Millennium Celebrations
By Kathryn E. Livingston for Your Baby Today
More than 300,000 babies are born each month on average in the United
States, according to National Vital Statistics Reports. But with the
fever to conceive a millennium baby that peaked last April 9th, it's
quite likely that January 2000 will yield a baby bumper-crop.
Delivering
a millenium-baby is one way to make the day memorable! For many of you
who are already parents, you may be thinking about how you, too, can
make the night a special one for your family. Here, some tips on
planning for New Year's Eve:
- Out on Your Own. For parents who are going out as a couple,
babysitting fees may be inflated (one woman advertised her services on
the web for $3,500 a night!). Most likely your local sitter will be
pleased with a hefty tip, as long as you schedule well in advance.
Restaurants and resorts worldwide have planned special menus and galas
for the grand evening with events ranging from world cruises, to two
a.m. hors d'oeuvres parties. If you opt to go out, make your
reservations now (or yesterday!), and don't be surprised to find high
prices.
- Baby's Night Out. For those who plan to take baby
along, the millennium options are many. Smuggler's Notch, a popular
family ski resort in Vermont, for instance, is planning a three-day
millennium celebration that includes moonlight snow shoeing and
fireworks. The resort provides daycare for babies six weeks old and up.
Restaurants are also hopping with millennium menus; Ed Debevic's in
Beverly Hills (also found in other locations around the country),
offers an early family "bash" from 5:30 to 8, with lots of treats for
youngsters. Some entire cities, including Reading, Massachusetts and
Portland Oregon, have plans for town-wide celebrations. If you're lucky
enough to live in a millennium-minded municipality, even babies in
snuglies or backpacks will be able to drink in the excitement of the
New Year without wandering far from home.
- Y2K at Home. Many parents prefer to ring in the New
Year in their own cozy quarters. Invite some friends or relatives, plan
a special menu, stock up on champagne, balloons, and confetti, and get
out the camcorder so your baby will have a permanent record of what the
grown-ups were so excited about. Planning a get-together with other new
parents--neighbors, friends from LaMaze, for instance, might be fun.
When
your baby gets ready to snooze, (whether it's before or after the ball
drops), his crib will be only a heartbeat away, and you can share the
first moments of the year 2000 with your larger loved one.
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