Page 14 2025 Home For The Holidays Lincoln Daily News trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. Beyond the basics, parents offer layers of small wisdom collected from holiday seasons past. Some suggest dressing the baby in comfortable, soft outfits first and saving the fancy holiday clothes for a quick photo later—babies often tolerate cozy fabrics far more than elaborate, scratchy ones. Others suggest packing more than one outfit, because Christmas is a day of spills, accidents, and unexpected messes. A backup pair of pajamas has saved more than one holiday photo session. There are also tiny tricks that make the day easier: bringing a familiar blanket or toy to soothe the baby in an unfamiliar environment, feeding them before arriving to minimize stress, and keeping a carrier close so the baby has a safe place to rest. Even choosing where to sit matters, seasoned parents often place themselves near the edge of the room so they can step away quickly if needed. Families should also encourage new parents to remember themselves. A baby’s first Christmas often turns into a marathon, and the mother’s needs can easily slip to the background. If a trusted family member offers to hold the baby so the parent can take a break, many say it’s worth accepting for at least a few minutes. The holiday will feel brighter when the parent feels supported. There’s also something to be said about letting go of the picture-perfect version of the day. It’s natural to imagine the Instagram-worthy moments—matching pajamas, carefully wrapped gifts, a spotless room, smiling relatives, a baby giggling on command. But parents who’ve lived through that first Christmas often insist that the real beauty lies in the imperfect moments instead: a baby yawning in someone’s arms, a present halfunwrapped, a quiet feeding in a dim hallway, a mid-morning nap that forces the whole house to pause. These become the memories that matter more than anything posed or polished. Some families create small traditions just for the baby, knowing the child won’t remember this year but hoping the routine will root itself over time. A special ornament, a bedtime book, a photo in front of the tree, a handprint craft, or even a short walk outside in the cold December air—these simple gestures become threads that weave into childhood memories later. Parents often look back and appreciate that they started these rituals early, even when
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