Okay, okay, it may have gotten a lot harder to make it to midnight. (Ain’t nobody trying to watch the ball drop and also get up for a 3 a.m. feeding.) But that does not mean that we’ve forgotten our ability to party!
For all you party parents, we’re here to say: Heck yes you can celebrate baby’s first New Year with plenty of razzle dazzle. And no, it does not have to mess with your family’s sleep routines!
Check out these kid-friendly ways to get your countdown on.
1. Stay in—in style.
Sometimes the most delightful celebratory evening is the one where you stay home. And it can still be plenty festive. Dress up! Turn up the tunes. Pour some bubbly (the alcoholic or sparkling cider kind). Even babies will have fun tossing handfuls of confetti in the air. Blow bubbles or bat around balloons. You can also go more low-key with a movie, take out, a fire….
Whether or not your baby boy or baby girl understands what’s going on doesn’t really matter. They’ll sense the joyous occasion and enjoy being in the mix.
2. Celebrate Noon Year’s Eve.
Got toddlers? This option is a great one for the preschool set with the ability to countdown to 12—and still have time for an afternoon nap.
You can invite some friends or just celebrate with just your loved ones. Next: Plan some fun. Activities can include sensory bins for little hands to explore, freeze dance, decorating mural-sized paper that you tack up on a door or wall. You can set up a photo area with fun props and costumes.
As the clock ticks closer to noon, set up your own “fireworks” by laying bubble wrap on the ground. Count down the hour and when Noon Year hits, invite kids to jump and walk on the bubble wrap, setting off a chorus of pops and squeals of delight.
Alternatively, do the whole routine after dinner before your bedtime routine. After all, it’s the special day and fun together, not the time, that matters most.
3. Start a New Year tradition.
As a family—especially if this is your baby’s first New Year—do something together that will be easy to recreate every year. You may want to take a photo in the same place or using the same pose and/or props. Or you could make a time capsule together, putting in favorite photos, artwork, and trinkets from that year and write your future selves a note. Open it in five years or 10. Building moments into your lives to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come may well become something you all cherish as proud parents.
You can also make time to celebrate just as a couple after the kids go to bed. Write notes for each other on hopes or wishes you have for the New Year. Save them up to read next year to see what wishes came true. Or take the time to go over together favorite memories or things learned from the year that’s coming to a close.
4. Have a New Year’s Day adventure.
Sometimes the build up to New Year’s Eve can just feel like too much. Especially when what you and your little one need more than anything is a good, long night’s sleep. Instead, push your celebration to New Year’s Day. Take a stroll with the whole family. Visit a park or other location you all enjoy. Go out to brunch or have friends over. Go out to brunch or have friends over to celebrate the arrival of the New Year with your new baby.
5. Plan a night out.
A get-together with other friends who have kids can make the night more fun all around. While the night is young, play all-ages games, dance, eat, be merry. When the babies’ bedtimes roll around, they can go to sleep. And the good times can roll on.
To ensure the evening’s success, make a list ahead of time of what you’ll need to keep every baby comfy and cozy: travel crib (unless your friends have a spare), pjs, pacifier or other soothing standby, bottles or other feeding supplies, and—here’s the VIP—a white noise machine. If one is already a part of your child’s bedtime routine, it’ll feel familiar and calming. White noise also helps tune out any noise (music, talking, fireworks) from surrounding festivities. Sound + Light’s wireless design makes it easily portable, especially with its Travel Case. Set up your child’s sleep space in a dark bedroom (or other room) so they can snooze in peace. Sound + Light is also an audio monitor so you’ll be notified should your child need you.
Or maybe you’d rather hire a sitter and go out out? If so, a baby monitor, like Nanit’s Pro Baby Monitor, lets you check in from anywhere and see baby in crisp HD video. Plus, features like two-way audio allow you to connect with your little one from afar, helping them feel safe even when you’re not there in person. Nanit’s Split Screen feature makes it possible to keep an eye on all your kids from one app.
It’s the beginning of a whole year of new excitement and adventures, after all. So you deserve to start things off in the way that feels best for your family! From our Nanit family to yours, here’s to all the momentous milestones and magic ahead.