Christmas

onomatopoeia99

The baby won't have a clue, anything you do will be for you / your OH, not the baby.

If you want to be money saving, do nothing!

jenijen27

For my first child's first Christmas, we didn't really spend a lot on gifts, but we started a couple of traditions. I bought a lovely wooden advent calendar (this one https://www.lakeland.co.uk/40910/Bethlehem-Advent-Stable ) and we went to a local deer park on Christmas Eve. This trip in later years later became a visit to see the reindeer's before the fly off to the North Pole (or if we didn't see any, then they must have already left as they have an extra busy night ahead)

pogofish

lancslass17 wrote: »

Hi all I know I'm early but want to get organised

Ideas appreciated.

Maybe the best idea would be to get organised enough to post in the Christmas Forum?

Which is actually open all year here, so you can get organised whenever you like!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

There's no need for huge amounts of things this year, but a gentle chat with your OH might be needed to establish that, despite his bereavement, it's not going to be fair to his child if they associate Christmas with Daddy being unhappy/not getting involved with celebrations.

In fairness, he might find it makes the season easier for him now there's somebody new to enjoy all the sparkles and excitement - but I do know people who grew up seeing Christmas as the time when their parent stayed in bed and ignored them/banned all happiness, and it's not nice for them. Their main complaint was that it wasn't their fault and they didn't think it was fair that nobody in the family was allowed to enjoy themselves.

I'd put up a tree with some pretty lights and start with a few special decorations - we were so skint when DD1 was born at the end of November, that I made decorations with cornflake packets and felt tips. Even though we split up acrimoniously with six months, my daughter told me that he's still got my rubbish attempts at cartoon birds because they were for her First Christmas and, for all the nastiness that ensued, they've always come out as 'her decorations' when he's done the tree with his wife and subsequent children.

DigForVictory

One cute outfit for photos. (Buy a few others after the main fuss & get a few more photos before Easter, if you want to suggest there was more enthusiasm.)

A cardboard box big enough to sit in - wrapped if you want, decorated if you want, but intended to amuse/intrigue the young person.

A negotiated truce with OH about Christmas being the time for children rather than just memories. Best present you could give either of them, likely.

A string of lights & a disk of carols & one agreed Christmas Story. Lay the foundations of simplicity & with luck the excesses can be indulged one year & not bothered with another, but the basics still shine through.

I loved Advent services - candles, people singing, a connected feeling - but different churches, different faiths, different ways - do what's comfortable!

System

lancslass17 - Everyone is right at this age not much is needed enjoy it while it lasts ! , pop over to the celebrations board there's a Christmas discussion that runs year round . We are a super friendly group with lots of ideas and chat .

SingleSue

Eldest was not quite 3 months old for his first Christmas, we got him a few bits and pieces, nothing too over the top as everyone else went overboard...he slept through most of it.

Our special day was cut short as I had to go to work at lunchtime for the rest of the day and we had to visit my seriously ill nan in hospital before doing so.

AnotherJoe

lancslass17 wrote: »

Hi all I know I'm early but want to get organised I have a 3 month old, what things did you do for their first Christmas. (Obviously spending as little as possible)
I'm thinking of letter from Santa but not sure who is best
Cards with his picture on to send out
Visit to santa thats nice but won't break the bank.

My Oh isn't into Xmas as his mum died at that time of year so want to try and make it special for us all.

Ideas appreciated.

OK I'm going to bite. Please explain to me what use to anyone let alone a 6 month old a "letter from Santa" would be? (Or a 16 month old. Or even a 26 month old.)

Aged 3,4 5 and maybe 6 years yes. Although a video message might be better at earlier ages. There's a free service that does those. Aged 6 months would be a ridiculous waste of money even if it was free

Visit to Santa to get pics, yes (pointless for any other purpose) , although note they may contain a crying child !

Xmas card with pic of child dressed up, for friends and relatives, absolutely.
Letter from Santa? No that's just silly.

fairy_lights

No one, apart from possibly grandparents, wants a card with a picture of your baby on.

buildersdaughter

I certainly wouldn't pay for a visit to Santa.
I would get a tree as babies love looking at the decorations. One family I know decorate their tree on the anniversary of their son's death just before Xmas, as a way of honouring him. Are there any decorations that have come down from your OH's mum?
I love the idea of buying a decoration every Xmas.
I would also start a tradition like a walk somewhere nice, a trip to buy the tree, or something similar that can be kept up.