My kids can’t recall anything they got for Christmas during the early years. Not one thing. But they do hold memories of how we spent our time. They remember the “snuggle-arium” we made under the Christmas tree, the misshapen cookies their pudgy hands squished into shapes, and the Christmas songs we sang. And, honestly, that’s all I wished for them to hold dear—the love we gave each other.
As moms, we carry hopes and dreams for our little ones about the holidays. We want to give them a picture-perfect Christmas to remember filled with as many of their wants and desires as our bank accounts and calendars can hold. But to your child, it’s the simple, quiet moments with you she longs for more than any wrapped gift. Grant your child these 3 peaceful Christmas wishes for a season filled with everything you both really need.
1. Comfort
The holiday season can be overwhelming for little ones. New sights, sounds, and changes in routine can leave your child feeling (and acting) a bit out of sorts. It’s why your child may cling a little tighter, lift her arms for “up” more frequently, and even start to show signs of separation anxiety. Your baby craves the familiar comfort found with you.
How to provide it:
- Create your version of a “snuggle-arium.” Set up a cozy spot in your home where you can go with your baby when you notice your child needing a quiet moment with you. Include soft twinkle lights, fuzzy blankets, and some stuffed animals.
- Add Christmas music to your nightly lullaby playlist. Gently sway or rock your baby as you sing peaceful Christmas wishes about White Christmases, Sugar Plum Fairies, or an “all is calm” night.
- Maintain as much of your regular routine as possible. Those predictable rhythms act like a steady heartbeat soothing your baby.
2. Security
Young children can feel a bit unmoored with all the holiday comings and goings, extra activities, and new faces. Your child needs to know that you’re his constant safe place, even when everything else seems to be shifting around.
How to provide it:
- Practice being fully present during interactions. Minimize distractions like phones or TV. Make eye contact. Respond to your baby’s babbles by smiling and speaking in a soothing tone. These small interactions make a big difference to your child’s sense of security.
- Bring along a security blanket (or security stuffed animal). A favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or teething ring your baby loves to hold offers her a portable “home base” in new situations or settings. And if you travel during the holidays, one of your peaceful Christmas wishes might be for a baby who naps in the car. That security blanket works better than any genie in a bottle.
- Manage expectations with yourself and others. The holidays are about creating happy memories, not achieving perfection. Release the pressure on yourself (or your baby) to participate in every activity. Let family and friends know your baby’s needs, such as his nap schedule or nightly routine. Encourage gentle interactions and avoid overwhelming your child with too much noise or stimulation as everyone requests to hold or play with the baby.
3. Connection
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” isn’t just on heavy rotation on the radio this time of year. It’s also on a constant loop in your child’s head. (But probably not the Mariah Carey version.) More than any gift or grand gesture, what your little one craves most is you. That’s it. You are the one he longs for, reaches for, and saves up the best smiles and giggles for. That doesn’t change just because the décor in your house does for Christmas.
How to provide it:
- Gently give your baby a massage while quietly humming Christmas songs. This helps you and your child relax, especially after a day spent being loved on by the rest of your family and friends.
- Go on a nighttime stroll to look at your neighborhood lights. Put your child in a baby carrier so she can feel your warmth and the sway of your walking. Point out the colors of the lights, the silly inflatable Santa dogs, or even the stars in the sky, and whisper peaceful Christmas wishes in her ear.
- Sing and dance to your favorite Christmas songs together. Your voice is your child’s favorite. She doesn’t hear your off-key notes or know when you mess up the lyrics. She also won’t judge you for your obsession with Justin Bieber’s version of “Drummer Boy.” (That might come in the tween years, though.)
Do you have any peaceful Christmas wishes for your child this year?
