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Holiday Survival Guide for Parents of Babies and Toddlers

Your little one won’t remember much about these first three holiday seasons, but what they’ll take with them forever is the way they felt during the early years. Find tips on staying present for these truly magical moments and sharing that joy and calm with your child.

Browse our handy collection of guides, articles, and tips from ZERO TO THREE experts to help families navigate the holidays with babies and toddlers. It bundles together resources on play, toys, meals, emotional regulation, traditions and more.

Featured Resources

ResourceWhat It Offers
Top Ten Ways to Use Videochat to Share Holiday TraditionsTips for connecting infants and toddlers with loved ones using video chat and ways to share greetings and traditions from a distance.
Best Toys for Babies and ToddlersGuidance on choosing developmentally supportive toys, helpful for gift giving or planning play activities.
Tips on Choosing Toys for ToddlersStrategies for selecting toys that match toddlers’ skills and support learning through play.
Nurturing GratitudeIdeas for helping young children experience and express gratitude during the holiday season.
Indoor and Cold Weather Activity IdeasSeasonal activity ideas for winter days that help keep toddlers engaged.
Picky Eating HacksSupport for introducing new foods during holiday meals and making shared meals easier for selective eaters.
Managing TantrumsTools for supporting toddlers through big feelings, especially during busy or overstimulating holiday events.
Quiet, Cozy Celebrations, Curl Up With a Good BookIdeas for creating relaxing, cozy family moments with books during the holiday season.
Sharing Family Traditions With GrandchildrenGuidance for grandparents who want to share traditions, stories, and culture with babies and toddlers.
Tis the Season, Handling Unwanted Parenting Advice With GraceSupport for navigating unsolicited parenting advice during family gatherings.

From Our Homes to Yours

Happy mother and little baby toddler girl making christmas cookies in home kitchen. Mother and little girl baking Christmas gingerbread pastry for family dinner

We asked our staff for their go-to cookie recipes for families with young children, and the winner was loud and clear: classic thumbprint cookies. They are simple, low stress and perfect for little hands to help with. Kids love rolling the dough and making the thumbprints, and those small movements actually help build fine motor skills and hand dexterity while creating warm, happy baking memories together.

Plus, you can fill them with anything: candies, cherries, jam, you name it, so every cookie becomes its own tiny masterpiece. 

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Brother and sisters siblings lighting candles on menorah for Jewish Hanukkah holiday at home. Children celebrating Chanukah festival of lights. Dreidel and Sufganiyot donuts in plate on a table.