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 would def do a Santa visit, just for the photo.

Oh also - a trip to a shop to choose a decoration! A first Christmas one or just one they like. It could become an annual tradition. If you're near Stratford upon Avon there's a lovely Christmas shop there.

Go and see some twinkly lights and let DC have a pile of (safe) Christmas decorations to fiddle with for a while. Put any money you would have spend on an 'experience' in premium bonds/saving account/pension fund/etc.

No need to be driving anywhere. Just do as PPs have suggested and save your money.

If I had invested all the money I wasted spent on taking the DCs to theatre shows, music classes, 'special' events etc etc I reckon the fund would be big enough to pay them through university. They remember none of it, looking back it was mainly bollocks made up to part a stupid, keen, middle class mother (me) with her cash whilst convincing me that somehow my children would grow up to do better in life or have amazing experiences to look back on. My dcs are great but their main 'magical memories' are of absolutely ridiculous small things and their 'best' holiday was apparently a staycation when we mainly stayed home and watched movies. Keep it simple, keep your cash!

I took DS to a garden centre at that age that had singing displays of snowmen and reindeer and he was scared of them 🤣.

As PP says sparkly Christmas lights are a really good shout at that age. Do you have a street near you where everyone goes all out with lights and decorations. There’s one near us where they do that and we plan to take flasks of hot chocolate and marshmallows and have a walk around. DD will be 11 months so hoping she will enjoy that and we can get some nice pics. Or if you fancy something a bit more they usually do some lovely light displays at local heritage sites where you can book tickets.

I’ve spent an absolute fortune booking Christmas stuff for DS who will be nearly 4 so it really is worth taking advantage of keeping it fairly cheap while you can!

My DC are adults now but we look back at the photos and videos and we talk about those Christmases /

When DS was 2yo I was pregnant (about 12 weeks) with DD . We went to London to see the lights . DS was in the backpack carrier on DH so he was high up and felt safe / As we came out of Covent Garden there was the lightest flurry of snow .We went into M&S at Marble Arch and by the time we got to the lights at Regent Street .....DS was fast asleep

When DS was 3yo , DD was 6 months , we have a video of her rolling about in her BabyGro Sleeping Bag waving the Letter to Santa in her little hand .

We got her a beautiful baby bath foam for her Christmas Eve bath.
And one of those spray mouldable soap foams for DS

One of those mobiles that throws a shoal of star lights on the ceiling

We bought beautiful 1st Christmas [orcelain baubles with the year of birth and name .

Christmas Pyjamas