A guide to surviving the festive period
If you are going to visit family or have some to stay during the five day Christmas period, here are some survival tips for Christmas with a baby or little one you can use to help make sure both you and your baby or small child will enjoy this Christmas together.
Tip 1 – don’t overdo it
Christmas is a very stimulating times for babies; from all the attention they receive from extra adults to the exciting sights, sounds, smells in the house. You will be amazed how babies change and grow in response to the stimulation that Christmas provides. However, this can also be overstimulating for them
It’s OK to say no to very tiring and over stimulating visits. Christmas can often be a time when you either spend a lot of time on the road driving to a relative’s house, or your family come to you. Either way you end up with a Christmas that’s exhausting for both you and the baby.
As with babies Christmas is a fantastically exciting time for toddlers and small children, but at this time of year you can often see exaggerated emotions, where the highs and lows seem to happen more quickly and more frequently. Avoid too many outings, over-stimulating situations, and too much car travel.
Tip 2 – familiar objects
To keep your baby feeling secure when taking them to new places or if you have unfamiliar people staying with you, make sure you have plenty of familiar toys or their special blanket with you. There will also be the inevitable passing of your baby around the relatives and as long as your baby is fine with it then don’t worry. Do stay close by though in case your baby needs to come back to you.
Tip 3 – avoid over stimulation
Try and encourage excited grandparents not to over play with baby all day – some quiet cuddles are a good counterbalance to all those bright new (and sometimes noisy) toys that they got for Christmas.
Over-stimulation of older children during the Christmas period is a common cause of stress and overwrought emotions. Limit screen time and encourage play and physical activities to give an outlet to excitement and stress. Go slow. Plan ahead so that you don’t have to hurry.
Tip 4 – let baby take a break
Again, it’s OK to insist that your baby has a break from all the festivities and to avoid over stimulating your baby make sure you have plenty of them. Find a quiet room and cuddle or feed them and let them take a nap, making sure they are not disturbed and get the rest they need.
Give children more quiet, unstressed unhurried time. Give them time to just play and potter quietly at home.
For over-excited toddlers provide enough opportunities to sleep and soothe them at bedtime with a gentle massage. Make sure you get enough sleep yourself!
Tip 5 – relax!
Young children are very tuned into how their parent feels. The best way to keep your baby calm is for you to relax. When things start to get stressful, take a deep breath and calm yourself. Remember that the festive period is primarily to give everyone a break and allow them to spend quality time with each other. Avoid over scheduling and try to take regular breaks to keep you relaxed as well. Along with the survival tips for Christmas here, accept all offers of help too!
