Black woman holding and kissing a baby in front of a Christmas treeIntroducing the newest member of your family to the outside world can feel daunting. And at a time of year when it feels like colds, flus, RSV, and Covid are running rampant, many parents are wondering how to include their newborn in the festivities. As a postpartum doula, I get asked a lot of questions about how to navigate events with babies, and I can confidently give a few pieces of advice. It’s important that you decide how or if your family will attend upcoming seasonal events. If you are hosting for the holidays or taking your newborn baby to see family for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you’ll want to do a few things to make this holiday season smooth. 

Talk about your expectations.

Whether with your partner or other family members, it’s important to set clear boundaries from the beginning of the holiday season. Whether that means hosting events at your home or only attending certain events together, discuss what you’d like to see the holiday season look like for your family.

Be choosy about where you go.

Only go places where your wishes will be honored. Being in an environment where others don’t respect you will only add stress to the newness of holidays with an infant.

Stick to your schedule.

Usually, anything 15-30 minutes in either direction of a nap or feeding time is OK, but get past that and you’re likely headed for what I like to call “meltdown city.” You may get there anyway, but you’ll want to do as much as possible to leave your baby unprovoked.

Hold your baby as much or at little as you want.

Sometimes it can be a relief to hand the baby to a cousin or aunt, and sometimes it can be a stressor. If you know your baby will prefer you’re the one holding them, wear the baby in a Boba or Moby wrap! This allows family and friends to get a good peek at the baby without disrupting your close hold. And you have your hands free to hold your fork, cup, or keys (for a swift exit)!

Carve out your own space.

In any place that you plan to visit, know where you can get a breather with your baby. Whether you need to nurse, soothe, or rest, it’s important to know you have a place to do exactly that. While it can be really exciting to create memories, it’s equally important to honor your needs as a new mom. In some cases, that may mean leaving early — or not going at all. 

Recalibrate your expectations with your baby in mind.

Activities that were fun in other years may not be as fun with a baby. That’s the truth — and it’s OK! This year, try something new! You don’t have to sit out of the holiday activities because you have a baby, unless you want to! 

Dashanna Hanlon
Dashanna was born in Michigan and raised between there and Virginia. She moved to Massachusetts in 2011 after getting a bachelor’s degree in English and gender studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She married her favorite Massachusetts native (Tom) seven years ago. Together they have two sons, Lucas and Isaiah, born in 2018 and 2019. Becoming a parent ignited a passion for supporting others, and Dashanna became a doula before the birth of her second son. She is now the owner of Caring for Mamas, working with families all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She loves fresh-squeezed lemonade, good music, and helping and supporting families.