Your bundle of joy might not remember their first Christmas – but there’s one thing for certain: there will be photos.
Oh, yes, they’ll be fending off embarrassing footage of themselves dressed as a tiny Christmas pud, or reindeer, or snowman, or tiny elf for years to come.
But whatever they think when they’re 18, at least they’ll be left in no doubt of one important thing: that they were toe-curlingly cute.
We’ve hand-picked the best seasonal outfits, the sweetest bauble and the most brilliant booties to make sure you give your little one a First Noel that you (if not they) will always want to remember.
Personalised Grey Penguin Booties, My 1st Years, £20
These are fluffy, warm and cute and they have actual animal faces – what’s not to like? They’re a soft, neutral grey, too; which means they’re just perfect for a baby boy or girl, and are suitable from birth. You can make these faux-fur booties extra-special and have them personalised with the child’s name or nickname (with space for up to seven characters) – and it’s absolutely free.
Christmas Pudding Romper and Hat Set, John Lewis, £18
You can’t say cuter than a baby dressed as a pudding – and this one is the full set, with pop-pom hat, green leaf and bright red tights to match. It’s made of GOTS organic cotton and has popper fastenings along the crotch and at the neck to make it easy to get on and off a wriggly baby. Cuter than Christmas.
Peter Rabbit™ Christmas Collection Book, M&S, £12
You can’t go wrong with Beatrix Potter. And your little one might not be able to read yet, but they’ll still love hearing about the adventures of Peter Rabbit and friends (plus, science shows that reading to kids is good for them). The gentle, beautifully-coloured illustrations in this classic book, combined with the sound of your voice, will lull them into a soothing, long sleep. We hope.
Red Reindeer Baby Sleepsuit, JoJo Maman Bebe, £17
This adorable sleepsuit – complete with candy cane stripes, a reindeer face and a big red nose, will be a show-stopper this Christmas. There are fold-down scratch mitts in the sizes available for younger babies, and the suit opens at the back – but it still has leg poppers to allow for easy changing. Reindeer-tastic.
Baby’s First Christmas Bauble, Etsy, from £8.99
We love this personalised ‘baby’s first bauble’ because of its texture: babies love wood, and this is perfect for little hands to play with (or nibble as a teether!). It can be personalised with the child’s name and year, too – so once Christmas is done, it’ll be a keepsake you can hang on your tree forever. It’s made of 4mm thick cherry veneer wood with an acrylic centre, and hangs on a bright and cheery red satin ribbon.
Christmas Eve Box, Etsy, from £8.95
This unique idea by online retailers The Lakeside Shed is a great one. Christmas Eve is all part of the fun and the build-up to the main event – and now you can buy a box like this in a size medium or a size large, and fill it with pre-Christmas treats. Try: new PJs, some cozy socks, a classic Christmas DVD to watch together as a family in the evening, some snacks for Santa and Rudolf and a special book to read at bedtime.
Tatty Teddy Me To You Baby’s First Christmas Photo Album, Amazon, £5.99 (+£1.49 delivery)
Make baby’s first Christmas one you can always look back on with a smile with this Tiny Tatty Teddy Baby’s First Christmas Photo Album. It holds 36 6 x 4 photos, displayed in transparent plastic wallets. Or, snap away at Christmas and then give the complete album to a parent, grandparent or friend as a wonderful keepsake.
Jellycat Felicity Reindeer Soft Toy, Selfridges, £42
At 66cm tall, this super-soft Jellycat ‘Felicity Reindeer’ is something special. Cute, cuddly and glamorous, she comes dressed with two haute-couture rose-gold antlers and some sparkling makeup for the festive season. Rudolf’s pals have never looked so chic.
Rust Cotton Striped Baby Blanket, Trouva, £35.99
You really can never have too many blankets when you have a baby or small child. Ideally you’d have one in each room – and you’re going to want to show this one off, especially at Christmas. Trouva’s rust-coloured striped baby blanket, made by Dutch designer Eef Lillemor, is 100% cotton. Snuggle up.
Willow Tree Guardian Angel Figurine, Argos, £15.50
This beautiful guardian angel ‘Hope’ figurine comes from the Willow Tree sculptures range by Susan Lordi, and is designed to inspire and represent healing, comfort and protection. It’s aimed at ages 3+, so don’t leave your baby alone with it without supervision, but we think it’ll look just perfect on a shelf in the nursery this Christmas (and beyond). Prepare to be mesmerised.
