The holiday season is upon us, which means the possibility of unnecessary stress is, too — especially if you have a newborn. That said, you have permission to do the holidays your way this year. Yes, you have permission to preserve your sanity and get through this time with the least amount of added stress possible. Enjoying the holiday season with a brand-new baby is doable!
How To Handle the Holiday Season With a New Baby
How does one make it through this time with a newborn, you ask? We’ve got you covered. Here are seven tips for handling the holiday season with a new baby in tow:
1. Take a Breath . . . This Season Will (Literally) Pass
First things first — breathe. As a new mom, it’s understandable that you might feel anxious during the holidays. But remind yourself that this season won’t last. You just have to get through it (and you will!). Try to focus on what truly matters this holiday season: your family. The rest will fall into place. And remember not to be too hard on yourself. You should enjoy this time, too, so don’t set any huge expectations for yourself.
2. Do What Works for You and Your Family
Above all else, it’s crucial to look out for your own family . . . even if that means doing things differently than you have in the past. You’re the mom here, and you get to call the shots now. Your mother and mother-in-law had their turn to do Christmas their way, and now it’s your turn. If you’d rather swap the traditional 25-person extended family Christmas Eve dinner for a quiet night in watching Christmas movies and tending to your little one in peace, do it! Don’t feel guilty for laying low, making new traditions, and prioritizing your family’s peace.
3. Brainstorm Boundaries With Your Partner in Advance
While it can be uncomfortable to disappoint others, setting boundaries is a necessary part of being a parent and preventing uncomfortable situations. So, determine your holiday nonnegotiables in advance with your partner — and stick to them. For starters, you’ll want to ask anyone interacting with your newborn to wash their hands thoroughly beforehand.1 If you feel most comfortable only allowing individuals who’ve had their flu and whooping cough vaccines to touch your baby, make that known ahead of time. It’s okay to set boundaries to protect your little one! You don’t need to allow kisses, your baby doesn’t have to be passed around like a hot potato, and you don’t have to stick around until the crowd fizzles out. Heck, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home if you don’t want to! But if you do opt to attend festivities, just ensure ahead of time that you and your partner are on the same page.
Think about how you’ll handle your baby’s sleep; you might consider making sure there’s a room available for a pack-n-play. If you know you won’t want to hang around any later than necessary, set a predetermined time for you and your newborn to leave the festivities. Come up with a plan for how you and your partner will support one another with your newborn and how you’ll both handle potentially challenging scenarios with family. A bit of proactivity goes a long way here!
4. Make Things as Easy as Possible for Yourself
Participating in family functions during the holidays with a newborn takes a bit of preplanning, but doing so is completely feasible. Think ahead about what steps you can take to minimize the stress of getting together with loved ones. Worried about people getting too close to your baby? Grab a carrier you love and go the babywearing route. Concerned about feeding? Bring a nursing cover — or have a private space ready to go for breastfeeding or pumping sessions. Not ready to load up your little one and all their essentials to travel to family? Invite Grandma and Grandpa to come to you instead. Dreading the idea of throwing the still-in-progress sleep schedule off by a mile? Keep your baby’s routine as close to normal as you can. Sure, flexibility is necessary . . . but when you have a newborn, so is normalcy.
5. Say “No” to Anything That Causes Unnecessary Stress
Whether it’s skipping out on the New Year’s Eve party or refusing to be around extended family who simply don’t respect boundaries, feel free to say “no” this holiday season. If something doesn’t add peace to your holiday experience with your newborn, it’s not worth it. It’s okay to turn down invitations. And yes, doing so simply because you’re not up for it this time is perfectly acceptable. You just had a baby, after all! Go easy on yourself, and reject any pressure to fill the calendar. There will always be next year.
6. Create New Traditions That Feel Good for Your Family
With a new baby in the family, how you celebrate the holidays will inevitably change in some way, so you might as well take advantage of it! Embrace the magic, and use this holiday season as a chance to create new traditions for your family. These don’t have to be extravagant . . . they should simply feel good for you. Think homemade cinnamon buns, matching-pajama movie marathons, or even extending an invitation to close loved ones to stop by — during hours that work for you and your little one, of course.
7. Ask for and Accept Help
It takes a village to raise a baby . . . and, sometimes, to get through the holidays. No matter what your plans are, be open to receiving help from others. Giving it some thought ahead of time and determining what support you’ll need is a great way to be proactive in surviving the season. If you’re hosting, ask your friends and family for help preparing, serving, and cleaning up meals. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere, be sure to take some quiet time for yourself (and baby) while loved ones handle everything else. Don’t be afraid to share this article, 15 Things You Should Do for a New Mom, with your guests!)
You Can Survive the Holidays With a Newborn
Getting through the holidays with a newborn can feel daunting, but it is possible to survive the season (and even enjoy it!). With a bit of thinking ahead and intentional reflection on how you want this year’s special days to look for your family, everything will be just fine. Happy holidays!