SANTA & BABY

Taking baby to visit Santa for the first time? Here are a few handy hints to help make it a fun experience.

​Taking baby to see Santa can be an interesting holiday experience. At Santa Magic Studios, we do our best to insure you get the very best photographic keepsakes.  Here are a few things to keep in mind for your little one.

Consider the age of your little elf

Newborns are easy street when it comes to Santa pictures because they can (and do) sleep through everything. You might want to consider keeping a little distance between For newborns please remind Santa to put on a fresh pair of gloves.  He see's several germ filled little tykes a day and we desire to be as protective as possible for children, especially the babies.

Babies that are slightly older and are going through a separation anxiety stage might have a rougher time looking at the big ol' scary dude. It might help to ease into the picture by doing a family shot first where you're holding your baby before handing her/him over to Father Christmas.

Go during "happy hour"

If possible, try to schedule your visit during a time when your baby tends to be happy and alert. Taking him/her to see Santa when it's close to nap time is just asking for trouble. Many babies tend to be most easy going earlier in the day, so try to shoot over to see Santa after your little one wakes up from a morning nap.  Also, make sure that they are fed and their little tummy is happy.  If your little guy or gal is still in diapers, make sure you bring a change with you.

Plan what to wear in advance

Pick out what you want your baby to wear the night before and consider packing a backup outfit just in case. Nothing's worse than waiting in line for an hour to see the big man only to have a diaper blowout derail your plans. Even if you aren't planning to be in the pictures, throw on some makeup and a cute outfit just in case you need to jump in the shot to keep baby happy.

Take a toy

Pack a toy that you can use to help keep baby's attention during picture time -- one that can be waved around the photographer so baby looks at the camera. If your child has a lovey, bring it along in case it offers some additional comfort.

Be jolly but don't overhype

Most importantly, have fun with it! Let's face it, baby won't remember his first Santa visit, but you will. Babies pick up on parent's stress so take a chill pill and enjoy the experience. Even if you only end up with a crying baby picture, it will still be a memorable holiday experience.  If your child is old enough to understand, they are going to see the big guy in the red suit, try not too make a real big deal out of it.  Sometimes, their excitement can turn to anxiety.  Try to be very laid back (not apprehensive) but act as though it's no big deal but a happy occasion.  Rather than talking about sitting in Santa's lap, talk about giving Santa their wish list and all the toy's he's going to bring.