Due date and elf on the shelf...

[OnNaturesCourse]

Looking for any advice from parents who had/have a due date around Christmas and also juggle a elf on the shelf..

I'm due 5 days before Xmas and it's possible I will be a section, or have some time in hospital. Liklihood is other DCs will stay at grandparents most of this time however I'm looking for easy to do ideas for the Elf in the lead up and in the aftermath of birth - something I could even write down and leave for DH/other babysitters to do. (in case DCs end up being watched at home instead)

I've always gone super big with the Elf, he brings weekly letters and gifts, and gets up different things each day. My eldest in particular adores him but is very clued in to things so the magic could be easily spoiled if the Elf suddenly stopped, or things changed.

Get Elf to send them a postcard from the Bahamas. He’s on holiday this year, back in 2025 (if you can be arsed).

I'm so glad that elf on the shelf wasn't a thing when my kids were little

@RubyMentor I see it as a shame. It's brought such joy in our house but I get it's not for everyone.

DH didn't sign up to Elf on the Shelf, I did. He has never done it so I'm just trying to give some ideas since he'll be helping in a tradition I started, myself. But I know on mumsnet it's hard to comprehend that sometimes it's nice to just help your partner out if it's something they don't usually do... Not everything is completely 50/50.

I think I'm going to do the broken bone and have the note/bed etc ready for when I go into labour. Elf can rest up for however long is needed, and can use the barbie crutches when he's back so even then the things he gets up to won't be as extreme as normal lol. (no more crashing remote control cars into my Christmas tree or filling a ceiling net with balloons and fake snow to rain down on the children lol)

I'd do a makeshift bed of with the daddy elf sleeping next to the baby elf in a makeshift cot - a child shoe box and a toddler shoe box will do with some 'blanket'. Ask a shoe shop for spares. And add a note explaining they're both sleeping/resting for a few days when your baby is born. By then, your kids will be so excited about their new sibling it'll be a distraction from the elf's 'paternity leave' break.

Buy a pack of Elf on the Shelf accessories from Amazon and DH can choose what to set up. £30 gets the 24 pack and takes the mental load off completely this year if needed.

Some of them are decent and can be reused, I have a couple of friends "packs" in my loft as well from last year to be used again.

Brilliant!

Freeze the elf in a gallon of water and let it slowly thaw

So in the last 12 months you’ve moved in with your now DH, married, and gestated a third+ DC?
I get that the Elf is big for your kids but be realistic about what you can prepare beforehand and what you can expect other people to do whilst caring for DC and probably worrying about you in hospital.

Brilliant! Say he fell asleep in his hot tub on a cold night. 😂 That'll give you a few days' peace too OP.

@JanFebAndOnwards I think it's pretty realistic of me to think DH can do the Elf if at home with DC while I am not, or if I am at home and unable to. All I have asked is for a few ideas to help.

I had to check where you posted this @OnNaturesCourse I thought the Christmas section was usually kind and easygoing! Sorry you’re getting a hard time. I don’t do the Elf but hopefully you get a plan in place!

@ProvincialLady24 I love this idea 😂 I've seen it done where a "Elsa" doll done the freezing before so could maybe tie that in too.

I thought about doing a hide and seek game too. Literally just put the Elf away and leave a note saying "come and find me". Each day there could be a new note saying "I'm still hiding" or similar.

This. You have more to be concerned about. Plus keeping up with this elf thing you just make a rod for your own back. Let this be the year that elf disappears for good.

@babsnet thank you, apparently Elf on the Shelf (and only one parent taking responsibility for it because they usually enjoy it themselves) is seriously frowned upon! 🤣

So he has not been involved with your older dc's Christmas traditions before. Does he want to do Elf stuff?

@FluffBut well aren't you a killjoy... No thank you, we actually enjoy the tradition in our house which is why I asked for further ideas to continue it, not ideas on how to bring it to a end.

He's got extra shifts at the North Pole this year....

@StSwithinsDay no, he wasn't. It was something I started with them, and he's not that fussed for. I have always enjoyed doing it so I don't mind the "mental load" of it usually. Never been a issue, I love it and the children love it too.

I made a little suitcase for ours (out of a tablet box) and sent him on holiday. Then came back with lots of photos .
mine would have when upset with the elf being hurt .
are they old enough for I'm a celebrity as we did lots of those elf thinges ... boxes with worms in (Colin catapilller) which were easy to plan before hand.
there are loads of Facebook pages for ideas

God there are some arseholes on this thread tonight! Hope you can find some suitable suggestions. Your kids will love it I’m sure x

@kathryn77 that's such a cute idea!

My eldest is a proper little nurse so I think she'd love getting to pander to the Elf if he was hurt - could let her leave him snacks, bandages etc. The broken leg might teach my youngest to calm down and not climb the furniture as much 🤣🤔

Kids really do get attached to their Elf!

@Scutterbug thank you, I feel a bit attacked just asking for ideas! Lol.

Honestly, why put yourself through this with a newborn?!
The elf is on a world tour this year. Maybe every few days a postcard "from" the elf arrives on the fridge telling of his adventures. Get images from Google and print the cards off, it can all be done now before the baby arrives. The last postcard is from the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

These are great! No one does it in my family but these really are good!

Bloody elves. We consciously didn't have one because it's such a commitment. So DCs friend at school gave her one! Tried to give the bloody thing back to their DM (you must give it back DD it's Mary's toy) and got 'oh, no, it's for you to keep as you haven't got one' surely it's blindingly obvious that it was on purpose?!

Anyway. As a result I've done some very half assed things. One day I stuffed him into a loo roll and rolled him down the stairs. He's been sat on the sofa with an empty biscuit packet surrounded by crumbs. Tied a string to the ceiling light for him to abseil down. Sat him on a teddy with a pencil to 'joust' with a barbie on another teddy.