Magical Christmas Traditions to Start With Baby (From the Very First Year!)

Baby’s First Christmas: Magical Traditions to Start With Your Little One

Isn’t Christmas just the most magical time of year? And when you add a new baby into the mix, that magic takes on a whole new level. Whether this is your baby’s very first Christmas or you’re gearing up for a second or third holiday season with them, it’s the perfect time to start your own little family traditions that you can enjoy year after year.

Here are some special ideas to make this holiday season one to remember—for you and for your little one!

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1. Family Christmas Pajamas

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with matching family pajamas? There’s something so cozy about everyone dressing up in holiday PJs, especially when you add a baby-sized set to the mix! You could even make a tradition of a fun pajama photoshoot. Each year, you’ll see how much your little one has grown, and they’ll get to look back on all those matching family pictures.

I mean, just look at how cute these families in matching Christmas pajamas are on Amazon! Also, they have Bluey. These ones are probably my favorite, how about you?

2. Christmas Eve Box

If you haven’t heard of a Christmas Eve box yet, think of it as a little present to open the night before Christmas—a box full of goodies to enjoy together as a family. For a baby’s first Christmas Eve box, consider including some soft holiday-themed toys, a cozy pair of socks, a board book, or even a small keepsake ornament. And since Christmas Eve is way too close to Christmas for my liking, you could introduce the box at the start of December to help kick off the whole season.

You can go simple or grand with your box—a small decorated crate, a treasure chest, or a beautifully wrapped gift box all work. The goal is to make it feel like a little bit of holiday magic, designed just for them.

Baby's First Christmas - Christmas Traditions to Start From the First Year

3. Elf on the Shelf (For When They’re a Bit Older!)

Elf on the Shelf has become a Christmas tradition for so many families. While it’s a little advanced for a tiny baby, you can get a head start by picking up an elf and getting ready to introduce it once they’re old enough to enjoy the excitement. When the time comes, this little visitor can add a dose of holiday mischief to your household—and create tons of memories along the way. There’s also loads of cool accessories you can get to make it even more fun and different every year!

Psst… make sure you get the version that comes with the book so you can enjoy reading the story each year to your little one as part of your family tradition!

4. Making Christmas Keepsake Ornaments

Creating a keepsake ornament can be a wonderful way to mark your baby’s first Christmas. You could make one with their tiny handprint, footprint, or even a small lock of their hair if you’re feeling sentimental. Not only is it a lovely way to remember just how little they were, but it also becomes a piece of family history you can hang on the tree every year.

I made mine with one of these empty plastic baubles and I filled it with my baby’s hospital tags, an ultrasound picture, and the teeny tiny little woolen hat he wore in the hospital. 😍

More homemade ornament ideas here!

5. New Christmas Ornament

Alongside a homemade keepsake ornament, you could make it a tradition to buy a new ornament for your baby every year. It could represent something special about that year—a hobby they’ve taken up, a favorite animal, or just a classic bauble. Over time, they’ll have a beautiful collection of ornaments that capture all the different stages of their childhood.

If you’re a creative sort of person, you could even start a tradition of making a new ornament each year instead. Or filling some of those extra empty plastic baubles?

6. New Christmas Book

A holiday book is a wonderful addition to any Christmas Eve box or gift. Choose a classic story like The Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Each year, you can add a new book to your collection, and it’ll become a treasured part of your family’s holiday ritual. One day, you’ll look back on these special reading moments as some of the sweetest memories.

7. Christmas Photoshoot Together

Another fun tradition to start is a family Christmas photoshoot. You don’t need to go all out with a professional photographer (unless you want to!). Sometimes, a simple at-home setup with a decorated tree or cozy pajamas makes the perfect backdrop. Over the years, you’ll have a collection of festive family photos that show your little one growing up through each holiday season.

8. Visiting Santa

It may be a while before your little one understands the whole Santa thing, but it can still be fun to introduce them to the man in red. Some babies are fascinated, while others might be a bit nervous, but either way, it’s a cute experience to try. Even if they’re a bit young to understand, visiting Santa can become a highlight of each holiday season as they get older.

9. Seeing Christmas Lights

Christmas lights have a magical quality, and babies love to watch the twinkling displays. Load up the car, bundle up, and go for a Christmas lights drive. Or, if your neighborhood has light displays within walking distance, consider making it an annual tradition to stroll around and admire the decorations. Watching those little eyes light up with wonder is worth every chilly minute!

For very young ones, don’t put too much expectation on the experience. They might find it overwhelming rather than fun… but that will change as they get older.

10. Making Christmas Cards

It’s never too early to start involving your child in the Christmas card tradition. Even if they’re only able to help by making a little handprint or footprint, it’s a lovely way to add a personal touch. Each year, you’ll be able to include them a bit more, and eventually, they’ll be drawing their own little pictures or adding a scribbled signature to your family cards.

11. Hanging Stockings

Hanging stockings is a classic holiday tradition that’s even more special when you add a tiny one for your baby. Whether you’re using traditional red and white stockings or choosing something more personalized, this is a lovely way to create memories. When they’re older, they’ll love checking to see what Santa left in their stocking!

12. Advent Calendars

Advent calendars are a fun way to count down the days until Christmas. For babies, consider a calendar filled with small, age-appropriate toys or books. As they grow older, you can add different surprises, making it a countdown to look forward to each December.

13. Make a Christmas Photo Album

Why not create a dedicated Christmas photo album to document each holiday season? Each year, you can add photos of the big moments, like unwrapping presents, sitting on Santa’s lap, or decorating the tree. By the time they’re older, you’ll have a beautiful keepsake that tells the story of their childhood Christmases.

14. Christmas Carolling

When your little one is old enough, consider adding a Christmas carolling tradition. Even if you’re just singing along to holiday tunes at home, it’s a great way to make music a part of your holiday celebrations. Babies and toddlers love music, and as they grow, they’ll love joining in on the singing.

It shouldn’t be too hard to find a local Christmas Carols event to go to once they are old enough to enjoy it. There’s usually plenty of options!

15. Watch a Christmas Movie

Start a tradition of watching a special Christmas movie as a family. It could be a classic like A Charlie Brown Christmas or The Polar Express, or a new family favorite. Each year, you’ll have a cozy, relaxing moment to look forward to—just don’t forget the hot chocolate!

16. Listen to Christmas Songs

Christmas music sets such a festive mood, and it’s perfect background music for decorating, baking, or just relaxing together. Consider making a holiday playlist on Spotify or Youtube Music and add to it each year. By the time your little one is grown, they’ll have a collection of Christmas songs that remind them of happy family moments.

17. Make a Gingerbread House

If you love to get creative in the kitchen, making a gingerbread house could be the perfect tradition for you. Younger kids can join in by decorating, while babies will just enjoy the sights, smells, and maybe a taste or two. It’s a delicious way to get into the holiday spirit and create something memorable together.

If you want to bake from scratch, grab these cookie cutters to make your life sooo much easier. It’ll help you cut your gingerbread to exactly the right size and shape so you can put it together without too much fuss and bother.

If you’re not much of a baker, never fear (anyway baking perfectly flat pieces with windows and doors is HARD!) there are pre-baked kits you can buy that just need a little assembly. So you can skip the hard part and get straight to the fun stuff!

18. Decorating the Christmas Tree

Does it even need to be on the list? Well, just in case you were wondering, “where’s the tree decorating? Because that’s special!”, well here it is!

Decorating the Christmas Tree is part of many people’s treasured Christmas memories. Something you do every year, as a family, looking forward to Christmas. It’s such a joyful time! I have no real tips for this one, just make sure you take photos and enjoy it! Maybe turn on some Christmas music, have some Christmas cookies baking (or already ready to go) for afterwards and sit down together for a snack once you’re done.

19. Starting Something of Your Own

If none of these ideas appeal to you, don’t worry! You can do whatever you like and make it a family tradition.

Growing up, my family had a Christmas Eve pinata every year. Sounds a bit odd, right? But we loved it! We’d make the pinata from scratch with a balloon and glue and newspaper throughout December and have fun smashing it on Christmas Eve.

Now it’s Your Turn

Starting your own Christmas traditions with your little one doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s all about finding what feels special to your family and making memories you’ll cherish. Whether it’s something as simple as a Christmas Eve box or as adventurous as a Christmas piñata, these traditions will become a part of your holiday season for years to come. Here’s to a magical first Christmas and many more to come!