New Mom Vibes

I’m SO excited for Christmas this year! This is the first time that my family of four will be spending Christmas in our new home.  So of course, as soon as we excitedly moved into the month of December, I was ready to put up the Christmas tree.  My first thought during my jolt of excitement was “time to bring out the ornaments, tinsel and the prop Christmas gifts” (yes, I put out fake Christmas gifts). But then I realized that I had to slow down a little. 

As I quickly came to my senses realizing that I’m now a mom of a baby and toddler, I needed to really think this whole Christmas tree thing through.  With a toddler that likes to climb, jump and grab everything and a baby that puts everything in his mouth, how do I baby proof and toddler proof my Christmas tree to make sure it’s safe for my young kids to be around?

It actually wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. Although there are a few changes you have to make in order to baby proof your Christmas tree, you can still enjoy putting up a beautifully decorated tree. 

Go for an Artificial Christmas tree

As much as we all love having a fresh Christmas tree in the house an artificial Christmas tree might be easier to manage with a toddler running around the house.  You won’t have to worry about the prickly pine needles falling off the Christmas tree and your toddler stepping on them or your baby putting them in their mouth.  If you miss the smell of a fresh Christmas tree, you can always use an air freshener or candle (with caution) to bring the fresh scent into your home.

Use Shatterproof Ornaments

You may have to put the family handmade glass ornaments away for a few years. To avoid shattering glass everywhere, go for shatterproof ornaments.  If a shatterproof ornament falls off of the tree, it’ll just bounce off the floor and roll around. This makes for a better option so you won’t be picking up tiny pieces of glasses, or worse, having a toddler step on a piece of glass.

If you can’t go without having special keepsake glass ornaments on your tree, keep them at the top of the tree that way your kids can’t reach them.

Hang Ornaments with Ribbon

Instead of using hooks to hang the ornaments, use ribbon instead.  You don’t want your toddler or baby getting a hold of one of the hooks as it can be a horrible choking hazard. Using a piece of string or ribbon will do the trick for a few years.

Avoid Tinsel

If you’re one of the many people who like to throw a ton of tinsel on your tree to add that extra shine to your Christmas tree, I’m sorry to say but you’re going to have to put that away for a few years.  Tinsel can be a major choking hazard for babies and toddlers and since it’s so shiny, they are FOR SURE going to try to grab it.

Put a Fence Around the Tree

In order to keep your tree completely out of reach, buying a fence to put around the tree is a simple way to remain pretty much stress free regarding your Christmas tree. There are so many options out there like buying a small white fence, stacking tall heavy gifts around the tree, or if you’re like me and don’t want to spend money, just put that old play yard to use and use that as the fence.   

See? It’s not that difficult! You can toddler proof your tree without ruining your dreams of having an awesome Christmas tree. Happy holidays!

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