Baby Talk - 11/3/16

Creating a plan and then executing that plan is the key to managing your time, reducing stress, and enjoying baby’s first holidays on your terms.

• Make your holiday plan – How do you and your husband want to spend baby’s first holidays? Do you want to travel or host? Do you want alone time with baby to establish new traditions? Do you want to be immersed in family? These types of questions need to be addressed by you and your spouse before the holiday frenzy begins. It is important that the two of you come to a shared understanding of how you want to spend your baby’s first holidays.

• Share your holiday plan – This is executing your plan. You need to let family members know that with a baby, your holiday schedule may need to change. Convey your love of family, but help them to understand your priorities. Spreading the holiday visits over several days may be helpful if your family is close. Rotating holidays between extended families may be necessary if your family lives further away. With the use of electronics, grandparents very far away can still “experience” the holiday with their new grandchild.

• And now for the inevitable…Lose the guilt – New parents often feel guilty about setting priorities and taking time for themselves and baby. You have to appreciate that family dynamics have changed with the addition of a new baby, and do your best to work with family members to bend and stretch the “old way” of celebrating the holidays. Just remember that it is impossible to please everyone and compromises need to be made.

Enjoy the holidays with your new baby!

What other tips do you have for managing holiday stress with a new baby? Please, share!