Here's How To Turn Getting Ready For Santa Into A Festive Family Tradition

Leaving some milk and cookies out for Santa is fun for kids and teaches them kindness. Some parents even leave a shot of whiskey or sherry — *insert mom/dad drink of choice* — for the big guy to help him keep warm. Although, I'm not sure if Santa should be drinking while driving that big sleigh around. Sounds like it could be dangerous.

If Santa gets some treats, it's only fair that his reindeer do too, right? As a kid, my favorite part was seeing teeth marks on the carrots in the morning, which would make my imagination run wild.

Christmas stockings are one of the best parts of Christmas morning. All the little surprises you get after opening the presents are just the icing on the cake.

This old classic really sets the mood for Christmas with its festive imagery and whimsical details. I loved this one as a kid and it's a tradition to read it every year on Christmas Eve among close friends and family.

You can have the kids write a note or draw a picture for Santa to see when he comes to deliver their presents — and maybe even have them leave their report card out for good measure. (Assuming their grades were "nice," of course.)

Some super cute Christmas pajamas are always a must-have when you're getting ready for the big day, like these adorable Snoopy PJs from Pottery Barn Kids. For a full-on Peanuts-themed Christmas Eve, pick up a Snoopy Holiday Tabletop Gift Set, too ($12, Pottery Barn Kids): There's a plate, bowl, and cup, all decorated with merry Snoopy and Woodstock illustrations (perfect for serving Santa's cookies and milk).

If you don't have a chimney, maybe you can have the kids unlock the window or door so Santa can easily let himself in, without waking up the whole household.

From older classics like It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, to more contemporary films like A Christmas Story and Home Alone, there's something special about snuggling up with the family on Christmas Eve to watch some of your favorites together.

These days there are apps where you can actually track Santa. The most famous one would be the NORAD app. NORAD stands for North American Aerospace Defense Command, who have been tracking Santa since 1955 (a tradition which started with a misprint in a Sears ad, according to NPR). Now in 2018, they have an actual app where you can track Santa and see where he is in the world on Christmas Eve.

Give Santa a call on Christmas Eve! And not just a regular phone call either: You can actually FaceTime Santa with special Santa video call apps. There are even apps that measure whether you're on the naughty or nice list, as if the verbal threats weren't enough — what a time to be alive.

Get your spy cam ready with your Santa Spy Cam app (available on Google Play and iTunes, according to the company's website) that will show your children video footage of Santa and his elves in your house, keeping the magic alive. Unless, Santa has had one too many shots of whiskey. Maybe it's a better idea to just stick to the milk and cookies.

After experiencing a traumatic c-section, this mother sought out a doula to support her through her second child’s delivery. Watch as that doula helps this mom reclaim the birth she felt robbed of with her first child, in Episode Three of Romper's Doula Diaries, Season Two, below. Visit Bustle Digital Group's YouTube page for more episodes, launching Mondays in December.