Are you thinking of doing a Christmas Eve box for your baby this year? When I first heard about these boxes, I thought they were such a fun idea to include in your family’s Christmas traditions.
Basically, a Christmas Eve box is just a box of small gifts to give your child the night before Christmas. It can be a fun way to start the Christmas fun a little early. And, it adds another component to the magic of Christmas.
While some people prefer to keep all gifts wrapped till Christmas morning, a Christmas Eve box can be a great way to give gifts that help make Christmas Eve special too.
In this post, I’ll cover exactly how to put together an amazing Christmas Eve box for your baby (and if you have a toddler, check out my post on toddler Christmas Eve boxes).
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
An Amazing Baby Christmas Eve Box
Before we get into what kinds of things you might include in the box, let’s talk about some of the reasons you might want to start this tradition with your baby.
Christmas Eve boxes are fun, unique traditions to have in place. For many young kids, it can be hard to wait until Christmas to open presents.
Having one box to be opened the night before helps to satisfy their desire to open presents, without opening them all before Christmas morning. This also provides you with the perfect opportunity to give out special items such as Christmas pajamas. And even get in some early pictures!
But maybe you’re asking yourself if it’s really worth the effort to do this tradition with a baby. Don’t worry, I had similar thoughts with my son’s first Christmas.
It’s true that your baby may not be super involved or excited for his/her first Christmas, especially if your baby is still very young. But it’s still perfectly fine to do everything you can to include them in the festivities.
When you have a young baby, many of the traditions you include them in may not faze them, and they will probably not remember them in the long run. However, Christmas is still a magical time of year, and anything you can do to make it extra special is worthwhile.
In truth, including your baby in family traditions will likely do more to make the season special for older siblings. And if this is your first baby, then it will make it extra special for you and your spouse.
So even if you don’t think it will make much difference to your baby, don’t be afraid to do fun traditions with your baby as well!
What Kind Of Box To Use
Now that we’ve talked about why you might want to include this tradition with your baby, let’s talk about the container.
The box you use for your Christmas Eve box is just as important as what you put inside it. After all, the look and feel of the box is the first thing your child will see when they receive it.
Here’s a secret tip for you: the magic is in the details. Anyone can buy a particular gift(s), put it in a box, and give it to someone. But what really makes receiving a gift magical is how it’s presented.
Don’t get me wrong, the thought does count. And if you truly cannot figure out how to wrap presents nicely, just do the best you can. But, what I am saying, is that details make the difference when it comes to the magic of Christmas.
While they may be extra and unnecessary, the bows, curly laces, and neatly tied up packages all play a huge part in making Christmas feel magical. If it’s not your thing, it’s okay. But if you want to add some extra magic to your Christmas, pay attention to the details.
Christmas Eve Box For Baby
Now, what kind of box you use for your Christmas Eve box for baby is totally up to you. But, in the interest of adding magic to Christmas, I recommend investing in a box that you can use year after year. (It’s totally okay to use a regular cardboard box and wrap it in gift paper. Especially if this is your first year and you’re not sure you’ll do it again.)
Your baby’s first Christmas is the perfect time to invest in a well made box that you can use again for following Christmas’s.
You might opt for a plain wooden box (these tend to be cheaper) and decorate it yourself. Or, you might invest a little more money and get a personalized or more elaborate design.
Whatever option you choose, be sure that it has plenty of space for the items you plan to put inside. Keep in mind that that if you plan to reuse the box, it will need to fit larger items as your child grows.
Linked below are some options you might consider when you begin putting together your Christmas Eve box for baby.
What To Include In The Box
Now, onto what to actually put in your Christmas Eve box for baby! Keep in mind, these are just ideas and suggestions, not hard and fast rules.
You can put in as much or as little as you like. And by all means, personalize it for each child. If you’d like a checklist or guide to help you out, feel free to grab the one in my Baby Christmas Pack below!
Christmas Pajamas
Christmas themed pajamas are a classic item to include in Christmas Eve boxes. And, if you’re interested in taking family photos Christmas morning, the night before Christmas is a great time to give your baby a new set of pajamas.
If you’re really feeling fancy, you can even get matching Christmas pajamas for the whole family. Not going to lie, I’ve secretly wanted to do this before.
Santa/Elf Hat
Another great clothing item to include in your baby Christmas Eve box is a Santa or elf hat. Hats can make great gifts, particularly if you hope to capture some special pictures to remember your baby’s first Christmas.
Hats are also easy to tailor toward your specific baby. For example, you can find elf hats in a variety of colors, such as pink, blue, or green, in addition to the standard red. You can also find them with “Baby’s First Christmas” written on them, which makes for a great keepsake.
Books
Did you know that in Iceland, there’s a tradition where everyone if gifted a book on Christmas Eve? Then, the family spends the rest of the night each reading their new books. Personally, I love this tradition!
I think it’s a great way to encourage reading and provide a relaxing way to spend Christmas Eve. Alternatively, you could also do one book for the whole family to read together. This would allow the whole family to connect with each other and spend time together.
If you’re looking for ideas of what book(s) to put in your baby’s box, check out some of our favorite board books. I’ll also link below to some of our favorite winter/Christmas themed books.
Special Treat
Another item you might include in your Christmas Eve box is a special treat for your baby. Now, this will likely look different depending on how old your baby is. If your baby hasn’t started eating solids, you may need to skip this one or trade it out for something else.
But, if your baby has started solids, you can probably find a special treat to include in the box. Think simple and of course, safe for baby. Puffs or food pouches make great treats for your baby. Remember, it doesn’t have to be super fancy for your baby to enjoy it.
Small Toys
Small toys or baby items make great gifts to include in Christmas Eve boxes. Teethers, lovies, gym toys, mirrors, keys, stacking cups—all these make great toys to add to your baby’s box.
Whatever you pick out, just be sure it will fit in the box or container you have selected to put your Christmas Eve gifts in.
First Christmas Stocking
Your baby’s first Christmas stocking is a great item to include in your Christmas Eve box. If you were planning to fill a stocking for your baby, you can set those items aside and fill it that night after your baby has gone to bed. Or, include those items in the box as well.
Stockings are another item that are easy to personalize for your baby. You can go with something simple and classic red, or get ones in different colors. It could be a regular one to grow with your baby, or one with “First Christmas” on it to hold onto as a keepsake. It’s up to you!
Christmas Ornament
Last but not least, Christmas ornaments can make the perfect gift to include in your child’s Christmas Eve box. And for first Christmas’s, there’s such a wide selection to choose from!
Picking out a special ornament to remember the occasion will make the day even more memorable.
Personally, I was able to get a beautiful glass ornament of a stork to remember our son’s first Christmas—although I wasn’t able to get it until after Christmas, unfortunately! Still, I love seeing it every year on our tree.
Are you doing a Christmas Eve Box for baby?
Are you thinking of doing a Christmas Eve box with your baby this year? Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to hear what you plan to put in your box!
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