A new baby at the holidays can also bring added stress and frustration as parents adjust to a new way of life while attempting to enjoy the holidays.
There’s nothing quite like a Christmas baby; all the anticipation of the pregnancy and joyful hope of the holiday season culminating in a tiny, yet perfect, gift for the whole family. But a new baby at the holidays can also bring added stress and frustration as parents adjust to a new way of life while attempting to enjoy the holidays. Here are tips for making the holiday less stressful during the baby days at home:
- Start shopping as early as possible, and wrap presents as soon as you get them home. If you’re on bed rest, or the baby comes earlier than expected, online shopping can save the day. Just point, click and ship from the comfort of your easy chair.
- Gift baskets full of snacks or bath soaps, nice bottles of wine or gourmet olive oil, chenille throws, books, flowers or plants and gift certificates are all universally appreciated gifts. Send your husband to the local theater to buy movie gift certificates for all the kids on your list – they’ll love them!
- Call your local grocer to order Christmas dinner packages that include ready-to serve turkey or ham and lots of side options.
- Don’t waste countless hours writing, stuffing, stamping and mailing holiday cards. Instead, combine your Christmas cards and birth announcements into a single photo card with a pre-printed message like, “Look what Santa brought us!” on the front.
- Although its tempting to run out and get the standard “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments, a monogrammed stocking and a pile of over-hyped toys that will “stimulate your newborn,” realize that your baby has no clue what the holiday means and is just happy to snuggle quietly with you.
Deborah Bohn is a freelance writer and mother.