December Birthday close to Christmas

Diane - posted on 11/14/2008

My daughter's bday is also on the 22nd. My own bday is Jan 2 and my whole life I recieved gifts for both Christmas and my bday. And of course I always got them on Christmas and everyone would say "oh and this is for your birthday too". Not a giant deal but when I was little and my birthday would roll around I wouldn't have any presents to open. I also usually returned to school from Christmas break around then as well. So my birthday was lost in the mix and it was in JANUARY!

So I will make it a point to make them separate and both special. Your bday is the only day that is ONLY YOURS and no one elses.

I will have her party about a week early and will send out BIRTHDAY invites with a small note stating No Christmas wrapping paper (maybe followed by a smiley face as to not look rude:) The decorations will not have anything to do with Christmas or the colors associated with it either. And maybe in the future we will celebrate her half birthday so she can have a pool party... something I always wanted.

Stephanie - posted on 11/13/2008

I'm going through that same thing right now. My son is on the 8th. I have a friends baby shower on the 6th, my sister will be in India the next weekend so the only weekend I have left is the week before x-mas. I'm thinking just a small family gathering the 7th which is a Sunday. But I'm stuck...

Cora - posted on 11/13/2008

I think it is verry importent to keep there birthdays and christmas sepret. Kristyns birthday is on Dec 15th and i swor that i will always keep them sepret. Her fother is spoling her for her birthday and for christmas and so am i. my family has told me that they will keep it seperat aswell.

Courtney - posted on 11/11/2008

I've been thinking about this as my son turns 1 on Dec 26th. He wasn't due until March 17th so we never really thought about how we would handle his b-day until now!
We will have a birthday party in January after the holiday hub-bub is all over. I'm sure we'll give him a special present on the 26th and have a small cake or a cupcake for him. =)
I've been talking to a few people about this and got some good ideas. One lady's parents used to turn the Christmas tree into a Birthday tree! At the end of the day on the 25th, the ornaments would come down and the tree would be decorated with ribbons and bows. She is an adult now and they still do this. I thought it was very sweet!
When Joshua is older, I think we might take him somewhere special the weekend after Christmas. Not many people actually go somewhere fun for Christmas, so that might be a nice birthday tradition.
I love birthdays so I know I won't let him feel gypped. I will ban any birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper. That is a *huge* no-no!

Andrea - posted on 11/10/2008

I am having a birthday party / holiday party for the family and friend a week before. Made invitations with an animal theme with holiday colors. But it is represented as a "birthday party with holiday merriment". I'm gonna cater it too, cupcakes, balloons.....you have to start somewhere!

Shawna - posted on 11/10/2008

My son was born on the 28th of Dec. so I think because it's after Christmas it might not be too bad, but some people have told me that when he gets older to do a friend party in the summer. What do you ladies think of that? As for these next few years I think we will still have a party on the 28th.

Jacqui - posted on 10/31/2008

How about celebrate the birthday the weekend before Christmas and the Holiday some other time... My daughters b'day is the day after, so I'm going to celebrate Christmas with family the weekend before Christmas, and then we're going to do her b'day the weekend after. Hopefully it'll keep them separate enough, but we'll see how it works out.

Stephanie - posted on 10/30/2008

We don't live close to family, so our daughter will get three birthdays - one at Thanksgiving with one side, one on her birthday with local friends, and one after Christmas with the other side. She has a cousin with a December birthday as well, so they will share the party with that side. I think it actually will work out well because she will get her presents spread out this way.

Tiffin - posted on 10/30/2008

My daughter was born the 20th so I'm just having it on that day. My brother's bday is the same day so we'll make a cake for him, too. It's a first birthday party. You know everyone will show! Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 10/30/2008

My son Mason turns one on the 17th of December. I have three other children and they all get a party. I will have a party for him the weekend before Christmas and even though the tree will be up it won't be related to Christmas at all. It's going to be another good reason for the family to all get together.

Sarah - posted on 10/30/2008

My son's first birthday is on the 26th of December. We are planning a rather large birthday party for him, as we had a large birthday party for our twins who are now 29 mos. No Christmas wrapping paper allowed will be put on the invitation.

Hope - posted on 10/26/2008

My son will be turning one on Dec 22nd also! We don't live near family and will be going home for the Holidays & his birthday. Just make sure to let them know its a birthday party, that you'll be celebrating an important day. Also try and come up with ideas for presents for them since money gets tight that time of year.

Kristi - posted on 10/26/2008

My husband's birthday is the day after christmas. He always tells people to remember that your child doesn't know what it's like to have a birthday not around christmas. So, it's no different for them. It's us adults who put our feelings in it and make them feel like they are missing out. Make sure you make it a special day still and do all the birthday stuff you would ordinarily do for a birthday

Chantel - posted on 10/25/2008

My youngest son's b-day is on the 31st and we were wondering the same thing... My birthday is actually on Christmas and what was always done for me was to have a party with my friends the first or second weekend of the month, then have Christmas in the morning and a birthday lunch or dinner with family.. it always made it special.. and my parents always used birthday wrap for birthday gifts and Christmas wrap for Christmas....We're deciding on a party either a weekend before or after his first b-day this year.

Syndi - posted on 10/24/2008

I wouldn't worry about what other people will do. The likely hood is that they will follow your lead since you are the parent.

Melissa - posted on 10/24/2008

My daughter Isabell was born on Dec. 28th 2007. I was concerned too. I think I am just going to try to make that whole week as exciting as I can. It is 3 days after Christmas and 3 days before the New Year. I will be a crazy week!

Lea - posted on 10/24/2008

Try to just tell your family and friends that you want to make your daughter's birthday special, and that you do not want to combine it with Christmas festivities, gifts, parties, etc. It's a lot easier to do this when children are so young b/c gifts are a lot less expensive, so it's easier to split the gifts, if that is an issue. All you can do is voice your concerns and opinions. You can't force your friends and family to do something they are not willing or able to do....

Natalie - posted on 10/23/2008

My kids were born on Christmas morning- we thought it would be an issue for birthdays in the future, but after discussing with an older friend who's birthday is on the 24th, we weren't as concerned. He likes that everyone is around and after dinner and everything they bring out a special birthday cake and sing.

For now, especially for the big 1st Birthday party, we're planning to do something special after the new year. Think of the more things they can get when people go to the after holiday sales... people aren't bombarded with Christmas themed parties that companies and friends hold throughout the month and they have a special event to attend after the chaotic season.

Michelle - posted on 10/22/2008

Love all the thoughts but I would like to get more specific...we (her father and I) will always make it a special day....it's everyone else. I don't want her to get lost in the chaos of the season.

Syndi - posted on 10/22/2008

I think the most important thing is make their day special. Throw a birthday party! DO NOT make it a christams theme party. A normal birthday party just for them. It's what every kid wants, and then they don't feel so ripped off by having a birthday so close to a major holiday! That's what I am doing this year. I am not changing my holiday traditions, but on December 20th, we are having a Princess theme birthday. It makes it special so that your child knows that even though it's a busy time of year, you still care enough about them to do something special. and make sure you have their day just for them each year. It's important.

Lea - posted on 10/21/2008

My oldest child, Nicholas was born on Dec. 24, and now baby Olivia will celebrate her 1st birthday on Dec. 16. With Nicholas, we do a little something special, like a small gift, on Dec. 6 (St. Nicholas' Day - he thinks that is pretty special). We usually celebrate his birthday early in the day on the 24th - before we have to start preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities. We don't live close to any family, so that has rarely been an issue for us. Other than that, we just tell him how extremely special he is to be sharing his birthday with Jesus. I thought maybe we could celebrate his half birthday, but his sister was born on June 24th, so we don't do that. I'm sure he will someday grow tired of having to go to church on his birthday every year though! I've never combined gifts for him, so that may make a difference.

Jennifer - posted on 10/20/2008

I cant answer for how other people will be, but I have had a christmas club account for where I have worked and I have made it a point to make sure that I seperate them. I have bought him an Elmo Live for birthday and doing his party in Elmo. I just feel that I will do as best I can to keep it separate from Christmas and its up to the others around us to do the same! If they dont, at least he will know that Mommy and Daddy made his birthday special!!!

Melissa - posted on 10/20/2008

I was wondering what to do also, my youngest is on the 11th and that's when all the work Christmas functions and Christmas shopping is being done! including ours. We got Joslyn a gift when it was her sisters birthday in May just to make it more exciting for the both of them coming up to Gabbys birthday (for the future also) that way joslyn gets presents during the year too, as she has definitely grown out of the toys from Christmas and her b day by then.

Melissa - posted on 10/20/2008

I was wondering what to do also, my youngest is on the 11th and that's when all the work Christmas functions and Christmas shopping is being done! including ours. We got Joslyn a gift when it was her sisters birthday in May just to make it more exciting for the both of them coming up to Gabbys birthday (for the future also) that way joslyn gets presents during the year too, as she has definitely grown out of the toys from Christmas and her b day by then.

Kaye - posted on 10/19/2008

i have same problem my son is 1 on the 26 th dec (i was in labour all christmas day) and my daughter will be 2 on the 12th of dec so i will watch out for replies for ideas as well! my sisters birthday is on the 29th dec and she always felt she never got alot because of it being so close to christmas determined for my children not to be like that!