Your December baby (and how to keep them happy when Christmas and birthdays collide)
There’s a lot going on in the month of December with Christmas, end of the school year, summer holidays and endless parties and family get-togethers. Throw a baby in the mix and life gets even busier. I should know, as I went into labour on Christmas night with my first child, and gave birth in the early hours of Boxing Day morning.
But there’s something very special about December babies. It’s a unique time of year and those born during this month have a host of wonderful traits and characteristics. So if you’re due this December, you’ve got a lot to look forward to.
Longer life expectancy
A study published in the Journal of Aging Research looked at the link between birth month and life longevity. The article refers to earlier German research, which revealed that those born in December are more likely to live to 105+ than those born in the month of June. So if your baby is born in December, they’re set to enjoy many more birthdays to come!
A rare breed
A December birthdate is much more rare than other months, making your Christmas bub even more unique and special. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the most popular birthdate is September 17th, which means high competition for your future birthday party dates around then. December babies, however, have the rarest birthdays of all, with the least common birthdates being on the 25th and 26th. So having a December baby means your little one will stand out from the crowd, as there will be less birthday parties around the same time.
It’s all in the stars
If you have a December baby they will be either a Sagittarius or a Capricorn, both star signs with appealing traits. Those born before the 21st will be under the sign of Sagittarius and are said to be honest, fair-minded and optimistic. They will love freedom and travelling and attract friends, be absolutely hilarious and will attract friends easily.
On the other hand, those born from the 21st on will be under the sign of Capricorn. These babies are ambitious, persistent, sensitive, hardworking and responsible. They have enormous energy and thrive in positions of power of leadership. Whichever sign your December bub falls under, there are some excellent characteristics in store!
December celebrities
If your baby is born in December, they’re in good company, as there are many famous and hugely successful December babies in the world. Listed below are but a few:
- Bette Midler (1/12/45)
- Britney Spears (2/12/80)
- Walt Disney (5/12/01)
- Nicki Minaj (8/12/82)
- Emily Dickinson (10/12/1830)
- Frank Sinatra (12/12/15)
- Mayim Bialik (12/12/75)
- Steve Buscemi (13/12/75)
- Taylor Swift (13/12/89)
- Beethoven (16/12/1770)
- Jane Austen (17/12/1775)
- Billie Eilish (18/12/01)
- Brad Pitt (18/12/63)
- Christina Aguilera (18/12/80)
- Steven Spielberg (18/12/46)
- Jake Gyllenhaal (19/12/80)
- Samuel L. Jackson (21/12/48)
- Denzel Washington (28/12/54)
- LeBron James (30/12/84)
- Henri Matisse (31/12/1869)
How to keep your December child happy
On one hand, it’s fantastic to have a birthday in such a celebratory month, but it also means that with all that celebration, a December birthday can get lost. However thanks to my own December baby, I have some hot tips to ensure your little one is smiling the whole month through:
- Try to keep their birthday and Christmas celebrations completely separate.
2. Don’t combine birthday and Christmas presents – and encourage relatives and close friends to do the same.
3. Buy non-Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon and cards for their gifts. It’s tempting to make use of the Christmas paper, as it’s readily available and “will just be ripped off anyway” – but don’t do it!
4. Be ready with party preparations and organise the birthday party before Christmas, as families tend to go away on holidays afterwards.
5. Ignore random people you meet in the street, at the shops, the park even at the hairdressers, who always feel compelled to express sorrow and pity for your child born around Christmas, and tell your child all the time how lucky they are to, firstly be born, and secondly, be born into such a fun and exciting month!
