Wanting to hear from others,especially December babes or moms, as far as helpful birthday celebration ideas(Summer?)And also we have an 11 year old son that we need to make the holiday memorable and unique for.Suggestions Appreciated.Any holiday traditions we can start etc.
2006-09-12 02:34:39 · 15 answers · asked by lotsalovetanya 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
My second child, a boy, was born on December 16th. We have struggled for years (he's 9 1/2) with the fact that he gets gypped with his birthday in December. We live in the northern US and the weather is always dicey at that time of year. We never know if there will be a winter storm or very freezing temperatures. To top it off, family lives about an hour away and he always wants his cousins to come to his birthday party.
He loves his birthday and he's one of those kids who starts planning for his party the year before (I'm not kidding). He has Christmas lists for the next four years already written out. This year we're trying something different. We're going to have a Halloween party/birthday party for him. He's thrilled. It takes the pressure off the already stressful holiday time and the weather can still be kind of nice then. There's also a lot of fun things we can plan for a Halloween party and not have to get the kids bundled up to go outside and play in the snow and freeze their behinds off.
We also have a 2 1/2 year old son who was born on Thanksgiving so the same thing applies for him when he's older. Maybe a summer party for him.
You have to be flexible and your child needs to be understanding about the time of year conflict.
Another suggestion for you...get your holiday shopping done early this year. There's nothing worse than going out with the crowds when you're waddling around and getting through stores on sore feet and an aching back.
Here are some easy holiday suggestions for your son: Involve your 11 year old in the wrapping of the gifts, especially for the new baby. Have him buy his own gift with his own money to his new brother or sister--make that a tradition that they exchange gifts, even at this young age. Have a special gift from your baby to his or her big brother. He's guaranteed to LOVE it and cherish it. Invest in an Advent calendar to count off the days. Have your son help with the decorating and the baking of cookies, etc. It sounds hokey but my kids really enjoy that part of the holidays: Cooking/baking with mom. I think it's the time spent with me and I hope they look back on those holidays with joy, as much as I do when I think back to my childhood.
Good luck to you and congratualations on the upcoming arrival of your baby!
2006-09-12 02:49:09 · answer #1 · answered by Hello Dolly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son was born Dec 30. My daughter was 11 years old at the time and had been an only child all along.
It DOES take some of the fun and excitement away from the holidays.
I would try to plan only for the 11 year old right now, the baby wont know Christmas at all, and the 11 year old (especially if this is the only child) will be hurt if you show all the excitement on the new baby.
We had an extra Christmas tree, a little one on the dining room table for the baby and made the big tree HER tree. We also bought her an advent calendar, let her make sugar cookies with icing by herself, bought a gingerbread house kit, let her pick the cards and bought her a very expensive Lee Middleton doll (a little old for dolls, BUT, they are considered collectible so it was special) cute jammies and we did not even talk about the baby coming.
It's hard for a kid that age anyway, not quite a teenager, not quite a kid.
Make a lot of time for your 11 year old and Christmas will be fine.
As far as when the baby gets older, you HAVE to make the Birthday the Birthday and Christmas is Christmas. The downer is NOBODY wants to fool with anything extra after the holidays, so we usually dont have a party for him. On New Years Eve, 1 day later, we have done things then.
It is really tough, but, you will figure it out.
2006-09-12 06:41:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've known a couple of people born at or around Christmas here are some things they did:
Instead of birthdays celebrate 1/2 years: Have the family and friend party at 1 1/2, 2 1/2, etc. then on his actual birthday (whether it actually be Christmas or not) just do the immediate family sing and cake routine.
or...
Have his birthday at the end of January - He'll get better presents because of after Christmas sales!
For this year: Plan Christmas early
Last year my sis-in-law was due Christmas Eve so they did their main Christmas gift exchange the week before and then saved the biggest gifts for Christmas Day that way even if she was in the hospital it wouldn't be too hard to hand out just one big present.
You could also have it all prepared to go early but then just wait to do it until you feel it may be getting close to time - remember due dates are just estimates. As for My sis-in-law she didn't deliver until induced on jan 9!
You can do your Christmas dinner at a fancy restaurant for your son this year so you don't have to cook so much and he still gets something special.
Good luck and Congrats.
2006-09-12 02:59:24 · answer #3 · answered by pebble 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congrats! Im due December 21st, and I've been thinking the same thing. I have a 2 yr old son and am expecting a daughter this time, so I want to be able to seperate Christmas and birthday. So I guess if you actually end up having your son on Christmas day, do Santa in the AM and a birthday party that afternoon or evening. Chances are, you won't be RIGHT ON your due date so that would make it easier. And if you are in the hospital on Christmas, let your family and Christmas celebration come to you! Don't get stressed over it, you are giving your son a new baby brother and that should be the most special Christmas he could have! Good Luck!
2006-09-12 02:59:01 · answer #4 · answered by ericapooh20 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our second child was born In december and as her first birthday aproached we knew it would be hard for our older daughter. She was only 5. We gave her an "Early Christmas present" that year. That is exactly what we called it and we were sure to not mention her sisters birthday when talking about it. The present was something special though. My mother came to visit for the month of December from Flordia so we sent the two of them to McDonalds (One with a Play Place) and then an hour or two later they went to The SpongeBob Movie (It was in the theaters then) We paid for everything including the cab rides(My mother doesn't drive) It was very special cause it was a day just between her and her Grammy. It showed her that she was still a special member of the family too. Now we have two kids with December B-Days but it has not been an issue after the first year.
2006-09-12 02:48:04 · answer #5 · answered by Chuck C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations, first off.
My daughter was originally due on Christmas. She arrived on 12/18 exactly one week prior to christmas. For her first birthday, i had a big party at Chuck E Cheese (my apartment was too small for everyone). That was a HORRIFYING mistake. I'll never have a birthday party there again especially for a child so young.
My new thoughts are until she starts school, we'll just do family parties but when she starts school and wants her friends at her birthday party, we will celebrate it in June. Exactly 6 months after her birthday. This way shes not just getting gifts in December and the joy can be spread out throughout the year. I'm not saying we will neglect her actual birthday, however it will just be kept to family.
Best of luck. Just always remember to make the most of each moment. :)
2006-09-12 03:24:27 · answer #6 · answered by camoprincess32 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My mother had Holiday baby's. Like July 4, April fools, Halloween, and x-mas. Yea out of 7 kids 4 was on holidays. I always felt like my little brother got cheated, he was born on x-mas. He did get to celebrate on his birthday but it was all the same. She would put his birthday stuff with his x-mas. She did always have a cake for him. I think it is best to separate as much as you can. Like x-mas in the morning & Birthday late in the afternoon.
Also wrap the birthday gifts in birthday paper not x-mas.
Don't celebrate before or after it just don't feel right. I always had too wait for a week or two after cause i was the halloween one. It wasn't fun either.
As for the older one if you have to go to the hospital on x-mas day all you can do is prepare him. Just let him know this year x-mas may be a little off balance. Talk to him about it be honest and mostly ask him for suggestions he may have some good ideas himself.
2006-09-12 03:09:23 · answer #7 · answered by Emptiness 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 4 yr old was born on Christmas eve so far its been OK on his birthdays ,but now he see's all the kids at Kinder having birthdays the poor kid feels he's missing out. I'll have a party for him early Dec while the kids are still at Kinder then do something special again on his actual birthday. I suppose he'll continue to have two celebrations throughout his school life as the date clashes so much with peoples family plans.
2006-09-12 02:39:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am due on Christmas Eve. My husband and I already talked about the birthday parties. We will have them the weekend following Christmas.
We don't want to have it in the summer. Either way, someone will say that you are ripping the child out of the holiday and or their birthday.
A lot of people keep telling us "That poor child is going to get ripped out of Christmas gifts/Birthday gifts". I always tell them "It's up to the parents to decide that. The child will appreciate the holiday, their birthday and the parents as they get older knowing that their parents didn't rip them out of either one".
We just plan on celebrating the baby's birthday as if his birthday is on any other day of the year.
My niece was born on Leap Day, they celebrate February 28th on off years.
2006-09-12 02:43:19 · answer #9 · answered by jevic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a sibling whose b-day is 3 days before Christmas. We never did anything different, we celebrate the birthday that day. Kids have to learn that people have birthdays at different times, and everyone has to wait a whole year to the next one, they just have to wait their own turn. The only time I had a different birthday was in school when we celebrated summer birthdays on our half birthday.
2006-09-12 05:02:20 · answer #10 · answered by angelbaby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋