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Toddler-Proof Your Christmas Tree
December 9, 2008 at 6:31 PM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (10)
Photo by Mommygoose
I'm still stunned at how easily and painlessly the Christmas tree went up Sunday in our house.
Did I mention I have a toddler? As well as a kindergartner who still acts like toddler?
Yet there were no screaming fights, no toppled tree, no broken
ornaments (well, maybe just one). As I strung the lights, my 4-year-old interior decorator quietly removed all the boxed ornaments and lined them up on the stair risers. My 5-year-old helped out when the spirit moved him.
Except for the poor glass angel, the ornament hanging went seamlessly, too. And now it's Day Two and the tree is still standing. It's a real milestone!
So I was sorry to hear about all the Toddler Moms (membership required group) with younger tots who are still having a hard time keeping their kids away from the greenery. They've been trading ways to childproof their trees.
A number of moms erect those plastic yard gates around the tree, but at more than $100, that wouldn't have been an option for me. Here are some cheaper tot-proofing strategies:
- My sister one year put her tree in the play pen because her DD almost
brought the whole tree crashing down on her when she pulled on one of
the lower branches. kittymom
- We have a small tree that we put on a table so they can't reach it. We will get a bigger one when they are older. For now, no point in making myself miserable trying to keep them away. TawnyR
- My husband let our then 18 month old (now 2 1/2) touch the tree all he wanted when he first put it up. He told William, "You can touch it now while I'm right here. After I leave, you cannot touch it anymore. My husband let him get his curiosity out and then it just wasn't so interesting anymore. dreaksgirl
- I will end up tying the top of the tree to the curtain rod. Not only do I have the little one, but I also have two kittens. I have shatter-proof ornaments and this year they will only be so far down the tree. mom20yearsapart
It also wouldn't hurt to take a glance at this holiday safety tip sheet for more info on how to keep trees, lights, and other decorations safe around kids and the entire family.
What Christmas tree, menorah, or other holiday decoration disasters have you encountered over the years?
FILED UNDER: activities, discipline, milestones
Comments:
We have ornaments my husband has been given by his grandmother , 33 years worth of collectables. My son is hell bent on destroying them 1 by one. So far he has only destroyed the easily replaceable balls on the tree. It is better than I had anticipated. We put up our tree a week before we decorated it and worked on no touching ...he still succumbs to temptation but much less than I anticipated.
We have two trees. A small 2ft one in a pot with just lights on it. I put that one out first and let the boys(2yr old twins) touch it and look at it. Told them to be gentle etc. After a day or two they lost interest.
I put up a 4ft tree in their playroom with lights, and shatterproof ornaments. They've touched the tree, taken a few ornaments off here and there but that's it. Now they just get excited when I turn the lights on in the evening. Next year we'll get out the big tree.
My 23-month-old helped my hang the ornaments - which are all plastic by the way - and everyday he re-arranges the ones at the bottom of the tree as well. So far so good and it has been up about 5 days now. I recommend plastic - ALL PLASTIC!
We have a few small trees around the house that Dylan cant get to. We also have the trees outside decorated. I found out last year that Christmas light wires are covered in Lead and the real tree needles omit Arsenic. With a Vaccine injured child you have to be very careful because they absorb more toxins then your average kid.
We put our tree up and let our 5yrs old decorate it. We then put it between the wall and our couch so we could put a gate up (a $10 one fro Wal-Mart) so our DD (11 months) couldn't get to it. She does reach over the gate to play with the lights and branches (it is a fiber optic light tree) and she just giggles. Maybe next year we will put it out with no gate, but not this year.
I, too, have a small tree on a table. It works, but I can't wait for a larger tree...
Our tree has been up since the week before Thanksgiving (see my journal post re: Our Thanksgiving Traditions to understand more) and we have had no problems BUT now that it's Christmas time... it's time for a change!
And so...because our 8ft tree sits in our living room, right smack in the middle of the same room where all of the play toys are, I decided this year "just because" to decorate it with nothing but TOYS!
Along with the white lights, garland, and a star...I used Colorful Ball Pit Balls, Farm Animals, Cars etc. as the ornaments and a Tonka Car Rug for the tree skirt...and it's perfect!
The room is colorful & festive and the tree "matches" the existing "baby/toddler decor"!
xoxoxo's
We only put up a few ornaments and candy canes and put them out of the baby's reach. She will walk up and touch the lights or the branches but there's nothing else she can get into. Well, except for the tinsel and she hasn't bothered that. I just thought it was safer keeping out of her reach. It probably looks silly to other people but I'd rather be safe than pretty!
my boy likes to take off ornaments and put the back on . unfortunately he usually puts the back all in one area. i can always tell he has been at the tree when it is bare on one side and full loaded on the other.
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well i buy everything that is not breakable and i put the presents all around this year my problem will be keeping the presents wrapped lol my baby loves the sound of paper tearing
FIVEHAPPYHEARTS Dec. 9, 2008 at 7:05 PM