The First Christmas: Baby Gifts for This Special Celebration

For most families, Christmas is a pretty special time. And if your family includes a new baby this year, it's even more reason to celebrate.

This is the beginning of building the 'meaning of Christmas' with your newest family member, and it can be a very exciting time.

As well as starting to instill in your new baby all your family traditions and rituals, it may also be an opportunity to develop new traditions.

Baby gifts may not seem so important at this time. After all, babies have no idea how much effort you put into buying the perfect present -- or whether the toy you bought is the latest and greatest -- and they'd usually prefer to play with the wrapping paper anyway!

However, the baby gifts you and other family members do choose can contribute to new or developing family traditions.

Here are five ideas to make the baby gifts that you and your family and friends choose more meaningful. You may want to let them know about your ideas -- and send them to this page.

Wonderful Traditions Through Your Baby Gifts -- Idea #1:

First of all, you can choose some new Christmas ornaments in honor of the new addition. You can find beautiful ornaments at Collectibles Today. When you get to the site, simply click on 'Christmas Shop,' and then on 'Ornaments' under 'Shop This Store' on the left nav bar. Another great source is GoCollect.

And for more playful ornaments, check out The Lighter Side. Once on the site, click on 'Christmas' and then on 'Ornaments' on the left nav bar.

These baby gifts may well become a family heirloom!

Wonderful Traditions Through Your Baby Gifts -- Idea #2:

Next, you may want to start a 'collection' or theme for your baby. Whether the theme is teddy bears... or half moons... or rainbows, themes are useful for consistency, which is vitally important for healthy infant development.

Then, you can buy gifts that fit the theme -- and tell friends and family members about the theme.

For example, let's say the theme is Winnie the Pooh. Just visit a top online baby store like Dreamtime, and type 'Winnie the Pooh' into the Search box. You'll find lots of great products to choose from.

Wonderful Traditions Through Your Baby Gifts -- Idea #3:

Baby gifts for this first Christmas should also include family keepsakes. A great option is a baby time capsule. For example, go to the Gift Tree and type 'Time Capsule' or 'keepsake' into the Search box. You'll find some great baby gifts.

Wonderful Traditions Through Your Baby Gifts -- Idea #4:

It will probably become a tradition that your children get a new outfit every year for Christmas. Even if your baby is only a few months old, baby gifts that include apparel are perfectly appropriate.

You can stick with the theme you've developed or just look for something else equally adorable. These baby outfits make terrific 'First Christmas' baby gifts.

Wonderful Traditions Through Your Baby Gifts -- Idea #5:

Finally, there's no time like the present for your child to get a first letter from Santa. You can set that up at our favorite Greetings From Santa online resource here...

Click here for lots of other recommendations and ideas about baby Christmas gifts.

Creating a special first Christmas for your new baby -- and carrying on old traditions, as well as starting some new ones -- will be a fun and rewarding experience for the whole family!