There’s no greater holiday to experience with your little one than the holiday of gratitude. After all, you’re probably feeling especially thankful this year!
Along with the excitement and anticipation of sharing your little one with others for the holiday comes a great deal of stress and pressure. If you’re introducing your new addition to the extended family over Thanksgiving, get ready for the holiday with these tips.
1. Pay little attention to unsolicited advice.
At the end of the day, this nugget is your nugget. You get to decide what parenting choices work for your family. Don’t let unsolicited advice get to you. To keep the peace, just nod politely. To make a point, let your family member/friend know you’ve already decided on how to raise baby and pursue a different topic.
2. Don’t focus on having the “perfect” first holiday.
If this is baby’s first holiday, you may be feeling the pressure to make it perfect. We get it, you’re excited to show off the masterpiece you’ve created to friends and family, but you don’t need unnecessary stress! Some things are out of your control. Dinner may run late, food may get burnt, baby may be fussy, naps may not go according to plan – but that’s okay. Know why? Because the most important thing is spending time with the ones you love.
3. Let people help you!
Hand baby over to someone you trust who is mature, responsible, and comfortable with little ones. They’ll love getting the chance to hold baby, and you can take advantage of the opportunity to eat your food while it’s hot! Side note: Bring sanitizer for everyone holding your baby.
4. Pack all the things.
You always want to be prepared when traveling with a wee babe, whether you’re traveling across the country or across the street. Consider bringing wipes, burp cloths, bibs, diapers, bottles, onesies, blankets, and pacifiers and clips. If you’re driving, you may even want to load a pack-and-play, baby swing or bouncer, and/or high chair in the car. And don’t forget toys to keep baby happy and occupied!
5. Make time for a nap.
Once your tummy is full of turkey, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin pie, take some time to relax. Do your best to schedule meal time around your already set nap routine. This may be your chance to take a nap too! If your little one is too awake from all the change of scenery and all the new faces, refer to tip #3.
Bonus: If your baby is old enough to try new foods and you feel like going the extra mile (because you are #supermom, after all), you can have fun with prepping and pureeing a few Thanksgiving favorites like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and squash. Bring them along to your Turkey Day gathering and enjoy watching baby take his/her first bites of yummy Thanksgiving food! (Speaking of prepping and pureeing… check back in next week for our favorite Thanksgiving baby food recipes!)
At the end of the day, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. So take a moment in the day to soak up all the love around you and to take a mental note of the blessings in your life; especially your new blessing!
