2020 has not been an ideal year for most of us, and for us new parents it has added to the challenges and confusion that growing a family already brings. It has caused increased health fears, uncertainty navigating the medical system with a baby on the way or a new baby, isolation from family and friends to the extent that many are unable to meet our new babies, missing out on anticipated prenatal and postnatal activities and limited access to in-person resources, just to name a few examples. And for all those folks who have issues with wearing masks, how about a shout out to all us mothers who went through labour in a mask? If we can get through that then someone griping about having to slap one on to get groceries is not a complaint I want to hear about.

On top of all of this, baby’s first Christmas is happening without the obligatory crying on Santa’s lap photo, let alone our usual festivities and gatherings.

Here are a few suggestions to try to make the Covid Christmas Quarantine cozy, fun and relaxing.

*While tailored to new parents these also apply to anyone looking to have a relaxing yet pleasant holiday season this week.

1. Buy pre-made or take-out holiday food

My husband and I have spent the last several Christmas seasons making traditional Venezuelan Christmas food with his mother, while my family traditionally makes Ukrainian food (which I must admit I don’t know how to make myself). Although I would love to get cooking this year, my Thanksgiving experience of spending hours making dishes that turned out to be under or over cooked, while my husband was with the baby, which we then had to eat at separate times anyways taught me that cooking big holiday feasts is not ideal for new parents if you do not have family or friends involved in the endeavor. So, in order to enjoy our food, hopefully eat it together, and have time to relax, we are buying frozen perogies from the Ukrainian restaurant near us, and tamales and Latin food from the Latino market near us (we can’t find Venezuelan Hallacas here). This has the added benefit of supporting local businesses in addition to eating food that tastes delicious and is cooked right.

2. Bake if you enjoy it, or support your local bakeries instead

If you can carve out the time and space and you like baking, by all means do so! However, I found that the local bakeries near us have been making mixed platters of Christmas cookies, which is again another great way to support local and enjoy some tasty holiday sweets while not overextending ourselves in the kitchen.

3. Decorate if you enjoy it, at least half-way

If you enjoy getting a tree then go for it, but if it all feels like too much this year, consider just putting up some of your décor, and maybe putting lights on a house plant. Festive and good for baby photo ops, but less work since most of us aren’t entertaining anyways.

4. Dress up anyways-at least your baby, but yourselves as well

Part of having a new baby means playing dress-up, though due to Covid I only get to show off my daughter’s cute clothes on video chats or when I take her to the doctor. Nonetheless, its fun to take cute photos of them, even if you have no where to go. And those clothes won’t fit them after Covid, so may as well use them until the next puke or explosion makes you change them anyways. But as for myself, I do plan on wearing something with a zipper at least on Christmas, so it’s not just cute dressed up baby and mom in spandex like every other day!

5. Holidays movies!

Always a great way to enjoy the holidays, and more so during Covid times when we’re stuck at home anyways. This can also help you give some thought to which titles you hope to show your wee ones in the future.

6. And if you need a safe outing, drive by Christmas light displays or use your baby carrying device and enjoy a refreshing or chilly Christmas walk

Our area has put up a few light displays that I plan on checking out. Funny enough, I am always home in the evenings so it wasn’t until we had to take baby to emergency one night for a fever that I noticed anyone’s Christmas lights!

Depending on where you live it may or may not be chilly, but a snowy little family walk is a great way to get out of the house, refresh and give your baby some holiday sensory fun while keeping safe.

This year is not what most of us would have expected, but it does not mean that the holidays can’t bring joy, especially with our new bundles of joy!