5 Tips for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving with a Toddler

Key Takeaways

• Managing the holiday stress is already tough, but doing it with children can add another layer to the tension.
• Prepare yourself for Thanksgiving with your toddler using these tips and tricks to ensure a stress-free experience.
• Some tips focus on your state of mind, while others focus on essentials you should have to keep your toddler happy.

Thanksgiving for Kids

When the holiday season starts with Thanksgiving in November, it’s time to do a trial run for the rest of the events you have in store. If you can ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving, you’ll be far more successful doing so for the rest of the fall and winter holidays.

Take a look at a few ways you can have Thanksgiving for kids while ensuring you enjoy a little more peace of mind. With the right tools and a few Thanksgiving activities for toddlers, you should be set! Take a look at these five tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving.

1. Clean as You Prep

Cleaning as you’re preparing for the holidays is crucial. Whether you’re hosting or heading out to join friends and family elsewhere, you won’t have big chunks of time to dedicate to cleaning. Whenever you have a free moment between tasks, wipe up spills, organize the fridge, and fold a couple of blankets. Involve your child in age-appropriate tasks they can help you with, like putting their own toys away.

When you clean up as things happen, you can keep your space clean and inviting for guests who drop by unexpectedly. This also allows you to focus on Thanksgiving for kids by devoting more time to holiday-related activities!

2. Maintain Any Routine You Can

The next tip for a stress-free Thanksgiving is doing your best to maintain your routine. Thanksgiving for kids can be a tough time with so many people over and nap times getting interrupted. If you have any morning, mealtime, or bath-time rituals you can keep in place, make sure you don’t skip out. The result could be a grumpy toddler who feels left out during the holiday. Get your little one excited about the holiday by infusing Thanksgiving activities for toddlers into every part of your routine, including:

• Telling tales about turkeys during bedtime
• Prepping them in advance for any guests they may not know
• Fingerpainting turkeys with bath soap
• Playing Thanksgiving songs while brushing their teeth

3. Plan for Your Child’s Comfort

Your little one will be involved in nearly every part of your day during Thanksgiving for kids! A happy child who goes along with your plans is essential to a stress-free Thanksgiving. Plan ahead with clothing and essentials you know will ensure your child’s comfort. If you’re buying any new outfits, try them on in advance so you can remove itchy tags and modify chafing seams.

You should also ensure they have a comfortable chair at the table. Whether you’re doing Thanksgiving activities for toddlers in the kitchen or enjoying the family meal together, they’ll need a modern high chair that can handle it all. The Abiie® Beyond Junior Y High Chair, for example, converts into a regular adult chair and offers padded comfort for your little one during extended meals.

4. Pack Snacks & Meals

If you happen to be heading out for Thanksgiving to a friend or family member’s house, it’s a good idea to pack extra snacks and mini meals for your little one in travel-friendly baby plates and bowls. Your child may prefer specific types of food or may not like the food prepared at the house you’re visiting. Plan ahead with snacks you know they like, so they don’t go hungry!

Packing a meal is especially important during meals where they may be the only child present. Many adults don’t plan separate, child-friendly meals unless it’s Thanksgiving for kids. You may also want to keep their hands busy during parties like these with Thanksgiving activities for toddlers, including themed coloring books or simple crafts that they can do with minimal oversight. When your little one is busy with their own activities, they won’t get their little hands on fragile holiday decor or presents.

Don’t forget to make sure you have a comfortable baby hip carrier to get your little one to and from the house! You may also find yourself carrying your child around while mingling with guests, so guarantee your comfort with an ergonomic design.

5. Be Realistic About Your Expectations

Part of a stress-free Thanksgiving is about managing your own expectations. Don’t let yourself get carried away with social media expectations of perfect tables and toddlers dressed to the nines! Keep your expectations on the lower end and focus on enjoying your time together, instead of how you present your decorations, what type of meal you’re cooking, or the perfect must-have family photoshoot.

You don’t need to manufacture joy when you’re truly engaged in the moment! When you make Thanksgiving for your kids, the memories you create together will result in the most beautiful photos you can imagine.

Managing the Holidays

With these tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving, you should be better prepared for the holiday. However, with many more holidays ahead, Thanksgiving for kids is a good time to test out what works and what doesn’t. What types of holiday foods will your kids enjoy? How fancy can you dress them up? Will they tolerate hours at someone else’s house? Find out now to enjoy future stress-free Thanksgivings as well!

And if you’re looking for a little more guidance and support, Abiie® is here to help. Check out our blog to discover what works for parents today and get more tips for every occasion.