Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, you want to celebrate every milestone your baby hits: their first tooth, their first step, their first word — and their first Christmas. The biggest and best holiday of the year, Christmas is an exciting event for anyone, but it should be particularly special for babies, who get to experience the bright, twinkling lights, the warm smells of feast food and the bounty of presents for the very first time.

If you want to make your baby’s first Christmas something to remember, you should start with the right decorations. Here are some must-have décor items to wow your baby during their first holiday season.

Christmas Lights

No matter how old your baby is — just a few days or almost a full year — they will be enchanted by Christmas lights. Lights and color are easy for babies to see, so their eyes will naturally be drawn toward light displays in and around your home. You should decorate your house with Christmas lights inside and out, and you should plan to take your little one to all sorts of light events, like neighborhood displays or park illuminations. You will get extra points if the displays also include music, as most babies are equally delighted by sound.

Advent Calendar

Since the 19th century, those celebrating Christmas would note the days until the holiday by lighting candles, making marks with chalk or exchanging small gifts. In the 20th century, the first commercial advent calendars became available, with small candies hidden behind paper doors to mark the passage of days during the Christmas season.

Older babies might not understand why they are getting presents every day, but they will undoubtedly be excited about the ritual of opening the next little advent box. These days, you can find all manner of advent calendars, from old-fashioned ones with candies to newfangled ones with toys, beers, socks and more hidden behind the doors, so you can surely find a calendar that aligns with your baby’s interests.

Tree Ornaments

Trimming the tree with lights, tinsel and ornaments is a favorite family activity during the holiday season, and you shouldn’t deprive your baby of the fun. If your little one is old enough to hold onto an object, you can give them larger, non-breakable ornaments to hold as you take them out of storage and place them on your tree.

You might also think about purchasing an ornament to commemorate the occasion of baby’s first Christmas. Ornament sellers offer a number of beautiful and classic options, or you can DIY your own keepsake ornament with clay, paint and other crafty products.

Nursery Décor

A way to make sure your child understands that this time of year is special is to add Christmas decorations to their room. You might give your baby a small Christmas tree of their own, which can serve as a festive nightlight for the season. You can swap their mobile with some mistletoe and add Christmas-themed toys, like the ubiquitous shelf elf, to remain only for the Christmas season.

It should go without saying that you shouldn’t add any decorations to the nursery that could potentially be dangerous. For example, you don’t want to add Christmas blankets or pillows to the crib, as a baby’s sleep space should be bare for at least two years. Additionally, you want to avoid giving them access to toxic plants, like poinsettias, or décor with parts that can be broken or swallowed.

Stockings

If you plan to celebrate Christmas with a stocking stuffing tradition, you can’t forget to pick up a stocking for your little one. You might try to find a set of stockings for the entire family, or you can look for a stocking that reflects your baby’s interests, like trucks or puppies. Stockings are great activities for babies who are only just a few months old because they will be excited to pull items out on Christmas day.

Christmas Books

You can never have too many children’s books, so you might as well pick up a few Christmas-themed books to celebrate the season. You can read your baby a Christmas story every night to teach them about important Christmas traditions and get them excited for upcoming Christmas events.

Your baby’s first year is full of firsts, and their first Christmas isn’t one to miss. By decorating your home, both you and your little one will enjoy a beautiful and memorable holiday season.

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