I love the holidays – catching up with friends and family, eating delicious food, and feeling the sense of goodwill and cheer in the air. BUT the extra shopping, cooking, and cleaning can be overwhelming – especially when it’s your baby’s first holidays.
It can be tough for a new mom to squeeze in a daily shower or cook a meal, let alone participate in all the extra activities the holidays demand. So, if this is your baby’s first holiday season, keep your stress level to a minimum by keeping it simple. Here are some tips to surviving the holiday season with a newborn.
Take Shortcuts on Baby’s First Holidays
- Go store-bought (gasp!) instead of homemade. Does everyone love your famous homemade apple pie? They can wait until next year! Pick something up from the store. And don’t feel bad about it.
- Simplify your shopping. Ever run a lot of errands with a newborn? Taking baby in and out of the car, finding the nearest restroom for diaper changes, and stopping for feedings can be stressful. Consider shopping online to avoid the holiday hassle. Or, don’t buy gifts this year (double gasp!!), or reduce the number of gifts you buy.
Everybody Wants to See the New Baby
Babies are adorable, especially when they get all dressed up in those cute little “baby’s first Christmas” outfits. This is a great time to get real about what’s doable! And then don’t feel guilty about saying no. People will understand.
I learned this this the hard way with my first baby when I agreed to a visit my husband’s family during the holidays…in Ireland. How difficult could traveling with a small baby be, I thought? So, we packed up everything she needed (it’s surprising how much stuff a 4-month-old needs) and made the 18-hour trip. The fun started on the plane ride.
I spent the entire plane ride worrying about her crying, and turbulence made changing her (in the closet-sized bathroom) quite a feat. Once there, things did not improve. My baby, who had just been settling into a predictable eating and sleeping routine, was totally thrown off by the 9-hour time change.
She did not go to sleep until 3 am every night, which meant my husband or I had to stay up with her. We were miserable. We felt like zombies, walking around bleary-eyed, and in no mood for holiday cheer. Plus, my baby caught a cold. I don’t actually have any really great memories of that trip. It was just too much, too soon. Looking back, I wonder why I thought that was a good idea.
Plan Your Visits During Baby’s First Holidays
Discuss plans with your partner/families before committing to anything. Talking through the details together before saying yes will help you make good decisions and help your visits go more smoothly. Where will the baby nap? How long will you stay? Having a plan before you arrive will help you feel more comfortable.
How to Make Visits More Enjoyable
It’s normal for new moms to feel anxious and protective when it comes to their babies.
- Wearing your baby in a carrier during gatherings may make your visits easier. This keeps baby happy, and you will be hands-free. If your baby is held securely to you, there is less chance of playing the “pass the baby” game, which will cut down on all the kisses (and germs) from relatives (and possible stress for the baby).
- Be prepared to hear all kinds of well-meaning advice at holiday gatherings. If you disagree with the advice, reply with “that’s interesting” or “this works for our family,” and then change the subject. Watch the video below for more tips on dealing with unwanted advice.
- Plan your “exit strategy.” If your relatives are local, you may want to take separate cars so that you and the baby can leave earlier if you need to. Let friends/family know you’re going to stop by and see how it goes. This frees you from other’s expectations of your time.
Be like Elsa and “Let it Go”
Most of all, try to relax and enjoy your baby’s first holiday season. Let go of unrealistic expectations and the need for everything to be perfect. Remember that the most important thing is the health and happiness of you and your new baby.
What have you done to make your holidays less stressful? Leave a comment below and share your wisdom with other parents!
