TL;DR: The holidays can be overstimulating and throw off your baby or toddler’s routine. Keeping your toddler engaged, the environment predictable, and the food familiar can help alleviate some of the stress.
How Can I Manage Thanksgiving with My Baby or Toddler?
As a baby or toddler mom, we know that our little ones thrive on routine. Nap schedules, predictability, and familiarity are all comforting things for both the child and the parents. However, the holidays can throw some of this off, and Thanksgiving is your first go-around of managing it. Thanksgiving can be overwhelming for adults, so imagine how overwhelming it could become for little ones! Want to minimize tantrums, keep things running smoothly, and have an enjoyable time this Thanksgiving? Keep reading for our tips on how to manage Thanksgiving with your toddler, including some ways to entertain them indoors.
What If My Child Is Sensory Sensitive?
Most toddlers are sensory sensitive to many things, such as loud sounds, bright lights, and large crowds. However, some can be more sensitive than others, which can create a challenge on Thanksgiving. New smells, a different environment, and lots of family—some of which they may not see too often—can be a lot for our little ones.
Some great tips for managing a sensory-sensitive toddler include being ready with familiar items on hand, bringing sensory toys, and staying home.
Bring Familiar Items
When going to a relative’s home, serving Thanksgiving food that your child may not like, or having a lot of relatives come over, can all seem very unfamiliar. As such, bring some familiar things from home to comfort your child. This can include:
- Stuffies, blankeys, or a few of their favorite toys
- A lunchbox filled with food you know they will enjoy and eat
- Dress them in familiar clothing, rather than uncomfortable dress-up clothes
Sensory Toys to Save the Day
Sensory fidget toys can help calm your child when they are in a stressful environment, such as the unpredictability or overstimulation of Thanksgiving day.
Innobaby has an entire line of sensory fidget toys made of silicone, which means they are extremely durable, are not distracting, and can easily be washed after a long day of play.
Fidget toys can give toddlers a chance to bond with cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives that they may not see too regularly. Talking about their unique toys while also enjoying the calming features of them can help everyone relax and have a good time!
Stay Home This Year
Celebrating the holidays with a baby or a small toddler can be difficult. Luckily, as a new mom, you hold the golden ticket. If you do not want to overwhelm your baby, toddler, or yourself this year, then don’t!
You can always stay home this year and have a cozy Thanksgiving celebration by yourselves. Doing this can give your little one a taste of the fun, and they might be better prepared next year.
How Can I Manage the Environment of Thanksgiving?
One of the best ways to manage the environment of Thanksgiving is to have it at your home this year. Your baby or toddler will be in their familiar space, you don’t have to worry about baby-proofing and being overly cautious in a new space, and you can put your child to sleep for a nap or to bed whenever is suitable for you.
When visiting another relative, another way to manage the environment of Thanksgiving is to set expectations and boundaries with your family. Let them know that you may have to leave early if things are going downhill with your baby or toddler, that you will bring along food that your toddler will eat instead of risking a meltdown over their Thanksgiving plate, and that you will bring some toys to entertain them.
How Can I Keep My Toddler Engaged and Busy on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a busy day for adults. We are cooking, cleaning, decorating, and preparing, and it is important to keep our toddlers busy.
Some great ways to keep your toddler engaged and busy on Thanksgiving include:
- Having them help. If you do not have support to help you with your child, have them join you! They can help mix ingredients, set the table, help bake cookies, and be with you in the kitchen.
- Get crafty. Thanksgiving crafts can help wiggly toddlers, such as making turkey hats or coloring paper tablecloths.
- Indoor bubbles. SPIKE Sensory Bubble Play Skin Happy Botanical Bubbles & Blower Set is toddler-friendly and gives tons of bubbles without the mess or soapy gooey residue, making it the perfect indoor toy on Thanksgiving!
FAQ
Q: How can I avoid my toddler getting overstimulated on Thanksgiving?
A: If you’re predicting a meltdown on Thanksgiving, be prepared with familiar items such as toys and food, host Thanksgiving at your home this year, or skip it altogether for a smaller celebration and try again next year.
Q: What are some fun indoor activities for toddlers on Thanksgiving?
A: Having your toddler help in the kitchen on Thanksgiving, set up some crafts for them to do, or give them an indoor-friendly toy such as SPIKE Sensory Bubble Play Skin Happy Botanical Bubbles & Blower Set.
Q: How can I set expectations for my toddler with my family on Thanksgiving?
A: Most parents understand that having a baby or toddler can complicate things. Talk to your family about expectations, boundaries, and extra support if you need it. Written by: Jaclyn, marketing copywriter and mom of three young boys.
Written by: Jaclyn, marketing copywriter and mom of three wild boys.