Tips To Survive Baby's First Christmas

  By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh  

Tips To Survive Baby's First Christmas

Being a new mum and dad at Christmas is wonderful. However, it can also be challenging to survive baby's first Christmas. Christmas is a stressful time without the pressures of a newborn baby.

The Christmas holiday season can be something that many people look forward to, but also brings with it a lot of stress and anxiety, particularly for new parents. There is an expectation that we are all about to go out and buy a plane ticket and spending Christmas with our parents or in-laws, pack up our whole house into one tiny baby backpack, and then take off on a journey across the country. The list goes on, and on.

As a new parent, each and every day holds an exciting experience. From the first time, your baby clasps onto your finger, to their very first Christmas, each day adds to the wonder of being a mum or dad.

Clearly, you want to make your first Christmas season as a parent run as smoothly as possible. But as parents, we put so much pressure on ourselves for everything to be picture-perfect that we often don't have time (or energy) to enjoy this amazing time with our baby.

FOLLOW THE TIPS BELOW TO PLAN YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS AS A NEW FAMILY WITHOUT A HITCH:

1.      Intimate or traditional Christmas?

As a new parent, it's well within your rights to want to spend your first Christmas as a new family alone. If you plan to go this route, be prepared to explain to the grandparents why you're choosing to exclude them from your Christmas plans this year. Make the decision several weeks in advance, then be clear with both families to avoid hurt feelings.

 Keep in mind that this exciting time is special for others in your family, too. If you're planning to spend a Christmas alone with your new family, consider spending a few days before the actual Christmas or maybe Christmas Eve with both sets of grandparents to satisfy their wishes.

• If you're being pushed into attending your parents' traditional Christmas day dinner, firmly stand your ground. Be as respectful as possible, but lovingly remind your family that this Christmas is about you, your spouse, and your new baby making your mark as a family.

2.      Religious differences.

Even if you're already married, cultural and religious differences can often come into play for the very first time when the baby's first Christmas is near. If you and your spouse are clearly on the same page, then this is much easier. However, if you believe differently, have a sit-down chat about what compromises you're both willing to make.

• If you're aware that your family and spouse's family have differences in cultural and religious beliefs, consider incorporating both traditions into the festive season as much as you can.

3.      Banish guilt.

You are now a parent. And, as a parent, you might be the type of person that makes the decisions as to what is best for your little one and your own family life. Just remember that everyone's emotions are a bit heightened at Christmas time, so don't be surprised if you feel a bit teary or irritable yourself as the festive season can be overwhelming.

• Avoid the festive stress and feeling guilty for wanting to start your own Christmas tradition. As a family, your own special traditions are a wonderful part of your family's story. If a family member is truly upset that you are marching to your own drum, continue to keep your focus on the bigger picture of how to survive Christmas.

• Remember that every family member that has children has dealt with family guilt when they attempt to start their own Christmas traditions. Ask friends or loved ones for advice. You'll ease your guilt and gain support at the same time.

4.      Relieve the stress.

Your new baby is too young to care whether you hung the garland correctly, burned the ham, wear a Santa hat or forgot to put twinkling lights on the tree. Stop stressing over the small details and just enjoy your first Christmas as a new parent.

• Many new parents feel as if they must do everything themselves in order to appear put together. But you'll enjoy your Christmas more if you ask for help!

• Chances are that your parents needed the help of their parents or relatives in your early childhood. And they're likely waiting to blissfully lend a helping hand in your early stages of parenthood. Ask and you shall receive!

Clearly, your first Christmas season as a new parent is important. But if it's laden with stress, it's also important to take a step back, analyse the situation, and tame the source of your stress. This is a time for joy, love, and family. And, most importantly, it's a time for snuggling with your little baby!

Celebrate this wonderful time as a new parent. After all, you only get to experience this once in your baby's life so have some fun.

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.