Five keepsakes to cherish on your little one’s first Christmas

Picking just one keepsake can be tricky on such a momentous day, so why not start a keepsake box, filled with memories of this Christmas, and all of the Christmases to come? Fill it with photographs, festive drawings, cards from loved ones and scraps of wrapping paper or ribbon, making sure you add a few little items to the box each year. You’ll be able to preserve a little bit of magic from your little one’s first Christmas and be able to cherish these memories as a family for years to come.

A special bauble or a festive children’s book is the perfect way to start a tradition on your little one’s very first Christmas. If you’re looking for something really special this year, shop small and buy your little one a personalised keepsake, like this hot air balloon bauble handmade in Oxfordshire, available here.

A comforting toy that will be by your baby’s side throughout their childhood Christmases is also a wonderful idea for a treasured keepsake. How about this Snowdog, based on the characters created by Raymond Briggs? These sweet characters have been loved for generations and may even remind you of your own childhood Christmases.

A Christmas book is also a timeless way to create a tradition. Poems and rhymes have been used for years to mark special occasions like Christmas, so why should a book be any different? For an interactive choice to explore with your little one, you could try the ‘Never Touch a Polar Bear’ touch- and-feel book, available here. Or, for a sentimental option, ‘I Love You More Than Christmas’ explores the true meaning of Christmas – family, love and spending time with each other. You can buy this book here.

There are a whole host of easy crafts out there that you can make with your little one to cherish forever . This easy handprint Christmas tree card is our favourite, which you can make by following the easy steps below:

1. You will need: white card, green card, felt-tip pens and some green paint
2. Fold the white card in half width-ways, like a greeting card. Help your little one paint their hand green and place the hand on the front of the card to make a green handprint, making sure not to spread the fingers too far apart
3. Allow the paint to dry, then paint or draw a star on the top of the tree (where your littleone’s fingertips are) and a trunk at the bottom. You can also embellish the tree withpompoms or any other bits and pieces you may have at home!
4. Cut a hill out of green card or paper and add it under the tree. If you don’t have green cardto hand, you could just draw the grass at the bottom of the card here.
5. And there you have it! A lovely, handmade Christmas card. Keep it for your own family tomark this momentous festive time, or send it far and wide to loved ones to share the joy ofyour little one’s first Christmas.

For more top tips, or to find out more about our specialist baby development sessions, contact us at enquiries@bloombabyclasses.com or call us on 0800 4647960