Hands up if you’ve got December birthdays in your household!

My birthday is on the 1st December and do you know what used to bug me?  An advent calendar as a present!  (Ungrateful child, I know).  The thing is, everyone else got them anyway, but mine would be part of my present.  (Having said that, I often ended up with 3 chocolate calendars, so it wasn’t all bad!)

I used to think it was bad enough having a birthday 25 days before the big day, however one of my close friends has a birthday on Christmas day. Now that sucks!  Especially when you’re a mum.

So how do you make a birthday special in December?  It really can be the most wonderful time of the year. But birthdays sometimes get a bit lost and overlooked in December because it’s also a hectic time.  I asked friends, families and local parents and it seemed to strike a chord with so many people!

December Birthday Presents

With birthdays and Christmas so close together you can end up with gift and toy overload!  A top tip from Laura from Max and Mummy is ‘Max’s birthday is the 1st December. We tend to do presents for one and an outing for the other. This year we are going to see School of Rock for his birthday and he’s got some presents for Christmas!’

Emma, mum to teenage twins with birthdays on Christmas Eve says ‘Always use birthday paper even when tempted to use the Christmas stuff!! Also give separate birthday and Christmas presents, as you wouldn’t buy someone with a July birthday a joint Christmas present.’  These two tips alone were mentioned by nearly everyone I spoke to … you have been warned!

Birthday Cards

The card shops turn red and green from November on wards. So make sure you buy birthday cards well in advance, as the shops assume no-one has a birthday in the month of December and hide the birthday cards!

Decorations for December Birthdays

Unless it’s a few days before Christmas, try not to put the Christmas decorations up until after the birthday is over.  If it falls soon after Christmas, consider taking the decorations down early. The birthday boy or girl will appreciate some fun and pretty (non-Christmassy) birthday party decorations to help celebrate their special day.

Louise from Bournemouth says ‘Noah loves telling people that his birthday is on Christmas Eve! …it can be hard to fit birthday things in when everyone is so busy and focused on Christmas, but it is such a magical time of year that so far he hasn’t felt as if he’s missed out at all. The Christmas tree gets a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner wrap for the day.’

Party Time in December

If the birthday falls between Christmas Eve and New Year’s day, consider having a half birthday and have a party or special day out in the summer.  For birthdays in the run up to Christmas, think about having birthday parties or celebrations as early as possible because everyone gets so busy.

If you decide to have a small party, I’ve created some easy to use craft kits for fun DIY craft parties. They’re brilliant activities for parties, family events and sleepovers.

For more party planning ideas and inspiration, download my free party planning guide. It’s a bonanza of hints on stress-free planning, activity and food ideas and checklists.

Dawn Lovejoy from Dawn Lovejoy, NSE – Joyfully Loving the Journey says ‘My son is the 13th and my daughter is Christmas Day so on the 25th its birthday half of the day, with the other half Christmas. We used to have a party for them in the summer when they were little but now they’re both teenagers!  She does feel hard done by, bless her, especially as there is nothing you can do actually on Christmas Day apart from go to a pub or restaurant for lunch, but she doesn’t miss out!’

Rebecca from London says ‘As a Christmas baby, from an entire family of Christmas babies, I recommend treating it as a normal birthday. You can’t ignore Christmas (and I love Christmas), make sure you have a separate celebration for the birthday (never one tacked onto a Christmas celebration).

Special Touches for December Birthdays

Finally, there are lots of little things you can do to make December birthdays special.

Joanne Dewberry from Joannedewberry.co.uk suggests ‘Daddy Moo’s birthday is Xmas Eve! I think for children it’s the little touches which are important.  Having somewhere separate to Christmas cards to put their cards. Having a birthday cake, making the day about them and not an extension of the Christmas celebrations.’ 

My birthday is 3rd January and everyone’s partied out by then and completely skint.  The little things like breakfast in bed and no cooking or chores helps.  Recommends Grianne, from Times To Treasure.

In closing, do you or one of your family members have a December birthday? What special things do you do to celebrate? I’d love to hear your family birthday traditions in the comments.