How to Really Survive the Holiday Season With a Newborn
Are you expecting your baby to arrive later in November or December? Do you already have a newborn in tow? If so, you might be a slightly stressed and overwhelmed mama with the holiday season ahead. Look no further for ways to survive Christmas and the holiday season with your newborn.
Being the kind of mom who likes to be in control when it comes to planning and organization can be frustrating when that authority is no longer within reach.
You might struggle to delegate, make time for yourself, and prioritize the needs of you and your baby.
It’s OK to feel these emotions but to stop yourself from going into overstimulation mode, you need to make use of strategies to overcome them.
Let’s get into some ways you can stress less during this holiday season with your newborn.
1. Start with ALL of your lists
If you’re reading this article, chances are that you love planning and organization.
I’m sure list-making is high on your list of things you enjoy as well.
Well, before your baby arrives, get your planner or note-taking app and get your lists organized.
Here are some ideas for lists you should make:
- What gifts you’d like to buy and for whom
- Decorations you’d like to have for your home
- Baked goods and meals you’d like to make so you can freeze them for holiday dinners and get-togethers (or you can have someone else make them for you)
- Traditions you’d like to start with your baby
- A Christmas wish list for yourself and your baby (here are some unique ideas you can ask for)
- Boundaries you would like to set
2. Carefully consider your budget
Before you write a list of gift ideas for your loved ones, you’re going to want to consider if you can realistically buy gifts for everyone you’re used to buying for.
You’re probably not going to be working during this time and you’re going to need to buy A LOT of diapers and unexpected items for your newborn.
Depending on where you live in this world, you may need to pay for medical expenses as well.
The point is, that a newborn is an expensive season of life. You need to consider how much you can afford for gifts.
I’m sure your loved ones will understand why you couldn’t gift them this year.
Here are some frugal ideas for holiday gifts:
- If you like to gift your close coworkers, perhaps create a cookie gift box for them to share at the office
- Consider buying gifts only for the children in your family - most adults don’t need more clutter
- Hot chocolate bomb gift set
- Coffee or tea gift set
- Gift cards
You can also consider other DIY gifts; however, this may be more stressful than helpful while you’re in the late stages of pregnancy.
3. Figure out how you can save time
After completing your mind dumps and creating your lists, you can plan how you can get it all done as efficiently as possible.
Now, this might be difficult to hear, but you should delegate. *Gasp*…I know.
Like I said at the beginning of this article, delegating tasks and asking for help may be difficult for some moms.
For me, I don’t want to burden people and find it easier to do things myself than explain to someone what I expect to get done. Your reasons for your delegation fear may be different.
But, remember, you need to reserve your time and energy for yourself and your newborn. Suck it up buttercup!
You can relieve yourself of some of the following duties:
- Ask a family member to freeze prep meals that can be used for later (this is a tip I suggest for the first week with your newborn regardless if you have any upcoming holiday dinners)
- Have Christmas dinner at your home but have someone else host it
- If you do have Christmas dinner at your place consider using paper plates and plastic utensils or ensure someone else will do the dishes for you (there’s bound to be someone who wants to help)
- Have your partner go out to buy the Christmas decorations
- Designate someone to help you with gift wrapping
You can also save time by shopping online. That way, you don’t have to deal with the stress of parking, lines, people, and anything else that comes with going to the mall. Some online stores can even gift wrap for you if you can afford the extra fees.
You can also send out Christmas cards with your adorable baby’s first Christmas photo by email to avoid gathering everyone’s home address and sending out mail.
4. Make sure your boundaries are clear
I talk a bit about setting boundaries and ground rules with people in this article but it’s probably more so on your mind with the holidays coming up.
We all want to keep our babies safe, so with the help of your list of ground rules, make it clear to your loved ones what is and isn’t OK.
Do you feel comfortable with anyone holding your newborn? Do you want them to wash their hands first? How about anyone in your family who smokes?
I struggled with boundary setting when my baby arrived. Well-meaning people would take pictures of him and post him on their social media accounts without asking me. I was too afraid of hurting their feelings to talk to them about it.
I don’t want you to feel afraid though. With the flu season in full swing, it’s crucial for you to protect your newborn. If that means not going to dinner because someone has a cold, so be it.
5. Prepare for unsolicited advice
Speaking of boundaries...I also want you to prepare for possible unsolicited advice.
Unfortunately, people feel the need to comment on our parenting styles. They may mean well, but you can just politely listen and smile. Do your research before you consider taking their advice.
I’ve had way too many family members tell me to give my baby water when he had the hiccups and I made it clear that I didn’t feel comfortable with that because breastmilk works perfectly fine. They also suggested I let him try some food.
I can at least say I was confident enough to express my distaste for those suggestions.
6. Maintain your newborn’s nap schedule
One reason it may be beneficial to have Christmas dinner at your home is that you don’t have to worry about whether there’ll be a private room for you and your newborn.
Newborns get tired after about 30-45 minutes, so you’ll need a quiet space where you can dim the lights and put them down for a nap. This will also give you privacy for breastfeeding if that’s what you desire.
Maintaining your newborn’s nap schedule will prevent them from getting overtired and overstimulated, which creates a more enjoyable Christmas experience for everyone.
Even if your newborn (and yourself) get overstimulated, it’s fine for you to bow out early. Prioritizing your and your baby’s needs, including sleep, is a perfectly acceptable reason for you to leave a get-together early.
7. Keep your personal expectations low
Unless you have superpowers, you’re not going to be up and ready to decorate, cook, and clean shortly after having your baby, whether they’re a week old or 2 months old.
As a new mom, it's important to be realistic and not put too much pressure on yourself. Embrace imperfection and accept that things may not go exactly as planned.
You’re not going to be an organization queen for this short season of life.
I want you to let go of the following expectations:
- Showing up to dinners, events, and parties on time or at all
- Going all out for Christmas decorations to make your home look like a winter wonderland
- Perfectly wrapped gifts for everyone
- Remembering to wish everyone a Merry Christmas
- Keeping the home (and yourself) clean
- Sticking with your routines and holiday traditions
8. Remember to treat yourself
Amidst the busyness of the holiday season, don't forget to take care of yourself. Treat yourself to something that brings you joy and relaxation even if it’s because you just want to.
This may be difficult if your baby is a brand-new newborn, but you can plan something to look forward to when you’re ready to leave your baby alone with your partner or mom for a little bit.
Get a massage, go get your nails done, read a good book - just do something that makes you feel relaxed.
It would be best if you also considered buying yourself something for the holidays and even treat yourself to a nice meal and a latte or two from Starbucks.
9. Embrace your newborn’s first Christmas
A baby’s first Christmas is a truly special time and I want you to seriously consider how you want to spend it.
Would you rather appease everyone else or make time for your baby and partner?
After all, you are still getting to know this person that you brought to the world, so you should remember to go about things as you normally would if you didn’t have a newborn shortly before Christmas.
To embrace your time with them, make sure you’re prepared for everything and get all the small, yet important tasks out of the way.
There you have it. This is my guide to surviving the holiday season with a newborn.
Though my baby is now 5 months old, and no longer a newborn, I will take my own advice laid out in this article.
I want this to be a special time for my baby, my partner, and myself so we can start some family traditions.
Remember, this is just a guide to help you navigate the holiday season with your newborn.
Every mom and baby is unique, so feel free to adapt these tips to suit your preferences and circumstances. Enjoy this special time with your baby and create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
Your baby may not remember this experience when they’re older, but you will, and that’s still important. Make the most out of this season.
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