‘Tis the season to be jolly, especially when you have a little one celebrating their very first Christmas! As a new mom, you’re probably eager to make this holiday season extra special for your new bundle of joy. While your baby may not fully grasp the concept of Santa Claus or the joy of unwrapping presents just yet, there are plenty of great ways to create unforgettable memories during Baby’s First Christmas. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, cuddle up with your little elf, and let’s explore 15 heartwarming ideas to make this holiday season truly magical.
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14 Ways to Make Baby's First Christmas Special
1. Personalized Stockings
Start the festivities by crafting adorable, personalized stockings for your baby and the whole family. You can include their name, birthdate, or even a cute nickname. These stockings will serve as keepsakes for years to come.
It was such a special moment for me to hang up my first baby’s stocking next to mine and my husband’s that first Christmas together. I don’t know why, but that moment really made spending the holidays with my very own baby very real!
If you aren’t the crafty type, there are tons of cute options out there to have a stocking personalized for you. Amazon has really stepped it up these days and you can find awesome options with custom personalization. I also love shopping small during the holidays and frequently browse Etsy for even more great options!
Related: The Top Stocking Stuffers for Babies Under 1 Year Old
2. Baby's First Christmas Ornament
Commemorate your baby’s first Christmas with a special ornament for the tree. This beautiful keepsake will adorn your tree year after year, reminding you of the joy your little one brought to your life.
You can start your own family Christmas tradition this year of your child choosing an ornament to go on the tree each year. (It may be a few years before the baby can really pick one out on their own) It will be so fun to look back on year as you pull out the decorations for the tree each year, especially the first Christmas.
Again for items that are personalized, Amazon does have some options, but to be honest I prefer ones found on Etsy like these:
If you are looking for more ideas for baby’s first Christmas ornaments, including some DIY options, don’t forget to check out our article here!
3. Matching Christmas PJs
Matching pajamas for the whole family are one of the cutest holiday traditions. And with stores like Target and Old Navy making it so easy with new sets released each year, you can’t pass up the opportunity for a family picture on Christmas morning!
4. Holiday Music
Fill your home with the sweet sounds of holiday tunes. Sing and dance together as you decorate the tree or bake cookies or enjoy all the festivities of baby’s first Christmas. Babies are mesmerized by music, and this will make for a heartwarming memory for years to come.
5. Visit Santa
Ah, the iconic Santa Claus visit during baby’s first Christmas—it’s a classic holiday tradition that’s practically mandatory, and for excellent reasons!
Taking your little one to meet the man in the red suit is like stepping into a fairy tale. Even if your baby is too young to understand the concept of Santa, the experience is pure magic. It’s a memory you’ll treasure forever!
And the photos, even if baby isn’t too happy to meet Santa, will be so fun to look back on in the future!
6. Festive Lights Tour
Buckle up your baby and go on a festive lights tour around your neighborhood for baby’s first Christmas. The twinkling lights and decorations will surely capture their attention and spread holiday cheer. I mean what baby doesn’t love colorful lights?
Or check out a local event near you with a Christmas Tree Lighting event or a light display in the park! Anything is sure to dazzle your baby and it will be great for you to get out of the house together on a family outing.
7. Decorate Baby's Nursery
Transforming your baby’s nursery into a festive wonderland is a fun way to celebrate their first Christmas. I mean you are already decorating the rest of the house, right? Don’t leave out baby’s room!
While they probably won’t know the difference, it will definitely bring a sense of the holiday spirit into one of the best rooms in your home.
Deck the crib with soft, holiday-themed bedding, hang tiny stockings with care, and add some gentle, battery-operated string lights around the room to create a cozy, magical atmosphere.
You can also incorporate cute holiday-themed mobiles, plush toys, and wall decals featuring reindeer, snowflakes, and jolly Santas. It’s all about creating a sensory wonderland for your baby—one that will fill their first holiday season with a sense of warmth, wonder, and the spirit of Christmas. Just make sure any décor is safely out of baby’s reach.
8. Storytime with Holiday Books
Snuggle up with your baby and read Christmas-themed books together. The colorful illustrations and simple stories will captivate their curiosity and create a love for reading from an early age.
Whether you choose some of the classics like Frosty the Snowman, or The Night Before Christmas, or something more contemporary like Santa’s Lost Reindeer, diving into a winter wonderland is sure to put everyone into a festive mood.
Related: The Best Christmas Books for Kids
9. Create A Holiday Countdown Jar
This is a darling idea my sister discovered on Pinterest a few years back! Instead of an advent calendar, create a jar full of fun activities for the holiday season!
On 24 strips of paper, write out different activities you can do with your baby during their first Christmas season. This could include reading holiday books, playing in the snow, or making baby friendly holiday treats.
Each day you can pull out a strip of paper and have a fun activity to do together! Throughout the month of December, you will have completed an entire bucket list of holiday activities with your baby!
You can make your own bucket list and write them on strips of paper or there is this kit premade on Etsy that is so dang cute!
10. DIY Handprint Ornaments
Photos are great to look back on, but will you really remember how tiny those little hands and feet truly were? Capture those darling little features by preserving baby’s handprint or footprint in homemade salt dough. Make sure to punch a hole in the top before they dry to turn your masterpiece into an ornament for the tree! These kits from Amazon are super easy to use!
Make sure to personalize them with their name and birthdate so you can continue the tradition with your other children!
11. Watch Holiday Movies
Cozy up on the couch with your little one for a delightful session of watching holiday movies during baby’s first Christmas! It’s an activity that both you and your baby can enjoy. The colorful characters, festive music, and heartwarming stories will captivate your baby’s attention, even if they’re too young to understand the plot.
And the best part? You get to relive the magic of these classic holiday films through your baby’s eyes. It’s a fantastic opportunity to bond as a family and start building cherished traditions. So, whether it’s “The Polar Express,” “Frosty the Snowman,” or any other holiday classic, pop some popcorn, snuggle with your baby in a warm blanket, and let the holiday movie marathon begin.
12. Take Baby's First Christmas Photos
No holiday season would be complete without a mini photo shoot! There are tons of ideas on Pinterest on how to DIY your own at home or you could hire a photographer.
Either way you will for sure want to have baby’s first Christmas commemorated with photos to treasure for a lifetime!
And don’t think you need to spend a lot of money to get cute pictures. For my son’s I wrapped presents early to put under the trees and covered his Boppy with a simple cream-colored blanket. I laid him on it and acted like a crazy person trying to get him to laugh and smile. It took a bit (he was 4 months at the time) but I got a few pictures that were so dang cute!
And if you are planning on posting these photos on social media or even sending them out to friends and family, don’t forget to add a little extra touch with some cute Christmas quotes!
13. Outdoor Adventure
If you live in a snowy climate, bundle up your baby and take them out for their first experience with snow. Even if it’s just a few minutes, the glistening snowflakes will amaze them. Bonus if you get to experience a white Christmas and take a photo to remember the special occasion!
14. Start a Christmas Eve Tradition
Start a special Christmas Eve tradition, such as reading “The Night Before Christmas” or leaving out cookies and milk for Santa. While your baby won’t remember them, these routines will become treasured memories you can continue in the years to come.
There are so many fun Christmas Traditions you can start with your baby during their first Christmas. These will be the foundations of many Christmases to come!
Baby’s first Christmas is a time for creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime. These 14 ideas offer plenty of ways to make the holiday season extra special for your little one.
Remember that it’s not about extravagant gifts or elaborate decorations but about the love and joy you share as a family during this magical time of year. Embrace the wonder in your baby’s eyes, and you’ll have a Christmas to remember for years to come. Happy holidays!
Don’t forget to check out some of our other great Christmas content to make your holidays magical this year:
- FREE Printable Christmas Bingo for Kids [PDF]
- The Best Christmas Books for Kids: A Holiday Reading Guide
- Christmas Traditions You Should Start This Year in 2024
- 125+ Festive Christmas Letterboard Quotes and Ideas
- 60+ Baby’s First Christmas Quotes and Captions
- Top Toddler Stocking Stuffer Ideas for a Memorable Christmas
- The Top Stocking Stuffers for Babies Under 1 Year Old
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