Give 'Christmas Chores,' And Other Tips In Navigating The Christmas Season With Kids

On a bright November afternoon, moms and dads gathered for a sumptuous lunch at Beso Beso in Makati City for the second run of Cetaphil Baby Dialogues.

Hosted by mom of one Bea Fabregas, the discussion revolved around tips and tricks on navigating the holidays with kids—as healthy, fun, and safe as possible.

Celebrity parents of two, Solenn Heusaff and Nico Bolzico, shared their experiences, with inputs from Dr. Vanika Viardo, a Board-certified dermatologist, and Dr. Joey Estanislao, a pediatrician and a member of the Smart Parenting Board of Experts. 

Here are some of takeaways from the fun yet informative discussion that could help parents this Christmas season.

Tips on how to navigate the Christmas season with kids:

1. Spend time with kids.

As the holidays begin, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with all the upcoming activities—Christmas parties, get-togethers, gift shopping, and wrapping. Solenn shared what's their top priority, “We make sure that we spend a lot of time with the kids. We don’t let them feel the stress and hecticness of the holiday season.”

“We try to get them excited for what’s to come,” the TV and social media personality added. By also letting the kids join them in doing the “Christmas chores” such as decorating the Christmas tree, meal-planning, and gift-wrapping, they feel that they are part of the holidays.

2. It’s okay if bedtime is a little bit different.

Solenn added that they let the kids sleep a bit late during the holidays, but they still try to create the same bedtime routine.

Dr. Cuayo-Estanislao said, “The thing about kids and naps and sleep is that if they get too much, bad. If they get too little, also bad. There’s like a fine line. And I think that the problem with holidays is there’s so much going on. It’s so difficult to keep a routine. That’s the challenge for us parents: how do we fit our kids into a routine they’re familiar with while also introducing new events?”

“I think that’s where you have to structure your parenting around. You have to be flexible, like 'You know, there’s going to be a party and we have to adjust our schedule,' she added.

She stressed, “Give them a semblance of structure, even during the holidays, but still be flexible.”

3. Create a similar routine if you’re traveling.

The holiday season also means traveling with family, which is challenging for kids. Solenn and Nico, who frequently travel abroad with their kids, shared a tip that always works for them, “We always bring our skincare routine whenever we go—that’s Cetaphil—so the kids can still have something they’re familiar with, and they can have restful sleep.”

Dr. Cuayo-Estanislao agreed with this and said, “Bring things the kids are familiar with. Even if you’re traveling abroad, bring something, like a toy, that can help them remember, 'Oh, I slept with this,' so it’s easier for them to transition to sleep. It’s all about giving them something they can ground themselves to.”

4. Stick to your kid’s skincare routine.

Dr. Viardo also reminds everyone to stick to the child’s skincare routine, amidst all the busyness, “We want to make sure the children’s skin is protected and strong, as it is the largest organ in the body. We advise parents to have a healthy skincare routine for kids, even if they have normal or eczema-prone skin; it’s really good to have a good skincare routine. We have to make sure that the skin barrier is strong, which consists of three basic steps: cleanse, moisturize, and protect. It’s more important now during Ber-months, that it’s colder, to stick to these routines because the cold aggravates the dryness of the baby’s skin.”

5. Pick and choose.

And finally, as Dr. Cuayo-Estanislao said, “Pick and choose the events you should go to. As we have kids, we can’t say yes to every invitation or event we have.”

Looking for a community of parents? Head on to Baby Dialogue’s Facebook Group, Cetaphil Baby’s online community of parents. For more information on Cetaphil Baby’s private events, follow Cetaphil’s official social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.