There are lots of milestones to celebrate in your baby’s first year, and with spring springing all around us and Easter just around the corner, it’s never too early to start creating some family traditions.
Even if chocolate is off the menu for a year or two, for the littlest family member at least, there’s still plenty you can do to start making Easter memories with your precious little bundle. And if you have older children, you can get them involved in making this an Easter celebration to remember.
Make up an Easter basket
Felt basket DIY by Alice and Lois. Easter basket ideas by Simply Stitched.
Putting together an Easter basket for your baby can be lots of fun for everyone. Find a shallow basket and line it with a nice soft fleece or even some coloured tissue paper that she can also have some fun with - babies love the sound of crinkling paper. Then fill it with Easter and spring-themed objects that you know she’ll enjoy exploring.
The contents of the basket can be a mixture of old and new, including favourite soft animal toys, shiny tactile objects, a cuddly blanket, a textured board book, a dinner set or a teething toy. You could even ask friends and other family members - grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, godparents - to contribute items to the basket.
We've put together a shopping page to help you find perfect the perfect gift for baby's Easter Basket.
1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 //
No chocolate, no problem
While babies do enjoy the taste of chocolate, the generally accepted wisdom on this subject is that you should avoid it for the first year at least. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t have some egg-based fun with your little one at Easter.
Colourful percussion eggs or nesting toys make the perfect tactile gifts to include in the Easter basket. If your baby is at the grasping stage, he'll enjoy taking them in and out of the basket. And even though he's too young for a big treasure hunt, a little game of 'hunt the egg' will provide an endless source of fun.
Something for the nursery
Woodland wall stickers from Koko Kids. Room decor by H&M. Lamb print from Etsy. Easter garland from Kirkland’s.
There are plenty of ways to introduce a little bit of spring into the nursery this Easter. The addition of cushions, a new picture for the wall, new bed linens, a colourful rug or a new bunny blanket will instantly brighten up your baby’s room.
Another simple yet beautiful idea is to create a springtime forest scene of your little one’s favourite woodland creatures using wall stickers. Here at Koko Kids, we have a delightful set of animal wall decals including a fox, a rabbit, birds, squirrels, hedgehogs and a racoon using vintage floral patterns. They’re easy to apply and re-apply, 100% biodegradable and, because they are made from a fabric that’s free from PVC, phthalates and other toxins, they are ideal for a toxic-free nursery.
Easter decoration ideas
Egg family decoration kit from Party Pieces. Bunny ornaments by Red Ted Art. Easter Tree from HobbyCraft.
The pretty decorations don’t have to be limited to the nursery. Easter provides a good opportunity to get crafty and set your inner creative free. This is also a great project to share with any older siblings or cousins in the family.
You can buy an Easter tree ready to decorate or if you prefer, check out your local florist or grab a branch from your own garden to decorate. Adorn the tree with Easter-themed decorations such as eggs and springtime animals. Your baby may not be able to help but she will enjoy looking at and touching the results and will be adding her own decorations before you know it in years to come.
For more inspiration here’s a quick and simple tutorial from Red Ted Art on making paper chick ornaments for your Easter tree.
Outdoor Easter activities
Your little one may be too young for egg decorating and big kid treasure hunts, but Easter is a great time to start involving them in the outdoor springtime activities.
If the weather permits, get the family outside in the garden or the park. Bring the Easter basket, throw down a rug and let baby play and explore while enjoying the colours, the smells and the sounds of spring, as well as getting some of that all-important vitamin D from the sunshine.
And if you have the time to get to the garden centre or supermarket before Easter, find a good spot and plant an instant spring garden. Primroses, petunias, tete-a-tete daffodils and other annuals can transform a small patch of flower bed into an instant garden for kids and the whole family to enjoy.
Get baby dressed for the occasion
Crocheted rabbit outfit by All About Amy. Rabbit hat from Amazon. Knitted lamb hat from Etsy. Baby romper from Not on the High Street.
Playing dress-up with your baby is always lots of fun, and Easter offers a great opportunity to do just that. Think chicks, and bunnies and lambs and prepare for maximum cuteness.
Check out Not on the Highstreet for some seriously sweet Easter outfit ideas from sleepsuits, booties and bibs to bunny ear bathrobes and jumpsuits.
Capture the moment
Floral headband from Etsy. Photography by Lianne Marie.
Floral headband from
So, the house and garden are looking springlike and your baby is dressed-up for the occasion. Make sure that you capture the moment by taking some great photos. Your baby may not remember their first Easter, but you’ll want to.
When it comes to the Easter photo shoot, you can either do it yourself or book a professional photographer. If you are going with a professional, check out their online portfolio to be sure you like their style, and find out what’s included in the price and whether they can also produce finished artwork for your walls.
Of course, you don’t have to call in a Pro. Some of your most memorable family moments can just as easily be captured on an iPhone. Here are some great tips on iPhone photography with kids and some good advice on DIY photography with very small babies.
Happy Easter!
We at Koko Kids hope that we’ve given you plenty of inspiration to make your baby’s first Easter a special one and we wish you all a very happy holiday with your little ones.