16-30 Dec: Happy baby, happy holiday (#3)

If you’re looking at your holiday agenda over the next weeks and panicking, know you’re not alone. When is your baby supposed to rest? When are you supposed to rest? Postpartum nurse Heather Berry has advice this week to help minimize your baby’s stress — and yours — as you navigate everything you have planned for the holidays.

👩‍⚕️ Dear Dr. Mom: How should I handle my baby’s routine over the holidays?

You may be realizing that every holiday tradition collides with your baby’s very carefully crafted daily routine. Fun day out at the ice rink? Skip lunch. Christmas dinner? Starts after bedtime. You probably don’t want every holiday photo to have your child grumpy, hungry, or sleepy.

Avoiding a weeklong meltdown — for either you or your baby — is an act of balance. Heather has advice for handling breaks from your baby’s routine to keep both of you happy this holiday season.

Have a question you want to ask us? Submit it here. All questions will be anonymized and edited for clarity.

🗓️ What’s happening around town

Looking for something fun to do with your little one? Here's a selection of upcoming activities and events for babies and toddlers.

West

• Music ABC class
  Fri 20 Dec @ 9:30 (babies) and 10:30 (toddlers) — Houthavens
  Explore music in a play-based learning session with singing, clapping, and instruments.

Noord

• Christmas Fair
  Sat 21 Dec @ 12:00 - 18:00 — IJplein

  An open-air Christmas market with a choir, park walk, and fireworks show that’s early enough to be before baby bedtime! 💥 

South

• Baby Sensory’s Christmas special

  Sat 21 Dec @ 11:30 - 12:30 — Rivierenbuurt

  Objects and activities to stimulate your baby's 5 senses and move development and learning forwards. For babies from birth to 13 months.

• Amsterdam Winter Paradise

  18 Dec to 4 Jan — RAI

  Experience festive fun with ice skating, Christmas stalls, rides, and live entertainment.

Want to share an event with our community? Email [email protected] to get in touch.

Happy holidays to all who celebrate! 💝 May we all be given the gift of heartwarming baby smiles, at least one meaningful block of sleep, and community support so you can take 2 seconds of rest over the holidays this year.

Until next time,

Alex from the Amsterdam Parent Project (APP)