.

My little girl is nearly three and this is the first year we’re spending money on Christmas things. Just go and see some lights or whatever you want if it’s important to you.

Remember that the baby doesn't have a clue that red coat, red hat and white beard on an old bloke means something good - so could easily howl at the weird, scary man.

Or be confused that it isn't granddad.

Seeing pictures and toys, cartoons and films is how children gain the cultural capital that interprets Santa/Father Christmas/St Nicholas as an exciting, magical thing. Same goes for Reindeer and combinations of red, green and white.

Go to a local garden centre that has a good Christmas display with plenty of lights and sparkly things.

I agree with others, don’t spend money on something child specific. Do something you want to do and just take them along.