Share memories of your baby's first Christmas and tips for surviving the festive season with a newborn - £300 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

As the festive season approaches and we all get a bit nostalgic about Christmases past, Nurofen for Children would love to know what you remember about your baby's first Christmas.

Did you do anything special to mark the occasion? Did having a baby change how you celebrated - or give you an excuse to rekindle some family traditions from your own childhood?

And if you were hosting visitors or travelling to see family and friends, how did you get organised with a newborn in tow? Was there mad mild panic as you tried to pull things together? Or did you hand over the festive stress to others so you could make the most of the special time?

However you spent it, we'd love you to share your fondest memory, and any advice you have for those looking forward to their baby's first Christmas this year.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

The new Mumsnet Baby Bundle app, sponsored by Nurofen for Children, provides parents with a handy toolkit for your child's first years. Information, advice, wisdom and wit are all close to hand - whenever and wherever you need it. Download the app now - tiny.mn/1kCoMoT

Thanks
MNHQ

Our youngest was 3 weeks for her first christmas and the best thing i did was go to my mums for christmas where there was no stressing about the food as all the family came together each bring something for the table. i brought over the turkey which i cook over night on a very low heat. That was an easy christmas shame they are not all like that

My eldest was two months old at Christmas. We visited my grandparents house and spent the day celebrating with family. It was lovely. The last Christmas I sadly spent with my grandpa before he passed away.

My DS's first Christmas came as we had just bought our first house, so was very stressful as it needed a lot of work!

Top tips would be to ask for help if you need it, simplify Christmas dinner if necessary and just enjoy the memories that you will treasure even if your little ones won't remember!

My daughter was on,y six weeks when she had her first Christmas so o was pretty tired! My mother in law was great we went to hers and had a fab day

My son was 4 weeks old for his first Christmas, we went to my mum and dads so it took the pressure off and everyone had a ball!

Just let the chaos happen around you and have a nice sit down with the baby. If anything needs doing or has been forgotten just use the baby as an excuse. She was cute, nobody cared if things weren't perfect. As long as there is some food, it doesn't matter if it's not a full on christmas dinner. It's all about spending time with loved ones, not the food or presents anyway.

My little boys first Christmas saw him come down with Hand Foot and Mouth and pass it onto me...I was in bed most of the day after lunch...felt retched...luckily the two since then have been great and this year he is so much more aware! Looking forward to creating more family traditions

My son was 8 months old on his first Christmas and was very irritable, so we had a fretful Christmas meal that was pretty much cold! That said, we were home alone, so we didn't worry too much, and that would be my top tip. Just relax and don't expect the perfect Christmas!

Ours was hectic and not as enjoyable as it should of been as we ended up rushing round to see grandparents and the day just vanished. With DS2 we had everyone over to ours last year (his first christmas) and it was so much nicer.

I would definitely recommend not buying your baby very many presents. They will only be interested in the paper and boxes and will probably get spoilt rotten by their Grandparents!

Ds1 was 8 weeks old on his first Christmas. We had the day just me, dh and ds and it was fab. We bought him 2 Christmas gifts, dressed him up as a Christmas pudding and had a really relaxing day.

DH made a full works Christmas dinner for just the two of us and ds had his nap whilst we ate. I then sat on the couch watching its a wonderful life with ds all tucked up with me whilst dh cleared up. It was just lovely. Then we had an early night.

Later years have been full of the mayhem of preset opening and accommodating guests but I remember the peace and loveliness of that Christmas.

My tip is to change your expectations for the first Christmas as if the little one is weeks or even just months old, the chances are your usual routine will have to alter.

Stay at home and do not invite anyone -simple!!! Its just not worth it - people and family will understand!

Because I am completely mad I cooked Christmas dinner for 9 adults. My daughter got passed around a lot that day! The biggest tip is follow some prepare ahead recipes. For example you can make roast potatoes and freeze. They cook straight from frozen on Christmas Day. No peeling on the big day! BBC Good Food has a good menu. I had great fun making her first stocking! In fact it was a great excuse to make stockings for the grown ups too :)

My first baby was born on Christmas Eve - so it was just the best Christmas present ever

Our daughter was only 2 weeks old On Christmas day in the year of 2011 and it was AMAZING!!!!
My partner our little bundle of joy and me went to stay with my mum for Christmas Although we had alot of packing to do it was well worth it
My partner done the night feeds through the night of christmas I was very refreshed on Christmas morning
We stuck to our routine and all was perfect
We were very lucky because my mum done all the cooking :)
My advice to anybody with a baby at Christmas time is not to go over board with present buying (I know it's up to yourself) But really your little toot is none the wiser! Just enjoy your day and save the money for when they are older
Try and be organised as possible (If you are staying else where on Christmas day be sure to note down what all you need to pack and tick each item as you pack it)
Happy Christmas All :)

DS1 was 9 months old on his first Christmas, we went to my inlaws. He was overwhelmed, exhausted and wouldn't nap.
DS2 will be 8 months old this Christmas. We are going to my inlaws. Not my choice really but my FIL is quite poorly so needs must. I am fully expecting a repeat experience only this time I will also have a very wilful energetic 2.9 year old to deal with as well. The answer will be wine. Lots of it

My first born was 9 months old for his first christmas and sitting on his own surrounded by wrapping paper, having more fun wrapping and throwing than his actual presents. My mother in law trying to help by trying t pick all the paper up and put it all into a black bag didn't notice he had pulled himself up on to the chair next to the bag until she pushed in a box and he fell straight over head first into the bag. He laughed his head off which helped the panic we had grabbing him and all the paper back out with him. My advice is just go with flow, enjoy every second and capture as many magic moments as possible.

DD1 was 6 months at her first christmas and I remember how exciting it was I realised that it's what christmas about really spending family time and she got really spoilt with presents. DD 2&3 (twins)were only 7 weeks at their first Christmas and I must admit I don't remember much about it, I was just so busy with them and for the first few months I felt I was just on automatic pilot.
I don't really have any survival tips as we always spend christmas away in Switzerland with my family. We celebrate on christmas eve and everyone helps. There never seems to be any stress about it.

My tip is to spend as much time visiting family with them

It was AWFUL, however that was my own fault. I completely expected too much from the day considering my son was just 5 months old. I went really over the top with the presents for them to be ignored, he couldn't open them anyway and was actually pretty miserable all day. I have a hilarious photograph of him dressed in a Santa onsie whilst crying his eyes out that pretty much sums up the day! My advice would be don't expect too much, don't spend too much, keep the day simple and don't overload them with too much bright lights and music.

My DD was 6 weeks old for her first Christmas last year - to be honest I cant remember a huge amount about it now! I think whenever anyone offered any help whatsoever I said 'yes please'!

My first christmas with DS was a disaster, I am a single mum and we went to stay with my mum and stepdad, my DS had been ill with gastroenteritis about 2 weeks before xmas day and seemed to be on the mend. We were opening all his presents on the morning and making a big fuss and I started to feel ill, progressively I got worse and I ended up being so ill I had to go to bed at 7.30 at night, my son woke up during the night and I never heard as I was so ill and my mum and stepdad were trying to comfort him but he just wanted his mum, which I didn't know at the time as my mum chose not to wake me, I felt sooooo guilty.

To top it all off on boxing day my stepdad was playing with my DS and holding him up and he vomited all over him, my stepdad was not a happy, or clean bunny!! Luckily the festive seasons have improved in later years, to be fair how could they not!

The Christmas tree lights had the babies attention & a look of wonder on her face. My tip is to keep the babies routine going over the Christmas festivities, & not allow them to be handed from one to another of the visitors like a parcel.

My daugter was almost one on her first christmas as she was born after the christmas period. My advice is to rest plenty and dont over stress about crimmbo as people will understand if things are not the 'norm'

my son was 6 months old when it was his first christmas. I went a bit mad spending on loads of toys when all he wanted to do was play with the paper.