I'm not a December baby's mom, but as a cake smash photographer, I've worked with many December babies over the years—and they are often little firecrackers with such Sagittarius energy! One little boy I photographed last winter still makes me smile. The moment he arrived, he marched straight past me to the cake and decided the balloons were far more fun than anything else. Usually, babies take a little time to warm up, but he dove right in, full of confidence and joy. His mom said, "That's just him—he always has his own plan." Interestingly, I rarely see December babies cry from separation anxiety in the studio. I think this might be because their early months often include summertime outings, which help them get comfortable around new people. For holiday-themed celebrations, one of my most popular ideas is a hot chocolate bath after a cake smash. While I usually offer milk baths, in December I swap it for a cozy, festive hot chocolate setup—complete with marshmallows—to capture the magic of both their birthday and the holiday season. Parents love it, and the photos are always unforgettable. Credit: Samantha Xu, cake smash photographer, Edmonton, Canada
Celebrating a December birthday can definitely come with its unique set of challenges, especially with it being so close to the holiday season. My youngest is a Capricorn, and he really lives up to his sign--very practical and incredibly focused, even for a young kid. He's been like that since he could walk and talk, always organizing his toys or making lists of what games he wants to play each day. For his birthday parties, we've had to get a bit creative to make sure his day feels special amidst the holiday hustle. One year, we threw a 'half-unbirthday party' in the summer so he could enjoy fun outdoor activities with his friends, which was a huge hit. For his actual birthday in December, incorporating themes that aren't holiday-related has worked wonders. Last year, we did a dinosaur-themed indoor scavenger hunt, which was a blast for the kids and super easy to set up! It's important to make sure their day feels distinct and special from the other celebrations this time of year. --- Jane L., mom of two in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
My firstborn is a Capricorn just like me, and I'd say the personality match is pretty spot on. As Capricorns, we're practical, responsible, and ambitious by nature. Of course, at five years old, the "ambitious" side hasn't fully shown up yet, but his practical and responsible streaks are already there—he likes to get his schoolwork done right away so he can spend the rest of his time playing with friends. For celebrating his December birthday, we like to make it special despite the busy holiday season. This year, we're planning a kids' cosplay party—he's into Pokemon, so I'll be dressing up as Ash Ketchum while the kids come in their favorite costumes. Looking ahead, once PokePark opens in Japan, we'd love to celebrate there together since it ties right into his love for Pokemon. Carl Pantaleon, father of two in Cebu City, Philippines