Iraya Baby's first Christmas: a personalised gift that stays in the family
It's worth saying early on: your baby won't remember their first Christmas. Their parents and grandparents will. That's why this year's present works best if you think of it as a keepsake for the family, and for the baby too, when they're older and ask what it was like.
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What a baby of 0-12 months actually uses, and what ends up in a drawer
Before their first birthday a baby uses very few things, and most of them only briefly. Plenty of December presents never even come out of the box.
- Toys for later on: a scooter or anything with small pieces spends months in the cupboard.
- Toys with lights and sounds: at this age they hold their interest for a few minutes; if you do buy one, make sure it has an off switch.
- One soft toy too many: the first one is exciting; the fifth no longer fits in the cot.
- What does last: things they use now and you keep afterwards. A book to read to them in your arms fits the bill: today they listen to your voice and look at the pictures; in a few years they'll read it themselves.
How to turn the present into a keepsake with a date on it
An object becomes a keepsake when it carries something that belongs only to that moment. In a book, the simplest way is the dedication. In IrayaBooks stories you write it for free before ordering (up to 140 characters) and it's printed inside the book. Add the date and the place: “Your first Christmas, at your grandparents' house, December 2026”.
The second thing is for the family to be in it. In The Arms That Rock You the baby and their mum both appear, each drawn with their own face, in everyday scenes (the lullaby, bath time, the rocking chair): exactly the things that are forgotten first.
The two baby books: which one fits, and what about the big brother or sister
For this first year there are two stories. The Day You Arrived is just about the baby: it's written in verse, with short lines for reading aloud, and illustrated as if it were made of felt and wool. It's the one to choose when the present comes from someone outside the household, because a photo of the baby is all you need. The Arms That Rock You is the one for mum and baby: it's meant to be ordered from home, because you also need a photo of her (one of the two of them together will do).
Is there an older sibling aged 2 or over? They'll be opening presents that day too, and they can have their own story in the same order (the second one costs €29.99). In a couple of years, when the little one turns two, they can appear together in The Mystery of the Torn Map.
Photos of a baby a few months old: what works and what doesn't
We'll be upfront, because it matters: with babies under 6 months the cover is only approximate. Their face doesn't have many defined features yet, so the character looks less like them. From 6 months on, the likeness improves a lot.
The photo that works best is a close-up, in daylight (next to a window is ideal), with their eyes open and visible. Watch out for Christmas photos: a Santa hat covers the hair and forehead, and the website will ask you for another one without it. If they're in someone's arms, that's fine: if needed, you mark which one is the baby on the website.
The December calendar, counting backwards
Every book is printed when you order it, and a person checks it page by page before it goes to the printer. It usually takes 7 to 9 working days from ordering, and in December there's the long weekend from the 6th to the 8th and more parcels than ever.
To have it by Christmas Eve, order before 9 December. If you're giving it on Three Kings' Day, before 17 December. These dates are a guide: the sooner, the less stress. Ordering in November has another advantage: if the first photo doesn't convince you, there's time to try another without keeping one eye on the calendar.
Our books
The Day You Arrived
The Arms That Rock You
Dinosaur Valley
The Sock Planet
The Mystery of the Torn MapFrequently asked questions
Does it make sense to give a book to someone who doesn't understand words yet?
Yes, as long as someone reads it to them. At this age what counts is the voice of whoever is reading, the rhythm of the rhymes and pictures with faces.
Can I write the dedication in Spanish, Catalan, Basque or Galician?
Yes. The whole story is printed in the language you choose, and you write the dedication yourself, in whichever language you like.
Should I make it now if my baby will be three months old at Christmas, or wait?
You can make it now: the cover will be approximate, and you see it before you pay. If you'd rather have a closer likeness, another option is to give it on their first birthday, when their face is more defined.
Is the baby book still right if they're nearly one by Christmas?
Yes: both baby books are designed for the first year, and at 10 or 11 months the likeness is already good. From age 2, the dinosaur or sock stories are a better fit.