4 Effective Ways to Make Your First Christmas With a Baby Less Stressful

first Christmas first Christmas with baby Dr. Lewis First Vermont Children's Hospital. Dr. Zachary Adams riley hospital for children safe space Helen Stevens me-time secure spot

By Lilian Scott , Parent Herald Dec 09, 05:22 am

Like many milestones in a new baby's life, many parents are likely looking forward to their baby's first Christmas with the family. However, this holiday may also trigger a myriad of stress on top of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas preparations.

Dr. Lewis First of the Vermont Children's Hospital, said that he usually has many parents asking him about making Christmas less stressful for the family. While anxiety "comes with the holidays," there are still plenty of ways parents can make this special occasion a moment to remember, especially with a little one in tow.

Here are four effective ways parents can do away with the stress for their first Christmas with a baby.

1. Keep your routines intact.

Finding order in the chaos during the holiday season is the "name of the game," according to Dr. First. He said that parents should stick to their routines with the baby's schedules for sleeping and eating and the parents' schedules for chores and responsibilities around the house. Dr. First said there should be "regularity in daily activities" during this hectic time because this will lessen changes that make it harder for parents to get back on track.

2. Take a breather.

Dr. First also advised parents to take a breather when they can sense that their physical and mental states are about to break down. A breather may mean a short walk around the neighborhood or "finding something to laugh about," like a movie or TV show to douse down a stressful vibe.

Dr. Zachary Adams of the Riley Hospital for Children in Indiana suggested that parents put "downtimes" in the calendar, even if it's for 15 to 30 minutes each day. If there are older kids in the family, it might help to explain why mom or dad has to take a few minutes of "me time" in a quiet room or outside the house.

3. Find a safe space.

Helen Stevens, a parent-infant consultant, said that moms or dads should look for a safe space for families who are celebrating away from home. This should be a quiet and secure spot where the baby can rest if she's showing signs of weariness.

Parents must also monitor their baby closely for any signs of discomfort, especially around many people getting together. If family members want to carry and cuddle the baby, moms and dads may also devise a cue to take the baby to the safe space. Stevens said that one great tactic is to announce to the family that it's time for the baby's nappy change.

4. Don't stress over it.

Babies will feel it if their parents are agitated, so parents should stay calm and not stress over having the perfect Christmas. Anticipate that things might go wrong, and there could be meltdowns from the baby or the baby's siblings. Focus on the bigger picture with the family celebrating the holidays, and in a matter of weeks, this will be over, and everyone will go back to their daily grind.