The holidays should be a joyous time of the year filled with cheesy Christmas carols, overflowing stockings, and more food than you can eat. If you happen to be a first-time mom, you can throw all baby-related things into that description. My first Christmas as a mom [1] was probably one of the most stressful holiday ordeals I've had to deal with. Between trying to cook a feast, clean baby poop, and breastfeed, I almost forgot what the true meaning of the holidays was. As a new parent, it's easy to forget to stop and enjoy the season because you're so busy trying to juggle caring for your baby, manageing your home, and being Santa's little helper. Although you may be superwoman, trying to do it all could mean the holidays are a blur.
The good thing is, after my chaotic first year, I learned ways to make the holidays less stressful. So my hope for you this year is to enjoy the holiday festivities to the max. Keep reading to discover 10 ways to do just that — even with a new baby in tow.
Create a checklist.
Planning ahead and being organised is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself as a new mom during the holidays. To ease the stress, put pen to paper and write down a detailed list of things you need to get done. I had mundane things like buying groceries and choosing a holiday playlist on my checklist. It saved me having to run around in the cold with my 2-month-old son last minute.
Consider ready-made food.
Instead of trying to cook a five-course meal for the holidays, why not see if you can get ready-made food instead? You could find a catering service to do the job if you can afford it. Alternatively, ask family members that are coming on the day to bring a dish so it's one less thing you have to cook. If I did that, I wouldn't have been so stressed out . . . especially with my little one in the baby carrier while I prepped starters and main courses.
Ignore the mess.
As a new mom I picked up the habit of constantly cleaning up. But during the holidays, this is one of many ways I stressed myself out [3], leaving little energy for fun. Although last year I found myself washing dishes halfway through the festivities, this year I'll live on the wild side and wait until the next day to clean.
Find moments to relax.
You can focus so much on trying to create a magical Christmas for your little one that you forget to stop and relax. So that you can show up as your best self during the holidays, take a few minutes out to kick your feet up and do something kind for yourself, like lighting an aromatherapy candle. My holiday gift to myself as a first-time mom was lush emerald green earrings, which put me in the holiday mood.
Prepare baby's things the night before.
Young children demand a lot of attention, so prepare for your little one the night before. Choose what they're going to wear, put their nappies aside, and pick toys you can use to keep them entertained. If you're going to be breastfeeding, consider pumping milk [4] the night before and putting it into the freezer. I spent more time than I would have liked to breastfeeding when I could have simply expressed and stored milk instead.
Ask for help.
If you have a partner or other family members staying with you, don't be afraid of asking for help [6]. You can share responsibilities, so that you aren't doing everything on your own. My sister and niece were lifesavers during the holidays, helping me with hosting and cooking.
Embrace online shopping.
Learning to shop online was one of the best things I could've done for myself as a new mom. The good thing is that most items can be purchased online and delivered to your doorstep, whether it's Christmas decorations, groceries, or gifs. Shopping while your little one naps will save you a great deal of time and stress.
Eat first.
I remember spending so much time cooking during the holidays but not getting to enjoy the food that I made. I got so caught up taking care of the baby and serving others that I forgot to eat. To keep your energy levels high, keep your stomach full and eat before the day is over.
Let family help with your little one.
Because my baby was just over a month during our first Christmas [7], I still wanted him glued to my hip. Had I allowed family and friends to carry him more, I could have gotten a few baby-free minutes to unwind and soak in the moment. I might have also gotten free nappy changes, which would have made my load a little lighter.
Live in the moment.
Seeing as it's your first Christmas as a mom, you may obsess over everything being perfect like I did. Try and get over the need for perfection and be present in the moment instead. I made a note to dress my son up and take pictures by the tree and allowed myself to get a little emotional as I realised my son and I would only have a first Christmas once.