Passover and Easter are great times to gather round the table, share delicious food, sips of wine, recite the four questions or get ready for the Easter Egg hunt. It is a wonderful time for families to get together and celebrate their heritage and traditions. What could be a more perfect place for the family members to meet and greet your bundles of joy! But “Oy” the noise, the “tumult” of this occasion! And in a child’s eyes, those beautiful dinners seem to go on and on and on. Sometimes it’s not so easy for adults to sit still and even more difficult to expect your infant or toddler to rise to the occasion without some preparation.
The following tips will help you and your children enjoy your holiday while creating wonderful memories that will make your heart smile!
*Passover Seders commence after sundown, so make sure your little one has had a nap before you arrive. Staying up later than usual with a tired baby or toddler just doesn’t work .
*If your toddler doesn’t nap anymore, let him rest in his bed with some quiet books and music.
*Give your children something to eat before the celebration as it sometimes takes a couple of hours to get to the main course.
*Bring along your baby’s a bouncy seat, stroller or exersaucer so your hands will be free to enjoy your meal.
*Bring some coloring books and crayons or paint with water books for your toddler. Ask him to make special pictures for the other family members. These are quiet and fun activities.
*If your baby starts to cry when Uncle Lou is bouncing her on his knee, gently pick her up and thank him for playing with her. Stay calm as babies can sense any tension and will continue to cry.
*If you don’t want your baby passed around, put her in the bouncy seat, exersaucer or stroller.
*Bring a favorite video for your toddler to watch if he is too young to join the dinner festivities.
*Little tummies can be just as sensitive as big ones so don’t overdo the matzo or chocolate bunnies!
*Ask your toddler to pick out special pajamas to bring just in case. It’s much easier to put a sleepy toddler to bed if he is all ready in his jammies!
*Make sure your baby is dressed in a comfortable outfit. Those frilly dresses with matching headbands and little bow ties look adorable, but after awhile can get hot and itchy. There is nothing worse than a whining, uncomfortable baby or toddler.
*If you are going to be putting the baby to sleep during the celebration, bring along the lullaby CD you play at home. There is nothing more comforting than those familiar tunes.
*If you will be leaving before the end of the celebration, make sure you alert the hostess ahead of time. Walking out in the middle of the festivities will only cause everyone to worry unnecessarily.
*If your baby or toddler is out-of-sorts on this holiday, it’s okay to leave him home with a sitter. While the family may be disappointed, there is nothing more heart-breaking or disruptive than an unhappy child.
*If you are hosting the celebration at your home, ask a babysitter to come over to entertain the children while you prepare for the celebration. Superwoman always pays later!
*If your baby starts to cry because it is just too much, take her outside. The change in scenery is guaranteed to calm her down. Remember, well-meaning relatives can’t help getting excited over this new little bundle.
Cherish each and every minute. Time passes quickly and before you know it your little bundles will be all grown up.
Enjoy your wonderful family celebration with smiles, laughter and love.
Happy Passover
Happy Easter
Blythe Lipman is the president of Baby Instructions. She is passionate about babies, toddlers and their parents. After working in the field for over twenty-five years, she wrote her second award-winning book, MORE…HELP! MY BABY CAME WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS which is available at www.babyinstructions.com, . You can hear Blythe’s weekly radio show on Mondays, 11am EST @ www.toginet.com Blythe is available for in-home, video and telephone consultations.
©Blythe Lipman 2010
