Every family has its own traditions for Raksha Bandhan and the first rakhi is a big occasion. There are many things you can do to make your baby's first rakhi a truly memorable experience. Of course your little one will not remember it but you will and the photos will be there for all times to come.   

Traditionally, sisters made intricate rakhis for their brothers. However, the market is now flooded with all sorts of rakhis from simple threads to fancy gold and diamond rakhis and there are also several options for gifts. 

See the festival through your baby's eyes: Babies don't quite understand what all the excitement in the air is about. If the buzz around them gets too much, they might get overwhelmed, scared or feel irritated. To prevent this, key the celebration down to suit your baby's age and temperament. Take things slow and make it short but sweet. There's always time for more as your baby grows older!  

Choose a special rakhi: Your baby's first rakhi is always special and there is such a variety to choose from. Your baby's cousin sisters might not choose age appropriate rakhis, however. You can either have a talk with his sisters' mums before Raksha Bandhan or have backup options handy to offer as an alternative. Simple rakhis are best as long as the colour doesn't run. Many varieties exist in the market but often they are not quite safe for a small baby. High-end rakhis are made with gold, silver and precious stones and can even be personalised with names engraved in the metal. But spending a lot on the rakhi is not the only way to make your baby's first Raksha Bandhan special. You can also personalise a baby rakhi by using tiny wooden beads that often exist in toy jewellery-making kits. Some even have letters so that you can spell out your baby's name. Do make sure the thread is strong so that the beads don't come out as they may pose a choking risk. 

Pick age-appropriate gifts: Choosing the right gift makes the occasion more special. No matter the budget, you can find gifts that your little one's sisters will love. Once your baby gets old enough to choose the gifts himself, encouraging him to make the choice is a nice way of teaching him to think about what would please his sister and one of the many things that can help strengthen the relationship. Some popular choices are:

  • toys
  • gold or silver jewellery
  • gift hampers with chocolates, juices and other goodies
  • art and craft supplies
  • personalised stationery or photo frames
  • clothes
  • cash

Personalise the occasion with a keepsake: You could have some personalised keepsakes to celebrate the special day. Popular options include:

  • Photo mugs with a photo of both siblings
  • Photo candles
  • Personalised calendars, photo frames, T-shirts and wall clocks
  • A handprint of both siblings

Invent your own traditions: You can even personalise the celebration by bringing in an activity that your little ones do every year on this day. However, try not to start traditions that require too much time, space, effort or money. You want to be able to keep them going over the years, so focus on the simple ones that allow you to spend time together as a family. You could have a family photograph taken each year. Or plan a visit to an orphanage with some sweets. Some even have a yearly ritual of planting a tree in the neighbourhood park that grows as the siblings grow!