Mealtime:
• Bring your baby's highchair along to Grandma's or wherever you are having the holiday dinner. Try to feed her as close to her regular mealtime as possible, even if it does not coincide with the adults' mealtime. Everyone understands that babies operate on their own timetable.
Shopping Trips:
• Plan to go shopping right after your baby wakes up from his nap.
• Keep your shopping list short and don't test your baby's patience. Spend some time having fun -- enjoy the fountain, window displays and lights together.
• If baby becomes fussy, pick her up and hold her closely. Walk to a quieter store and talk to her or sing to her in low, comforting tones. Then, when she is calmer, head home.
• Shop online or by catalog. Keep trips to the mall strictly for fun!
Overnighters:
• If you are planning to have the baby sleep in a portable crib or playpen while at the motel or at Grandma's, have her take her naps in the playpen for a week or so before the trip so she has time to get used to it.
• Take along the humidifier. Most heated houses become quite dry in the wintertime. Your baby will sleep more comfortably if the air is lightly humidified.
• Set up baby's sleep area as soon as you arrive at your destination. Try to keep it as far away as possible from the noise and hustle-bustle of the gathering. Keep the diaper bag and supplies close by. This will be the baby's safe haven.
• Take several breaks during the evening when you can take the baby away from the noise to her quiet area, change her diaper, feed her, play quietly with her or let her explore.
• Stick to your bedtime routine. If you bathe, read, sing and then rock him to sleep, try to follow that pattern. Excuse yourself and the baby from the gathering and follow your usual sleepytime ritual.
• If your baby wakes up during the night, do not hesitate to bring her into your bed. She will feel more secure in her unfamiliar surroundings if you are close by her. Don't worry about spoiling her. Chances are that she will be happy to sleep in her own crib once she gets home.
