Ever since I found out I was pregnant with Baby, I knew that I wanted to make every Christmas as special as possible for her. I love the idea of creating family traditions, that would become as ingrained in our Christmas, as turkey and presents are.
With Christmas just over 5 weeks away, I thought I would share our traditions, all of which we did last year (even though Baby was too young to know about any of it!) and I have added a couple of new ones for this year.
1. Christmas tree
Our tree will go up on the evening of the last day of November, so that when Baby wakes up on 1st December it will be ready for her.
2. Decorations
Each year we will go shopping at the end of November and Baby will be able to chose two new decorations. We did this last week.
3. Panto
For Baby’s first Christmas we went to a free panto in our local shopping centre, as she was too young for a proper panto. To be honest, she probably is again this year, so will will try to find something similar.
4. Christmas Eve box
Filled with lots of lovely festive goodies. I can’t wait to put it together.
5. Christmas Card
We have a lovely family time taking pictures of Baby in festive outfits and then pick one for our Christmas Card. I know some people might think it is cheesy, but I like having a special Christmas picture and the relatives love it.
6. Santa’s Goodies
Last year I created a special plate for us to leave out for Santa & Rudolf. So I will be digging it out this year.
7. Scatter reindeer food/dust
I am sure Baby hadn’t got a clue what we were doing last December, when we wandered out to the front garden and scattered ‘reindeer food/dust’ on the lawn; to show them where to land and give them a bit of a snack too. Tip: don’t buy the ready made ‘food’, porridge oats and glitter is just fine.
8. Advent calendar
We bought an awesome advent calendar from a craft fair, a wooden reindeer head with 24 little bags attached the the antlers. Instead of chocolate, I fill up the bags with little presents or activities written on little notes.
9. Letter from Santa
Baby is too young to write to Santa at the moment, but each year she will receive a letter from Santa and I will keep them all safe until she is older.
10. Christmas Teddy Bear
In the week before Christmas, I pop out and buy Baby a special Christmas teddy bear.
11. Meet Santa
Last year, I tripped getting into Santa’s little hut and nearly ended up in his lap! Which I think was a bit more than he bargained for… Although Baby sat on his knee, she wasn’t that keen. Fingers crossed she will be better next time she visits him.
12. Christmas PJs
A must have, new PJs for Christmas eve and Christmas day.
13. A book a day in December
I recently saw this idea on a Facebook wall and really liked it. I will buy 24 books, wrap them up and put them under the tree. Then every night before bed (from 1st-24th Dec), she can go to the tree and pick a book that we can read to her before she goes to sleep.
14. Read ‘The Night Before Christmas’
We bought a version last year that you can record a voice onto, which Mr Hubby did. On Christmas Eve, we will sit with her while Mr Hubby from ‘2013’ reads her the story.
15. Go to see the Christmas lights
A little trip into town to soak up the festiveness and see the lights.
Do you do any of these? What are your favourite Christmas traditions?
Comments 56
We always read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. It’s lovely starting your own Christmas family traditions isn’t it 🙂
#MMWBH
Author
It makes it really special x
Such wonderful ideas!!!
You household sounds so lovely and festive!
x
Author
I just love Christmas, it is such a family time x
Love these ideas Aby! I saw the 24 books too and absolutely love the idea, and the letters from Santa to keep has inspired me! I’m odd out today to find Toby a Christmas jumper, I’m rather excited about it hehe xxx
Author
I hope you got him a cute jumper xx
Love this! We always have new pjs, I never realised how many people did the same as us! We do the decoration thing too and put a little note in when we pack it all away to read next year. Something like this time next year I want to have achieved…
xx
Author
Aww I love the idea of putting a note in, that is great xxx
What a lovely post and now I’m feeling all Christmassy – is it too early to have some mulled wine???? I love the last picture – what a fab idea 🙂 #MMWBH
Author
Our holidays are coming! 🙂 x
Grace says – I loved reading this post so much. I am now sooooo excited about Christmas and I really liked your last photo with all the snow. OOhhh do you think it’s gonna snow at Christmas??? I really hope so 🙂
kidGLloves runs a weekly linky every Wednesday called Mini Creations and we think this would make a fab linkup as creating traditions is a fab creations 🙂 #MMWBH
Author
Glad she liked it! I will try to remember to link up x
Such a lovely list, we will definitely be creating some traditions this year now that LP is old enough to understand x
Author
Oh have fun huni x
These are lovely traditions! We have the tradition of putting out food for Santa and Rudolph with my stepdaughter but as she is not normally with us on Christmas Day we have yet to come up with any more! Perhaps when little one comes!
Emma | frillsanddoodads.com
Author
Ah I am sure you will create lovely traditions x
Ah some lovely ideas Aby- I adore Christmas like most people and we have lots of little family traditions that we do and enjoy throughout December and the festive period, things like the Christmas box, a new decoration each year and new Christmas PJs. x
Author
It is such a magical time isn’t it. I hope you have a wonderful time x
Lovely ideas…my son gets a new christmas sweater/top and we do a Christmas card each year with a festive picture, get a letter from santa, get a picture with santa and last year and this year we’re in London and so I’ve taken him to see the lights. Can’t wait to add a few more each year 🙂
Author
London would be great at Christmas! x
Some great ideas. We need to create some Xmas traditions with Baby L, so this post is very timely. 🙂
Author
Fill your boots! 🙂 x
Christmas pjs is always a must here!
We also have a mass tidy up before Christmas Eve ritual. Santa won’t come if it’s messy!!
Author
Oh god! We have no chance then! 🙂 x
I love Christmas and having family traditions is what helps to make it special. You certainly have made an incredible effort at getting those traditions started whilst Baby is still young.
I used to buy a couple of Christmas books every December, my favourite is Letters To Father Christmas by Tolkien, Baby will be too young for it for quite some time but I highly recommend it for the future. I even got the idea of writing letters from Santa or Polar bear or even the elves to the children from the book. They loved getting a letter randomly throughout the year.
We still leave the mince pie and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer, wlong with a good scattering of glitter and soot from the fire…Even though my two are well into their teens, it’s not something that is ever going to stop, even after they have left home.
Hope Baby enjoys her 2nd Christmas…Popped over from #BrilliantBlogPosts.
I love Christmas and having family traditions is what helps to make it special. You certainly have made an incredible effort at getting those traditions started whilst Baby is still young.
I used to buy a couple of Christmas books every December, my favourite is Letters To Father Christmas by Tolkien, Baby will be too young for it for quite some time but I highly recommend it for the future. I even got the idea of writing letters from Santa or Polar bear or even the elves to the children from the book. They loved getting a letter randomly throughout the year.
We still leave the mince pie and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer, wrong with a good scattering of glitter and soot from the fire around the house and over the dogs. Magic dust makes the dogs sleep allowing Santa to go about his business!…Even though my two are well into their teens, it’s not something that is ever going to stop, even after they have left home.
Hope Baby enjoys her 2nd Christmas…Popped over from #BrilliantBlogPosts.
Author
Thank you for your great comment. You make sure an effort with your traditions. I will look out for that book x
I’m looking for the perfect Christmas movie to watch on Chritsmas Eve! Let me know if you have any ideas for under 5s 🙂
Author
Oh Baby is too young at the moment to watch films, she focuses on Disney Junior at the moment x
Some lovely traditions here, I love the idea of the book a day in December. We also go for Christmas light walks, and the person who spots the most gets a prize. Happy Christmas! #ChristmasCountdown
Author
That sounds great x
Some lovely ideas, definitely some that we will adopt. I like the idea of taking Baby M to a panto but I think he’s probably too young this year xx
Author
Baby was only 9 months last year, I think I went more for me than her! xx
Lovely traditions! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
Author
My pleasure x
Fab traditions hon, we do a fair few here too. I like the idea of a Christmas Eve box,might have to steal that one xx #brilliantblogposts
Author
Feel free 🙂 xx
Loved reading your post. This year, our eldest is three and a half and gets Christmas a lot more, so we will be adding more Christmas traditions. I love the idea of a Christmas Eve box and the Christmas pyjamas. x
Author
Thank you hun, glad you liked it x
Love these ideas. We do a few of these such a new pjs but the girls have no interest in visiting Santa.
Author
Baby is still at an age where she doesn’t really get a choice! 🙂 x
Oh lovely traditions – Christmas PJS are a must! Ive bought the children some lovely ones from M&S this year. #thelist
Author
M&S has some surprisingly good stuff in there at the moment x
These are lovely ideas!
Christmas is such a special time, especially with little ones around. I’m really looking forward to my youngest being able to join in a bit more this year with some of our traditions!
Xx
Author
Enjoy! Us too Baby will be 21 months old and it will be lots of fun x
love, love, love your idea for a book for everyday in December!
Some really lovely ideas and it has got me in the festive spirit.
Em x
Author
You should do it, I think it will be fun x
I’m getting so excited about Christmas this year! Definitely going to start the Christmas Eve box tradition – love that idea. And we’re going to Arthur’s first panto in London next weekend. He’s probably a bit too young still, but some friends are in town from Spain so we thought we’d give it a go 🙂 xx
Author
I’m sure he will have fun xx
we have Christmas cards with a photo of the children looking all festive on too , just for relatives . xx
I’m doing xmas eve boxes this year for first time, can’t wait to start preparing them! Our best tradition is watching Muppets Christmas Carol on Christmas eve x
Im so excited for christmas, we have quite a few of those in the list too, I might have to make a plate like that for Santa though, we have a christmas plate, but I much prefer the personalised one.
Roll on next sunday to get the decorations out 🙂
#thelist
Ahh lovely traditions. And a great way to be a kid again 🙂
I love the idea of a Christmas eve box. I always make a gingerbread house and now that the kids are older they help to decorate it on Christmas Eve. THats one tradition we always keep up 🙂 x x
Pingback: A Mummy First – By Melodie Mae CullenChristmas traditions for baby
What a great list and I love that we do all of the same things! Christmas is such an exciting time of year, more so when you have little ones to fill with the magic of it all! Thanks for linking up with #MMWBH x