Ask anyone about his memories of his childhood Christmases and the chances are he will begin by talking about opening his Christmas stocking. Stockings are synonymous with Christmas for many people. While a baby is unlikely to remember their very first Christmas stocking, an infant’s first Christmas offers parents a unique opportunity to lay the foundations of this important family tradition
Choosing a Christmas Stocking for Baby
An essential element of the Christmas stocking tradition is the stocking itself, so selecting a stocking for a new arrival is an important task. The stocking will serve that child for years to come and become a truly sentimental family item. Some things to consider are:
- Size – how many presents will the stocking hold? If main presents are given by the family then a small stocking that can be stuffed with little presents will suffice. However, if Santa will be bringing something big each year, parents might like to consider an alternative such as a decorated pillowcase or Santa’s sack. Parents should bear in mind that, whatever its size, the stocking they choose will need to be filled each year. If parents have a small stocking but wish to give larger presents they can be left under the tree. However, a large stocking left unfilled may be a disappointment to a child.
- Decoration – the stocking is going to be part of this child’s Christmas for many years and the design should reflect that. While a cute design might seem fitting for a baby, it is important to consider whether it will still work when that child is older, likewise a favourite character or current trend. Traditional designs are often the best choice, while the addition of an embroidered name can add that personal touch (and also guard against any stocking confusion in families with more than one child!)
- Homemade or store bought – many stores offer a wonderful selection of Christmas stockings, but parents may wish to consider making their own. Buying a large piece of Christmas material can allow for matching stockings to be made for subsequent siblings or for a replacement to be crafted in the event of a well-loved stocking being lost or destroyed.
Stocking Fillers for Babies
As parents will be aware infants are often more interested in the wrapping than the actual gifts at Christmas. For this reason new parents need not worry too much about the content of baby’s first stocking. A small stuffed toy or rattle will make a welcome surprise while small baby essentials such as pacifiers and teething rings can be wrapped and left in a stocking for baby to open. Parents should be careful not to disregard age warnings on smaller toys simply to fill the stocking. All stocking fillers should be age appropriate to the child receiving them.
Wrapping Baby’s Presents
Small babies will be fascinated by the brightly coloured Christmas gift wrap, but their clumsy fingers may find it hard to unwrap presents. Low quality or economy gift wrap is often a great choice for baby presents as it is thin and tears easily, allowing infants to unwrap their own gifts. Ribbons and bows should not be added to presents for infants as they can present choking or strangling hazards.
Stockings – a Family Tradition
Choosing and stuffing an infant's first Christmas stocking marks an exciting beginning to what will become a beloved family tradition. For this reason parents should choose the stocking carefully. Happy memories can be made by selecting age appropriate stocking gifts and wrapping them in a way that baby will find enticing and engaging.
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