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

As he was only weeks old, he slept through his First, however, his second was lovely and he loved the tree and the paper (less so the presents)

my daughter was 6 months old so we just got interactive musical toys and some lovely soft toys for her

She was four months old and slept through the whole day and evening, surrounded by presents she didn't have a clue what was happening.

Take help off family members to ease the burden and give yourself some you time.

It's a chance for the whole family to come together.Nothing special as such

My first baby's first Christmas was nearly 15 years ago, and he was 9 months old so obviously didn't know a thing about it - but that didn't stop me going overboard on the present buying! (Stupid, I know, with hindsight) I think we bought him a VTech walker, a football kit, about 5 outfits, and all kinds of toys. Plus what he got from family too. It was ridiculous!
DS2 was also 9 months old his first Christmas but he got a lot less - just one main present and a little stocking, which was more for the benefit of DS1 at the time!
DS3 was 51 weeks old his first Christmas (born 2nd January!) so he was already walking by then - it seemed bizarre it was actually his first Christmas as he was like a toddler! He too just got one big present and a small stocking.

Our DD was 4 months old and she got so many presents which she was not really interested in, we went to our in-laws which was great as I didn't have to do anything other than help with the washing up.

About the only thing that I can now remember about my dd's first Christmas is going to visit family and she slept on a beanbag.

DD is adopted so was a toddler for her first Christmas with me! I managed to find a Christmas tree ornament with the year but not 'Baby's first Christmas' to mark it. We went to my sister's house and she had a blast with her cousin. Her favourite present was a dolls pram, she pushed it round and round and round...

tips for surviving would be to let everyone else help if they offer, especially when it comes to making lunch

Dd was born in the early hours of Christmas morning, me, dh and dd were left alone for an hour or so to spend a little time together as a new family, it was so magical I remember it so well although I was very tired (and it was a few years ago now!)

Afer dd and I went to the ward, dh went home and phoned our friends and family (pre texts and facebook!) to wish them a Happy Christmas and tell them our news... people still remember receiving those phone calls!

Dd's bassinet was decorated with tinsel, and just as dd and I managed to fall asleep, the Round Table Santa came round with a teddy for my 5 hour old baby . I am a sight to behold on the photo they took of me with Santa!

Standing with ten month old, very sweet DD1 in our bay window while outside the Salvation Army sang 'Away in a Manger', just for us . I gave them a huge donation . And it makes me well up ,even now (DD1 is 29)

DS was 3 months old on his first Christmas and he loved it!
The wrapping paper, the twinkly lights, the new toys, lots of visitors!
We had a ball too!!

Having a young baby is also a great excuse not to travel anywhere and get everyone to come to you instead! Even better if theyll then cook, clean and look after the baby for you!

Oh and take lots of photos, it's a magical memorable time!

On my son's first Christmas he was only 5 weeks old and slept through most of it. Last year my daughter was six months old but my husband was very ill so she didn't really get much of an experience so we plan to have a BIG Christmas this year!

My oldest was 2 weeks old when Christmas came around. We travelled to my dad's with a boot absolutely full of moses basket, blankets, tons of babygrows....I just remember it being a weird blur!! I have no tips except to take advantage of as many pairs of hands as you can!!

Daugther 10 days old. When breast feeding her at my mum's, everyone else left the room, and then later at mother in laws I was told to use the spare room(a tiny box room) - talk about being left out of the festivities

Our LO was 8months and we went over the top with first Christmas socks and dressing him in a Santa suit for his first Christmas. We also went over the top with piles of presents. Now he only gets one or two big ones and a stocking! But we have many photos of him having great fun playing with all the wrapping paper!

Snowsuits are a must

Baby was five weeks, pfb, did a full Christmas dinner for all the in laws. Was great. Didn't get the baby any presents but did get first proper smiles at the sight of us in our cracker hats!

Second born was 15 weeks and the weight of the Santa stocking nearly toppled the Moses basket!

It was just me and my baby son on his first Christmas. It had been a tough year with and newborn on my own. I was very young, scared and didn't have much family to help out. We hadn't got a tree as money was so tight. I remember looking at a little tree outside a shop on our road. The man who owned the shop came out and saw us looking at it. I remember it was covered in tinsel and looked so sweet. You can have it for a fiver he said. I was thrilled. On Christmas Day we had dinner at the kitchen table next to the window. Suddenly my sons eyes lit up and he began to giggle. It was snowing. I looked at him and all the pain and worry of the last year melted away and I felt truly blessed. We were finally safe, had our Christmas tree and each other. My son is 20 now and my Christmases have been very different since that one but I will always remember that first Christmas with my wonderful son and glimpsing the true meaning of Christmas.

My babies first Christmas was amazing, he wasn’t crawling so wasn’t into everything, We had to take it in turns to eat our Christmas dinner but It was a lovely time of year we loved it.

We bought him a jumparoo so he spent most of his time bouncing away in that :) He loved it.
This year he's going to be 18 months so will be a lot more tricky might have to put the Christmas tree up in a play pen ha-ha

DS was born in spring but I don't remember his first christmas - I think I was too exhausted! DD was born about a month before Christmas so again I was completely exhausted and don't remember much at all. I love it now they are older though - they get so excited and it's lovely.

My little Cyclone was born in July and so was just 5 months old (exactly) on his first Christmas Day. He was born in Australia but I travelled back to the UK to have some time with my family and for Cyclone to experience his first Christmas properly - in England!

Cyclone was never a sleeper. At 5 months old he was at his worst, waking every 45 mins and crying hard for 20 mins (at least) each time. I was exhausted and emotional.

Christmas Day arrived and when I opened my eyes at 7am on Christmas morning i realised I'd just had 4 hours straight sleep! Of course I leapt out of bed to make sure my little dude was still breathing.

I felt like a new woman and he was much happier. He joined us for Christmas lunch eating a mushed up version of what we had plus a special treat, Heinz baby chocolate pud which was devoured.

He got far too many presents and far too spoilt but as the first son and first grandson in our family, who can blame everyone!

DS was born extremely premature in August and was still in hospital over Christmas. The rest of the family came to visit us as we couldn't be away. We visited DS after midnight mass on Christmas Eve so that Father Christmas could drop off a stocking . On Christmas Day we visited for a few hours with a relay team of relatives (as they could only visit one at a time) and then went home for dinner. It wasn't the best Christmas but it wasn't all bad! DS finally came home in January.

That's funny catsgowoof, I also had a Christmas miracle sleeping baby. DS1 was two months for his first Christmas. He was a dreadful sleeper - I know two month olds aren't the greatest sleepers but he was appalling, like 40 minutes at a time, and colicky. We stayed with MiL, and on Christmas Eve went out to see carol singers in the town square - DS fell asleep at about six pm in his pram all wrapped up in many layers and proceeded to sleep until midnight. It was the longest sleep he had ever had but I couldn't relax and sleep myself because I was torn between potentially waking him by taking off his many layers/ taking him out of his pram and worry that he was too hot!