Chinese New Year is around the corner and most families can’t wait to bask in the festivities. There’s the reunion dinner, visiting family and friends, open houses and other get-togethers – and loads and loads of CNY goodies!

However, if you’re a parent with a toddler in tow, it’s not always easy to just get up in the morning and go. So here are some things you can do, and plan for, before and during Chinese New Year to survive and enjoy the celebration.

1. Stock up

Parents frequently shop for fresh vegetables, snacks, and everyday items from their local market to feed their toddler. However, most stalls, especially Chinese-owned ones, will be closed during the first few days of the New Year.

As such, it’s a good idea to stock up on the essentials beforehand. You don’t want to have to drive all over town at the last minute looking for your young one’s favourite snack.

2. Buy CNY clothes smartly

Kids outgrow their clothes so quickly that spending a bomb on brand-new CNY clothing is probably not cost effective. Still, if you’d like to dress your toddler up for the festive season, go for red outfits within your price range that you will be happy to repurpose or give away once your child outgrows them.

More importantly, bring a spare change of comfortable clothing in an extra bag, because kids get sweaty, and a sweaty child is a grumpy child.

3. Coordinate ang pows

The little one will be receiving a lot of ang pows. So, prepare a compartment in your bag especially for his or her precious red envelopes, to avoid the hassle of mixing them up with your own (if you’re lucky enough to receive them).

Side tip: on your part as a presumably married parent, use a bag organiser to separate your RM1s from your RM5s and RM10s. It makes giving spur-of-the-moment red packets a lot more graceful.

4. Stick to a routine

While you would love to party non-stop for the entire 15-day duration of the Lunar New Year, remember to pace yourself. Spread the activities out and plan your visits between nap times. This minimises tantrums and allows both parent and toddler to get enough rest to fully enjoy the festivities.

You don’t want to end up with the nightmare of pacifying a screaming child when you’re out and about at a guest’s home. It’s heartbreaking, exhausting, and embarrassing all at once.

5. Eat first

Try to feed your toddler before you leave the house. That way, when you arrive at your relatives’ home, your young one’s tummy is full and they can focus on playing with their cousins, which will be easier than trying to sit your squirmy, energetic child at the dining table.

The other reason for feeding them first is to avoid your toddler going all-out on snacks and sweets. The last thing you want is to have to deal with an over-energised child… and the subsequent sugar crash.

6. Stay hydrated

With all the gatherings to attend, it’s easy to forget to stay hydrated. Remember to pack an extra bottle of water and constantly remind the little one to drink up.

A few extra diaper changes is better than having to look after a cranky, dehydrated, and potentially unwell child.

7. Keep them entertained

As much as you’d like to avoid using devices as your babysitter, phones and tablets can end up being a lifesaver during open houses and family visits. If your toddler doesn’t have cousins around the same age, kindly grant them some screen time to keep them happy and preoccupied.

Alternatively, bring along a book your young one would enjoy.

8. Prepare your child for the festivities

Lastly, you might find that telling your child about what you are about to do as a family, and why, could make the task easier with fewer meltdowns.

Treat your child like a person – as this is what he or she is! – and you will find that a little heads-up, and respect, will go a long way. Happy Chinese New Year!

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This article was written by Wei Yenn for makchic, a Malaysian-based online site for chic, curious, and spirited parents. makchic has been providing trustworthy and authentic family-related content since 2013. For diverse stories of parenthood that inform, support, and uplift all families, visit makchic.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.