Baby's First Christmas: A Guide to Making it Magical (and Manageable!)

Your baby's first Christmas can be a magical time, but let's not pretend it's all twinkling lights and angelic choirs. When we were new parents, we were running on fumes, juggling a million things, and the thought of adding festive cheer to the chaos made us want to hide under the mistletoe (with earplugs). 

If you’re feeling the same then fear not!

At Edith & George, we're all about celebrating the little things and embracing the beautiful mess that is parenthood. This Christmas let’s ditch the pressure of Pinterest-perfect moments and focus on having fun (and maybe even a little bit of sanity).

Here's a few ideas to help you bin the stress and embrace the fun this Christmas:         

Traditions for the Tired and Time-Crunched

Forget the elaborate Christmas cards and perfectly staged family photos (we’re certain these are a myth..) 

Here are some low-key traditions that we can handle even at our most exhausted:

• Festive PJs All Day: Who needs fancy outfits when you can rock matching Christmas pyjamas all day long? (Bonus points if they have reindeer on them.)
• Stuff the Stocking (With Snacks for You): Yes, your baby gets a stocking, but don't forget to sneak in some treats for yourself. You deserve it.
• Christmas Movie Time: Your baby won't be ready to sit through your favourite Christmas movie with you just yet, but make sure that you are. While they sleep, take some time for yourself (and any older siblings), snuggle up on the sofa, put on a Christmas movie, and embrace the art of doing absolutely nothing.

Making Memories (Without Losing Your Mind)

At Edith & George, we believe in celebrating the little things; remember, the most important thing is to enjoy this special time with your little one. Here's a few ideas for making memories without the stress:

• Phone on, Camera Rolling: Capture those spontaneous moments of laughter, cuddles, and maybe even a few tears (yours or theirs). It's all part of the adventure.
• Scrapbook Later: Don't worry about creating a perfect baby album right now. Enjoy the moment and deal with it when you have more than 3 hours of sleep a night.
• Mental snapshots: Sometimes the best memories are the ones you carry in your heart. Take a moment to soak it all in: the smell of the Christmas tree, the sound of your baby's laughter, the feeling of their tiny hand in yours. In our house we have a saying, “I’m taking photos with my eyes” - (blinking furiously as you say this is optional but preferred).
• Embrace the Imperfect: Things might not go exactly as planned. The dinner might burn, the baby might cry, and you will almost certainly spill mulled wine on your new pyjamas. But that's okay. It's all part of the fun (and the stories you'll tell for years to come).

Gifts That Won't Add to the Chaos

Forget the mountain of plastic toys that'll end up forgotten in a week. Here are some gift ideas that are thoughtful, practical and designed to make memories, not mess. Some of these are ideas from our store, (we'd be crazy not to include them right?)  but there's no need to spend a fortune on your baby's first Christmas; if its sensory and safe for tiny hands your baby will love it - and yes, that includes the wrapping and that toy you made out of an old stuffed sock!

• Cuddles Are Key: When in doubt, go for something soft and cuddly. Our organic cotton and fair-trade knitted toys are perfect for snuggles and won't shed fluff all over your newly-cleaned, guest-ready living room.

• A Keepsake Box (That Doubles as Storage!): In our experience babies come with more ‘stuff’ than a department store. Our keepsake boxes are perfect for sorting the memorable from the practical and storing all those precious firsts (and hiding the clutter!).

• Document the Mayhem: Did your baby even have a first Christmas if you didn't Instagram it? Yes, they did! But Instagram is a great way of curating memories for you and your family and friends. We designed our Baby Milestone Cards, including a "My First Christmas" card, to make capturing those moments a breeze.

• Start a Tradition (That Doesn't Involve Elf on the Shelf): Who has time for elaborate elf shenanigans? Instead, start a simple tradition of gifting a new tree decoration each year. We started this with our children when they were little and now they each have a box of decorations that map out their own Christmas story. It makes for a unique tree that means something to everybody and gets better every year.
  
  If you’d like inspiration for a decoration for this year then our Dippy Diplodocus Dinosaur Knitted Christmas Tree Decoration and Blue Tartan Diplodocus Dinosaur Hanging Decoration are guaranteed to add some personality to your tree (and unlike an elf-on-the-shelf they won't quietly judge your parenting skills).

At Edith & George, we're celebrating the little things this Christmas and raising a glass to all the new parents out there. Have a wonderful, messy, magical first Christmas with your little one!