I’ll be honest—my baby’s first Christmas was a bit of a juggling act. We were at my in-laws’, and suddenly, I had little control over the Christmas dinner. My baby had food allergies, so I had to be extra cautious about what he ate.

But even if your baby doesn’t have allergies, you’ve probably been there: Christmas Day is chaotic. You’re not always sure when the food will be ready, and things rarely go to plan—no matter how well you’ve organised. That’s when I realised prepping food ahead of time was a total lifesaver. It gave me peace of mind, even when the rest of the day felt unpredictable.

In this post, I’m sharing two simple baby Christmas dinner ideas you can prepare to take the stress out of mealtime and focus on enjoying the day with your little one.

It’s worth prepping ahead, especially if staying away from home

The Benefit of Prepping Ahead for Baby’s First Christmas Dinner

Christmas is a time for celebration, family, and, of course, food. But for parents, especially those with babies, it can also feel a bit overwhelming.

Whether hosting at home or spending the day at someone else’s house, there’s a lot to juggle. Between the chaos of meal prep, ensuring your little one is fed safely, and ensuring everyone enjoys their meal, it’s easy to feel stressed about mealtime.

When my baby was ready for solids, I quickly learned that preparation was key, especially when feeding him during Christmas. Christmas Day tends to run on its own timeline. The turkey may not be ready when you expect it, there might be delays, or the chaos of opening presents and catching up with family can mean that mealtimes don’t go as planned. This is where prepping ahead can make a world of difference.

Prepping in advance gives you peace of mind and allows you to maintain control over what your baby eats, especially when navigating food allergies. Even if your baby doesn’t have allergies, it’s always a good idea to ensure their food is safe and easy to enjoy, regardless of the day’s unpredictability.

Baby Christmas Dinner Idea 1: Spoon-Feeding Style

Spoon-feeding is an excellent option for babies of all ages, as it can be easily modified in texture and prepared ahead of time to reduce stress on Christmas Day, especially for those new to solids or still working on self-feeding.

Christmas Dinner-a mix of baby led weaning and spoonfeeding

Ingredients:

• 200g turkey mince (a festive favourite)
• A handful of chopped onions (frozen or fresh)
• 1 small parsnip (peeled and chopped)
• 1/4 tsp thyme (adds a lovely festive aroma)
• 250ml very low-salt chicken stock or water (for a baby-friendly puree)
• Some dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook the Turkey: In a pan, brown the turkey mince in a small amount of oil. This creates a nice base for the dish and adds flavour.
2. Cook the Vegetables: While the turkey is cooking, peel and chop the parsnip into small pieces. You can also throw in a handful of onions for an extra depth of flavour. Cook them until soft, which usually takes around 10-15 minutes.
3. Combine Ingredients: Once the vegetables are soft, add them to the pan with the turkey, and pour in the low-salt chicken stock or water. Add the thyme and cranberries for that festive flavour, and simmer for about 15 minutes until everything is nice and tender.
4. Purée the Dish: Once cooked, allow the mixture to cool slightly, then purée or mash it to the desired consistency. You can add more stock or water if needed to thin the texture.
5. Serve: You can portion this into small containers and store it in the fridge for a few days or freeze it for longer storage. On Christmas Day, simply warm it up and spoon-feed your baby or let them feed themselves.

This simple recipe gives your baby all the festive flavours while ensuring they get a nutritious and safe meal when needed. It’s also straightforward to adapt to your baby’s taste and texture preferences—whether they like it smooth or with a little more texture.

Baby Christmas Dinner Idea 2: Baby-Led Weaning Style

This baby-led weaning option is perfect if your baby is more independent and ready for self-feeding. Baby-led weaning allows your baby to explore food on their terms, helping them develop fine motor skills and a healthy relationship with food. Plus, it’s super simple to prepare and perfect for when you’re staying somewhere else for Christmas.

This meal serves the meat as finger food with mulled wine jam as a spoon feed

Ingredients:

• Same as Option 1 (turkey mince, onions, parsnip, thyme, PLUS 30g instant oat cereal)

Instructions:

1. Sauté the Vegetables: Start by sautéing the parsnip and onions in a bit of oil until soft and tender. This should take about 10 minutes.
2. Soak the cranberries in hot water for 10 mins, then drain and chop finely.
3. Mix and Shape: In a bowl, combine the cooked vegetables with the turkey mince, cranberries, instant oats, and thyme. Mix well until everything is evenly combined. Once mixed, roll the mixture into small, baby-friendly shapes such as meatballs, small patties, or sausage shapes.
4. Cook: You can bake these at 180°C for about 20 minutes or gently fry them in a pan until cooked through.
5. Serve: Allow these little bites to cool before serving them to your baby. They’re perfect for little hands to grab, and the combination of turkey, vegetables, and oats makes for a nutritious, balanced meal.

This recipe can be made in advance and frozen, so on Christmas Day, you only need to heat them up and let your baby dig in. It’s a simple, no-fuss meal that your baby can enjoy with the rest of the family.

Its so easy to adapt your family favourites

Tips for Adapting Traditional Christmas Foods for Babies

When it comes to Christmas meals, everyone has their traditions. Some families swear by Brussels sprouts, while others can’t imagine a Christmas dinner without pigs in blankets or potato croquettes. The point is that no matter what’s on the menu at your Christmas dinner, you can adapt most traditional foods to make them safe and suitable for your baby. Here are a few tips on how to modify classic dishes to reduce salt, ensure safe textures, and avoid new potential allergens:

• Mashed Potatoes

  • Reduce Salt: Avoid adding salt to mashed potatoes. Instead, use whole milk for a creamy texture.
  • Texture: Whether your baby is eating purees or finger foods, mashed potatoes can be offered in a way that suits them. Just adjust the milk as needed.
  • Finger Food Option: If your baby enjoys finger foods, you can serve mashed potatoes in soft lumps or small, easy-to-hold pieces.

• Gravy

  • Reduce Salt: Traditional homemade or shop-bought gravy is typically high in salt. Instead, make your own using unsalted chicken or vegetable stock, or simply drizzle the turkey’s natural juices over the meat.

• Roast Vegetables

  • Reduce Salt: If you roast vegetables like carrots, parsnips, or potatoes, skip the salt—season with baby-friendly herbs such as thyme or rosemary.
  • Texture: Cook vegetables until soft, then either mash, puree, or cut them into small, manageable pieces for your baby. You can also offer them as finger foods, like roasted vegetable sticks.

• Turkey

  • Reduce Salt: Avoid using any added salt seasoning, such as pre-seasoned turkey or commercial marinades. Roast the turkey with herbs (like sage, thyme, and rosemary) for flavour instead.
  • Texture: Turkey can be cut into small, soft pieces or shredded for easy handling. This is suitable for all babies, whether they’re spoon-fed or self-feeding.

• Brussels Sprouts

  • Reduce Salt: Avoid cooking Brussels sprouts in salted water or adding any salty toppings like bacon.
  • Texture: For babies, steam or boil Brussels sprouts until very soft, and cut them into small, manageable pieces or mash them.

• Peas

  • Reduce Salt: Peas can be a good addition, but they should be prepared without salt.
  • Texture: Whole peas are a choking hazard, so if you plan to serve them as finger food, squish them slightly or mash them with a fork before offering them. You can also mix peas into mashed potatoes for a smoother texture.

• Cranberry Sauce

  • Commercial cranberry sauces are often high in both sugar and salt. If you want to go the extra mile, making your own cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries, water, and a small amount of natural sweetener like apple juice is a great option.

Stuffing

• Traditional stuffing can be very salty and crumbly, making it unsafe to eat. I would skip it!

• Prawns

  • Potential Allergen: Prawns are a common allergen, so it’s best to avoid introducing them on Christmas Day. Only offer prawns if you already know your baby tolerates them. This is not the day for experimenting with new allergens.
  • Texture: Prawns should be cooked thoroughly and chopped into tiny pieces to avoid choking.

• Pâté

  • Not Suitable: Pâté, especially liver pâté, is not recommended for babies due to its high vitamin A content, which can be harmful in large amounts. Additionally, it can be high in salt and a food safety risk. Avoid serving pâté to babies under 1 year old.

• Unpasteurised Cheeses

  • Not Suitable: Many festive cheeses, like certain soft cheeses, blue cheese, and brie, can be made from unpasteurised milk, which is unsafe for babies under 1 year old. For babies, stick to pasteurised cheeses such as cheddar or mozzarella.

• Smoked Salmon

  • Not Suitable: Smoked salmon can be high in salt, a food safety risk, and should be avoided for babies under 1 year old.

• Ham and Pigs in Blankets

  • Not Suitable: Ham and pigs in blankets are typically very high in salt, which isn’t suitable for babies. You can offer your baby small, unsalted pieces of turkey instead or some of the vegetables from the meal.

• Soup

  • Adapt for Salt: If you’re serving soup, avoid using store-bought varieties, as they tend to be high in salt. Make your own soup using fresh, baby-friendly ingredients and homemade, low-salt stock.

READ MORE: Clear Facts About ‘When Can Babies Have Salt?’ (from a Registered Dietitian)

Don’t feel that your baby is ‘missing out’ on Christmas treats. They don’t know any different.

Can Your Baby Eat Christmas Treats?

Christmas is a time filled with delicious treats, and as a parent, it’s natural to wonder if your baby can enjoy some of the festive favourites.

While many traditional Christmas treats, such as Christmas cakes, mince pies, and chocolate, are not suitable for babies due to high sugar content or potential allergens, the good news is that your baby doesn’t miss out on the fun. Babies aren’t aware of what they’re “missing” regarding desserts, so they don’t need to be given sugary or unsafe options just to be part of the festivities.

Grandparents and relatives might love to offer babies a lick of ice cream or a taste of pavlova, but there’s no need to introduce these foods. Besides the high sugar content, some foods—like meringue—can pose a risk because they often contain almost raw egg, which is both a potential allergen and a food safety risk. Additionally, nuts in cakes or mince pies are a choking hazard for babies, so they should be avoided altogether.

Instead, here are five baby-friendly Christmas desserts that are nutritious, safe, and delicious:

• Mulled Chia Jam and Yoghurt: You can make a baby-friendly version of mulled jam by simmering fruit with a sprinkle of cinnamon and cloves (just be sure to strain out the spices), then stir into plain yoghurt.
• Pear Mashed with Cinnamon: Pears are naturally sweet and make a perfect, simple dish. Mash them up and sprinkle them with a bit of cinnamon.
• Yoghurt with Banana and Cinnamon: For an easy yet festive dessert, mix mashed banana with yoghurt and top with a dusting of cinnamon. This combination offers a creamy texture and sweet flavour that babies enjoy.
• Apple Cinnamon Wedges: place peeled apple or pear wedges onto a plate, sprinkle with cinnamon, and microwave for about 40 seconds. Once softened, leave them to cool and serve with some Yogurt.
• Rice Pudding with Nutmeg: A warm and comforting dessert, rice pudding made with milk can be topped with a sprinkle of nutmeg. 

These baby-friendly Christmas treats ensure your little one can enjoy the season’s flavours without the risks associated with traditional sugary treats.

Your baby won’t feel like they’re missing out—after all, they don’t know what meringue or pavlova tastes like! These healthier, safer alternatives give you peace of mind while keeping your baby happy during the festive celebrations.

The Benefits of Involving Your Baby in Christmas Meals

As a parent, you may feel torn about how involved your baby should be during special meals. It’s tempting to want everything to go smoothly, but the reality is that even if your baby isn’t eating much, there are numerous benefits to involving them in Christmas meals. Here’s why it’s valuable to include your baby, no matter how much they eat:

Encourages a Healthy Relationship with Food

Involving your baby in Christmas meals, even if they’re not eating much, helps them develop a positive relationship with food from an early age. By being part of the mealtime routine, your baby learns that food is not just about eating—it’s about family time, connection, and fun.

Supports Social Development

Sitting at the table with the family and participating in mealtime helps your baby develop socially. Watching others eat and interact during meals fosters essential social skills and encourages curiosity about food. This can also be an excellent opportunity for siblings and relatives to model positive mealtime behaviours.

Exploring Textures and Flavours

Whether offering finger foods or spoon-feeding, mealtime is an excellent time for your baby to explore new textures and flavours. Babies learn through sensory experiences, and mealtimes are an ideal opportunity to encourage this exploration. Offering new foods in a relaxed environment, with no pressure to eat, helps babies build their confidence and enjoyment of food.

Family Bonding

Having your baby at the table gives them a sense of inclusion and helps create stronger family bonds. You’re not just feeding them; you’re sharing an experience. This sense of belonging is important for your baby’s emotional well-being and encourages family togetherness.

No Pressure to Eat

You don’t need to stress if your baby doesn’t eat much. Mealtime is as much about socialising, trying new foods, and enjoying the experience as it is about nutrition. Your baby will likely take in more food in the days following Christmas, so don’t worry if they’re distracted by all the excitement.

Your baby will only have their first Christmas Dy once, so remember it’s not about how much they eat—it’s about being part of the moment and making those special memories together.

How to Make Christmas Mealtimes Stress-Free for Parents

Christmas can be a whirlwind, and mealtimes are often one of the most stressful parts of the day. But with a bit of preparation, you can make mealtimes more enjoyable for you and your baby. Here are a few tips to make Christmas dinner with your baby stress-free:

• Stick to Routines. It’s great to pull your baby’s highchair up to the dinner table so they can be part of the fun. Watch out for tiny toys in Christmas crackers that may not be baby-friendly. However, dinner might coincide with nap time—no problem! Just make up a bowl and offer it later when they wake up. Be sure to sit down with your baby while they’re eating so they can enjoy your company and the delicious food.
• Keep It Simple: It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the food choices. Stick to a few simple, nutritious options for your baby and let the rest of the family enjoy the more elaborate dishes.
• Include Your Baby: Have your baby sit with you at the table, even if they’re not eating much. Don’t be too disappointed if your baby doesn’t eat much on the day. With so many distractions, it can be difficult for babies to concentrate on eating. Keep it relaxed and offer them a meal or milk every two hours, but don’t stress if they don’t eat much. Remember, ‘Parent Provides, Child Decides’!

Takeaway Message

Your baby’s first Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated. With some preparation, you can offer them a nutritious, festive meal that everyone can enjoy. Whether you go for the spoon-feeding option or the baby-led weaning approach, these easy-to-make recipes will take the pressure off and let you enjoy the celebration without worrying about mealtime.

Remember, prepping ahead is the key to a smoother, more relaxed Christmas Day—especially when navigating the chaos of family gatherings or staying away from home. With these simple and healthy baby Christmas dinner ideas, you can keep mealtime stress-free and focus on making lasting memories with your little one.

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