Ways To Make the Holidays Special for Babies

The holidays are here, and you’re probably thinking about how to make them memorable for your little one. Maybe you’re wondering if your baby will even remember any of this, or if you should just skip the fuss altogether. Here’s the thing: babies might not recall specific moments, but the experiences you create now lay the groundwork for family traditions and emotional connections that last.

This guide covers practical, beautiful ways to make the holidays special for babies while keeping things low-stress for you. We’ll explore sensory activities, developmentally appropriate traditions, and how to navigate the chaos of the season with an infant in tow.

Understanding What Babies Actually Experience During the Holidays

Babies experience the world through their senses. They won’t understand the concept of holidays, but they’ll absolutely pick up on the sights, sounds, textures, and energy around them. In fact, infants as young as six months old start recognizing patterns in their environment. This means repeated holiday activities—like singing the same songs or looking at the same decorations—help babies form early memories and associations.

Create a Sensory-Friendly Holiday Environment

Babies learn through touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell. The holidays offer tons of opportunities to engage these senses in age-appropriate ways.

Visual Stimulation

Newborns can only see about 8–12 inches in front of them, but by three months, their vision improves dramatically. By six months, they’re tracking moving objects and showing preferences for certain colors—especially red, which is conveniently a holiday staple!

Consider these ideas:

• Hang unbreakable ornaments at baby’s eye level so they can watch them move.
• Use string lights with a dimmer switch to create a gentle glow.
• Place a small, safe mirror near holiday decorations so baby can see their own reflection alongside festive items.

Tactile Experiences

Babies explore the world by touching and mouthing everything. Give them holiday-themed items with different textures, such as these:

• soft felt ornaments they can grab
• crinkly wrapping paper (under supervision)
• fabric swatches (velvet, satin, burlap) in holiday colors

Auditory Input

Music and sound play a huge role in brain development. Musical experiences in infancy improve pattern detection skills and even early language development.

As if you needed a better reason to put on your favorite holiday tunes! Consider playing classical versions of holiday songs because these tend to be calmer and more suitable for babies than high-energy pop renditions. You might also try singing softly to your baby while holding them or using musical toys that play holiday tunes.

Smell and Taste

Babies are born with a developed sense of smell and start forming taste preferences early on. While they won’t be eating gingerbread cookies just yet, they’ll notice the scents around them.

If you’re baking or cooking, let your baby smell the ingredients (cinnamon, vanilla, peppermint). If your little one has started solids, consider introducing age-appropriate holiday foods like mashed sweet potato, pureed cranberries (mixed with something sweeter), or small bites of soft bread.

Build Simple, Repeatable Traditions

Traditions don’t have to be elaborate. The goal is repetition and connection, not perfection.

Morning Rituals

Start each holiday morning with the same routine. Maybe you play a specific song while changing baby’s diaper, or you take a moment to look at the tree together while having their first feeding of the day. These small rituals create a sense of stability and anticipation.

Storytime With a Holiday Twist

Reading to babies boosts language development and bonding. Pick a few holiday board books and read them every day throughout the season. Babies love repetition, so don’t worry about rotating titles constantly.

Photo Traditions

Take a monthly photo of your baby in the same spot with the same holiday prop (a stocking, a specific ornament, etc.). Over the years, you’ll build a visual record of their growth during this time of year.

Navigate Holiday Gatherings Without Overstimulating Baby

Holiday parties and family gatherings sound fun in theory, but they’re overstimulation central for babies. Crowds, noise, new faces, disrupted naps—it’s a lot.

Stick to a Modified Routine

Babies thrive on routine. Try to keep nap times and feeding schedules as close to normal as possible, even during gatherings. If that means stepping away from the party for 20 minutes to put baby down in a quiet room, do it.

Create a Calm-Down Space

Bring a portable white noise machine, a familiar blanket, and a few comfort items. Designate a quiet room where you can retreat if baby gets overwhelmed.

Limit Pass-the-Baby Time

Everyone wants to hold the baby. That’s sweet, but it’s exhausting for infants (and parents). Set boundaries ahead of time. It’s okay to say, “They’re a bit overstimulated right now, so we’re keeping them close.” Your baby won’t remember who held them; they will, however, remember (in their body) how they felt.

Keep Gift-Giving Age-Appropriate

Babies don’t need a mountain of presents. In fact, too many toys at once can overwhelm them. Also, they might play longer and more creatively when they have fewer toys available.

Focus on Quality Over Quantity

Choose one or two high-quality, developmentally appropriate toys. Look for items that encourage exploration, support motor skill development, and stimulate the senses. Here are some great ideas:

• textured balls
• stacking cups
• soft blankets
• activity mats
• push toys for older babies
• rattles
• musical instruments
• books

At Bunnies by the Bay, we carry some of these options in our collections of unique, personalized baby boy gifts and baby girl gifts. From books to blankets to buddies, our products are designed to help your little one enjoy safe, comforting play.

Making Memories That Matter

Your baby won’t remember their first holiday season, but you will. The photos, the stories, the tiny moments of connection—those are what you’re really creating here.

The best ways to make the holidays special for babies don’t happen with a perfectly decorated nursery or a mountain of toys. Rather, your presence, your patience, and your willingness to slow down and savor this fleeting stage are what matter. The holidays will come and go, but the foundation you’re building now—rooted in love, consistency, and joy—will stick with your child for years to come.