Mums Fuming Over Covid-Safe Santa Photos

Christmas is going to be very different this year! There’ll be no crowds of carollers or champagne-flowing festivities. But mums are miffed most of all that Covid-safe Santa Photos are the only way kids will get a pic with the big man in red.

Santa pics are big business, so it’s no surprise that shopping centres and photography companies are finding a way to modify their offering to make Covid-safe Santa photos. But parents are not pleased with the idea of socially distanced Christmas memories and have taken to social media to express their frustration.

The whole concept of Santa photos was a bit up in the year this year and we had no idea whether they would go ahead at all. So many mums are relieved that Christmas photos have got the green light in many shopping centres across the country.

No Christmas Cuddles With Covid-Safe Santa Photos

But other parents are disappointed that there will be no kids sitting on Santa’s knee this year. In the COVID-era, Santa will be positioned 1.5 metres away from the child and may even have to wear a mask in some cases. I sure hope the photographers have a wide enough lens to capture the whole scene.

What To Expect

Other major changes to expect would be younger Santas as those over 60 years old are more vulnerable to COVID-19. And then, of course, you’ll need to prepare your kids that they won’t be able to cuddle Santa this year. They should still be able to chat with the Big Man, and tell him what they want in their Christmas stocking but it will have to be at a respectful distance.

Some shopping centres may even have Santa selfie stations, where families can take their own photos with digital Santas.

One organised mum has already booked her socially distanced Christmas pic with Santa and she shared the sample photo showing Santa seated on his throne and the kids 1.5 metres away, on the Christmas Mums facebook page.

I Hate It!

Many mums vented their frustration at the new-look Covid-safe Santa photos.

“I’m disappointed because we have a frame specifically for all the Santa photos and it only takes portrait photos, and it looks like these will be landscape. I will need to seek out another option this year,” said one mum.

“I mean my kids get nervous seeing Santa anyway, but there is no point to this,” said another.

“Oh I hate it!! I understand why it’s necessary, it just looks awful to me. We won’t be doing it this year. We are supporting a small local photographer instead.”

“Given the 1.5 distance required, there are far better ways and more appealing to the eye. Surely in this century it could be thought of better??”

“Seriously…. if my local is doing photos like this looks like ill be skipping a yr this is a joke my kids have been excited to see santa again not stand 1.5m away from him.”

“What’s the point? May as well be sitting next to a picture of Santa if you have no interaction with him.”

“Oh imagine all the tears trying to explain to little kids they can’t get close to Santa.”

“My daughter was only just saying yesterday how excited she is to cuddle Santa again soon. I feel so sad for her, she’s missed so much this year.”

Give Me A Discount

Others feel that packages should be discounted given the lack of Santa cuddles:

“I get it but wouldn’t be paying the same price as normal when I’ll have to deal with screaming children when they can’t get close to Santa. Will probably skip it this year.”

Stop Grumbling!

Other mums supported the move and told the moaners to hush up:

“The health and safety of everyone is far more important. Whilst the whole situation isn’t exactly pleasant, we need to respect the rules and regulations that have been put in place. This is better than nothing.”

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic that they’ve been able to come up with an alternative so kids don’t have to miss out on Santa photos and visits this year!!”

“I think it’s awesome! It will be great to look back at the photos and show the kids how life was for them during a pandemic.”

Make Another Plan

While many mums already had their finger on the booking button, others said they would be looking for alternatives to shopping centre Santa pics this year.

“Time to get close friends/family to pitch in and get a great santa suit and get a mate to dress up and come to each kids house lol”

“I feel like we should just take our own this year? Not all of The kids would understand why they can’t sit with Santa”

What are you going to do about Santa photos this year? Are you going to get Covid-safe Santa photos done or make another plan? Tell us in the comments below.

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49 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 10 Dec 2023
    8:53 am
Oh so what…..its only an issue if you make it one. I think the photos are fine and many children dont like sitting on Santas knee anyway

- - mom111059 said
  - 30 Jan 2021
    11:17 pm
Covid has changed lots of things and as long as we keep safe I think Santa doesn’t need to be cuddling our kids.

- - mom101628 said
  - 19 Dec 2020
    11:38 pm
I think it’s about time we stopped the commercialisation and had photos of happy children opening their presents in the family album this year and all the future years onwards.

- - mom462929 said
  - 02 Dec 2020
    10:06 pm
This is my baby’s first christmas. We have Grandpa on board with an amazing Santa costume.

- - katgal484 said
  - 01 Dec 2020
    9:13 am
Santa photos are different this year yes. But this year is different. We did our yesterday as my daughter had to have a blood test so I thought a reward to see Santa was ideal. The kids still loved seeing him and getting their photo taken. They understand this year is different. And the photo was good. We just need to accept this is how things are this year.

- - anna213795 said
  - 30 Nov 2020
    6:22 am
I’ll never take my kids to have photos with Santa, getting them to sit on the lap of a stranger dressed up as Santa Claus. I’ve never understood why people do this

- - celebrity said
  - 28 Nov 2020
    3:57 pm
We all do what we have to do to stay safe. I’m lucky not to have little ones I can see how it would be a disappointment. though.

- - ashna9 said
  - 01 Nov 2020
    9:50 pm
Our children have dealt with Covid all year so I think they will be fine with these changes too. It’s the parents that aren’t happy.

- - WiseLife89 said
  - 01 Nov 2020
    11:09 am
This idea is just dumb IMO- I will not be wasting my money on this stupid attempt at Santa photos. Get someone young/fit and healthy to put the suit on I dont care. I just want the usual sitting in the lap photo- like honestly what a sick disgusting joke after the god awful year we’ve all had. I am fuming

- - mumma said
  - 26 Oct 2020
    1:46 pm
As mentioned, most Santa’s are 60+ (to get the authentic affect)
So to be a decent human, and protect the elderly and low immune, this year, suck it up and accept it has to be done differently.
The sample picture provided is very well done in both photos.
I’d personally choose the mega phone one as it adds to the year as one to remember when the world stopped and we learnt to adapt!

- - mom351435 said
  - 22 Oct 2020
    1:53 pm
Maybe we go back to the ‘good old days’ where dad’s, uncles or grandfather’s get dressed up as Santa to get the best Santa photos!
- WiseLife89 replied
  
  01 Nov 2020 , 11:10 am
  Yep this is my plan and actually get a decent photo instead of wasted money on that joke
- - tessie said
  - 22 Oct 2020
    11:16 am
I’m lucky I don’t have to go through this as there are no Santa photo chances where we live. Why not try to explain to the kids (who are old enough) that Santa needs to stay safe so he can still deliver presents at Christmas time and that’s why they can’t give him a cuddle.

- - rovermum said
  - 21 Oct 2020
    11:28 am
Just roll with it. Everything about this year is different, so document it!
- WiseLife89 replied
  
  01 Nov 2020 , 11:11 am
  No thank you! I do not want to document this god awful year, it can stay in the past and never be mentioned again
- - mom19782016 said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    2:43 pm
I think they’ve done a great job working around restrictions

- - jekalouise88 said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    2:35 pm
my kids are scared of santa so covid safe santa photos are fine with us! this is part of our xmas session last year – 6 kids and we managed to keep santa at arms length for almost all the photos. if they look like this why not??

- - mom467569 said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    2:12 pm
I don;t understand – we all know the situation. If you don’t like it find another alternative

- - mom348878 said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    1:15 pm
Maybe everyone could do what they did when I was a kid, get the dads, uncles, grandpas and even mums too maybe to dress as Santa, I always knew it was my uncle but it was funny! The good old days.
- WiseLife89 replied
  
  01 Nov 2020 , 11:12 am
  Save some money and give rise to a new tradition maybe, we will be doing this for sure
- - mom109199 said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    11:33 am
So, let me understand this. You would rather have your child and the wonderful Santa potentially exposed to Covid 19 rather than accept a new format for the photo. Be happy if they happen at all. This has been a totally retched year and it doesn’t look like getting any better. This may be the way forward indefinitely. There is no guarantee of a vaccine. We need to get used to the new normal, social distancing, masks, sanitizer and everything else.

- - Mumma'sLittleHelpers said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    10:36 am
It marks the end of a strange year, to be remembered by covid safe santa. Big deal, it’s just how it is

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 20 Oct 2020
    9:34 am
What do people expect? It sucks but we’ve got to get through this! Just think the photo will be something to show the grandkids a historical reminder of what we lived through.

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Article Mums Fuming Over Covid-Safe Santa Photos

Christmas is going to be very different this year! There’ll be no crowds of carollers or champagne-flowing festivities. But mums are miffed most of all that Covid-safe Santa Photos are the only way kids will get a pic with the big man in red.