The Ultimate Guide to Baby’s First Christmas

Baby’s first Christmas is a holiday to remember – a holiday built around bringing joy to kids! Be sure you don’t forget anything with this guide to baby’s first Christmas. From finding baby’s first Christmas ornaments to a baby’s first Christmas outfit to decorating baby’s first Christmas stocking, I’ve got you covered with this guide.

First holidays are always fun when you have a new baby – from smaller holidays, like St. Patrick’s Day to the big kahuna, Christmas, few moms would pass on a chance to dress up their babies festively and take lots of pictures. With Christmas, we have the added layers of pure nostalgia and the fact that it’s literally a holiday for kids, and the draw is undeniable.

So how do you make that first Christmas memorable? Well, lucky for you, I’ve put together what I’m calling the ULTIMATE guide to baby’s first Christmas – everything you need to ensure a memorable and heart-warming first holiday with your little one. Below you’ll find things you must do, photos you must take, and even my take on gifts for the first Christmas.

This post was originally posted November 29, 2016 and has since been updated. 

The ULTIMATE Guide to Baby’s First Christmas

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MUST DO:

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #1: Start a tradition unique to your family.

(Or continue one) Won’t it be cool to be able to tell your kiddo that you’ve been doing XYZ since they were a baby? Or even better – since you were a baby? Continue a tradition you really loved as a kid or start a new one! A big one for me is making snowman pancakes on Christmas morning, something we always did as kids. But for you it might me a sleigh ride at a farm, chopping down your own tree, or reading the Night Before Christmas before bed.

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #2: Read a book. 

I’m a big fan of reading to kids, especially around the cozy months. Pick a few favorite holiday books and read them to your baby throughout December. They may become yearly favorites! I love I Love You, Stink Face books. If you don’t want a stack of Christmas books laying around all year, remember your library definitely has a ton! But it might be another fun tradition to start – take you kids to the book store and let them pick out a holiday book!

Check out more Christmas Board Books here!

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #3: Visit Santa.

Yes, your kid might cry. Yes, the lines might be long. But you will so regret it if you don’t. Ryan’s first picture with Santa is my favorite ever, and I cannot even wait to do it with Owen.

Tips for pictures with Santa for baby’s first Christmas

• If you think your kiddo might cry, try sitting with them. We do in mom’s lap, next to Santa.
• Don’t push it past a photo or two if they look upset – let’s not scar them early!
• The photo doesn’t have to be perfect – sometimes a funny picture is better than a ‘perfect’ one.
• If possible, try going at the least buy times – babies + lines = bad. We usually go on a weekday before lunch, but a weekend morning right when they open would probably work as well! I know some malls now also let you make an appointment.

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #4: Buy a baby’s first Christmas ornament.

When we were kids, my brother and I would seek out our ‘baby’s first Christmas ornament’ and put them on happily – make sure you find one you love for your kiddos. We always buy the customizable ones every year at the mall. They usually have a wide selection and will hand write your baby’s name on it, but I found out the you can actually get them on Amazon Prime as well!

Bonus points if you find one that won’t break! (This adorable Rudolph one by Lenox is metal!)

Find the cutest baby’s first Christmas ornaments here!

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #5: Make a hand print.

I’ve used this kit a few years in a row and really love it – you don’t have to mix anything or even bake it. It’s just clay that air dries. . I don’t suggest using a paint one since babies+paint hand prints never work out well (for me at least) but you’ll love seeing the different sized feet or hands each year when you pull ornaments out.

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #6: Christmas outfit.

There is nothing cuter than a baby in a cute little Christmas outfit announcing their first Christmas. I’m lucky that Owen and Ryan are about the same size, so we can reuse all of his old Christmas stuff, but I would totally go for this, this or this!

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #7: Christmas jammies.

Yes, they’ll only wear them for a month (of more, if you’re like me and don’t care) but they are so worth it. If you have older kids, get matching jammies because oh, is there anything cuter? I have ones similar to these that we got as a gift for Ryan’s first Christmas, but I love me some Carter’s jams. Bonus: save them and use them for your next kiddo and you’ll have the CUTEST pictures.

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #8: Make a stocking.

Or invest in a nice one to last through the years. I’ve never actually done that, but I do love going the glitter and glue route each year and then just toss the cheap-y stockings since storage is non-existent at our house.  I think it will be super fun when the boys are older and they can decorate their own stockings. Here’s a super cute baby’s first Christmas one I’m loving!

Baby’s first Christmas tradition #9: Christmas Card.

I never did a Christmas cards until we had Ryan, but now picking them out is one of my favorite tasks each year. I love tinyprints and they always have good deals this time of year. Here’s  the style we’re using this year! Make sure you get enough so that you can save one for yourself!

Must take Photos for Baby’s First Christmas:

Every momma loves a good holiday photo – make sure you get all of these of your baby for the baby book!

• Santa’s lap.
• Under/near the tree.
• Christmas outfit pajamas.
• Christmas morning
• Finding a tree
• Opening a gift
• In a Santa hat

Gifts for Baby’s First Christmas: What to buy for baby’s first Christmas

I’m in the minority here, I’m sure, but I don’t believe that babies need a ton for their first Christmas. First Christmases are for the parents, so there’s really no need to fill up the tree and stocking and buy out Buy Buy Baby, since a baby has no idea what’s going on.

That being said: I do believe that one or two special gifts is a nice idea, especially if you have older kiddos who might ask why Santa didn’t drop off a gift for the baby. A special, hard cover book to read together, a snow globe to remember the occasion, or a small piece of jewelry they will cherish as they grow older.

Another option is buying something they might need in the near future – a convertible car seat, a jumper, a walker, whatever. These are also great gift ideas for family who inevitably will be asking what to get the baby.

Okay so tell me – what am I missing? What traditions did you start for baby’s first Christmas? What gifts do you get babies? Let me know in the comments!

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