Choosing Christmas Obligations with a New Baby

Christmas is an exciting time of year especially for new parents. The happy couple may have planned social gatherings and committed to parties before their baby was born. Now, how will they be able to attend? Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. You can include your child at many of the Christmas events. Here is how to choose which Christmas obligations you can keep.

Usually office parties do not allow children. If you want to attend your work place's office party, you will need to find a reliable sitter. See who is keeping other workers' children. If your party is in or near a hotel, someone may be keeping the children in a room at the hotel. You may want to do this as well. Be sure to check the person's knowledge of newborns and ask about the screening the sitter underwent. If you are comfortable leaving your child, you will be able to attend your office party. If not, you can back out of the affair graciously. Anyone you work with that has children will understand.

You have probably been invited to a get together with your friends. You will need to ask if their party is a family party or whether children are invited. Some people love having kids at their party, where as others like to have adults only at their Christmas gathering. As a new parent you may be excited to leave your baby for a few hours, however be prepared for those parental instincts to kick in that will make you worry about the baby until you go home.

Family members that have invited you to Christmas meals are probably expecting you to bring your baby. Meals are usually great Christmas obligations to keep. You can relax without doing all the cooking and cleaning, and more than likely, baby is invited too. Be sure to ask if it is a family member you have not been to a party with in a while.

If you feel obligated to see friends and family members for Christmas, but your baby is not invited, you may want to have your own Christmas gathering. Most parents will understand your unwillingness to leave your baby at home. You can plan a party at your house and call a few people over. Let them know you are having a family oriented get together. This may remind them that people with children would like to come to their parties and are not able to if they cannot find sitters.

Your obligations will change with a baby. Your baby is always going to come first. Others usually understand this. Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends. Most obligations you have agreed to will let you bring your baby. If you cannot bring your child and you have no sitter, gracefully back out of the obligation or decline the invitation. Most hosts and hostesses will be glad you did instead of doing something that is against "their rules".