Decorating the Chirstmas Holiday Safely with Your Toddler

Decorating for the Christmas holidays can be fun and festive family activity, but always keep in mind while decorating with toddlers, that safety should be your main focus around the decorating process. Toddlers are very curious by nature and require much more attention around this particular holiday due to all the potential hazards that could arise from your decorating.

Personally, I would wait until one week before Christmas to put up the Christmas tree. Keep in mind, once you do put the Christmas tree up it will be a constant battle with the toddler due to their curious nature. It is completely normal for a toddler to be attracted by all the flashing lights and shinny ornaments, unless you can put the Christmas tree out of their reach, you will be running after them until you take the tree down.

Some people will purchase a three to four foot Christmas tree and stand it atop a table for everyone's viewing pleasure with minimal risk of injury. Artificial Christmas trees are a great way to go; with these trees there is no messy, sticky, prickly pine needles and less allergens in the air. I have herd of people setting their tree in a playpen, but this does not look appealing and you may have to get a smaller tree due to space issues with the playpen.

If you are putting up a fairly large Christmas tree, you will want to make sure that you have a very sturdy tree stand and see that the tree has been placed in the stand securely. Always make certain that all the glass decorations are put up high on the tree or left off completely. Do not use tinsel or garland as these are chocking hazards and can be very dangerous. Instead of using garland, use ribbon. Make sure that all of your ornaments are big enough that there is no risk for a chocking hazard, if you are not sure, take the object and try to put it through a toilet paper roll; if it goes through the roll, it is too small and should not be used. Keep all hanging ornaments at least three to four feet off the ground; this will prevent the toddler from pulling it down and possibly getting tangled up in it. Whether you are putting up a large or small, real or artificial, always hang the ornaments deeper into the Christmas tree branches, rather than hanging them closer to the edge of the branch. Instead of flashing lights, use lights that do not flash and are of one solid color, this will make it less appealing to the toddler.

So, bake some Christmas cookies, put on some great Christmas music, gather the whole family, including your toddler and have the most fun, festive and safe Christmas tree trimming party ever!

References for this article came from familyfun.go.com and christmascarnivals.com