Decorations That Are Safe for Children and Pets

It's getting closer and closer and it can't be stopped now. Christmas is coming quickly and now that Thanksgiving has passed everyone is decorating for it! The Christmas season is truly a well decorated season. It is the one holiday of the year that really get's done all out. From the tree to the lights on the porch and the stockings on the wall we decorate well for Christmas.

Families with children and pets need to take certain precautions when decorating for the holidays. There are certain decorating items that can pose a threat to their safety and health. The first is the Poinsettia Plant. Holly, also. These are as poisonous when consumed as they are beautiful to look at. A child or pet that eat one will become very ill, and need emergency care.

Another thing that can be dangerous to both children and pets is tinsel. The beautiful and shiny strands can be put into the mouth of a curious baby or a playful pet and can then accidentally be swallowed. If they are swallowed there is a chance of them wrapping around things they shouldn't and doing a lot of harm. Treatment will be needed. It is best to use tinsel only at the tops of the tree. This can be tastefully done by spreading it thinner as you apply it down the tree. It makes it look like silver snow, and is not reachable by children or pets.

Yet another thing that will keep Christmas safe for your children and pets is to make sure that the tree cannot tip over. It must be secured to the wall behind it. To do this use a rope. Take the rope, about six feet long, and slip in between the branches towards and to the trunk of the tree. Pull both ends behind the tree to the wall and make a knot. Secure it to the wall and the tree will not tip over. It will be secured. It's the same idea as anchoring dresses are tall shelves. Being that the rope is pulled tightly behind the tree it will not be seen.

Checking the lights carefully is another way to keep your children and pets safe. Make sure there are no broken lights, or exposed or damaged wires. Make sure that the plug in is fitting properly into the outlet, and is not very old. Keeping lights higher up on the tree like the tinsel is a great idea. Children get curious, and have been known to tug on and chew on lights. Pets also love to chew on the wires which could electrocute them, or start a fire.

The ornaments on the tree or otherwise used in your holiday decorating could also pose a threat to children and pets. Many of them, most actually are made of thin glass. To a child they look like a toy. To a pet they look like a ball. When a child drops one, or a pet chews one, they break. They break easily being that the glass is so thin. It doesn't take much to get cut by that thin glass either. The best thing to do is to use plastic bulbs. They are harder to find, but well worth the search and just as beautiful.

There are several things you can do to make sure that your Christmas is a safe one this year. Use silk poinsettias, and plastic or silk holly. Keep tinsel and lights out of reach. Anchor the tree to prevent it from toppling if tugged on. Using plastic ornaments and decorating items will eliminate the chances of bad cuts. Thanks for reading and take care!