How Do You Baby Proof Your Christmas Tree?
How Do You Baby Proof Your Christmas Tree?We asked the Baby Hints and Tips Community how they baby proof their Christmas tree and got some great suggestions. Is there such thing as a toddler or baby proof Christmas tree? The verdict is in! Do you have a good one to add?
SEE ALSO: Christmas tree traditions
Protect your tree with baby and toddler barriers
The top vote for how to protect your festive decorations from your little one is with barriers. Most of the community voted for a barrier of some kind. Here are the top suggestions!
- Place it in a playpen
- Put it in a corner and use a fire guard to protect it
- Put it in a portacot
Top Hints and Tips from Australian Mums
- Play pen just doesn’t work for cats but keep kids away Amanda
- Yeah i pop my fire guard around ours. Lucky its a huge fire guard as we have a huge tree :-)) Kelly
- We got a baby play pen to use to protect the tree and presents. Though they can still reach some of the leaves; just don’t put anything on those leaves that you don’t want them to touch. Kylie
- I think I will definately need to buy a playpen. Im sure my 2yr old will understand not to touch..but my 9mnth old boy is like a spider monkey, the tree has no chance! Tamara
- I’ve been using a playguard around it. I had a one and two year old last year, there is no amount of repeating no and discipline that can keep them from constantly being on the tree. It’s a freakin lit up tree with shiny stuff all over; it screams “touch me.” They needed constant redirection. Emily
Opt for a small, elevated Christmas tree while kids are little
Next Australian mums recommended putting the tree up, or opting for a smaller tree while you have babies and toddlers in the house. This was a very popular choice for families living in apartments and cottages.
- We put ours up on a table. Also keep breakable decorations to a minimum. Keep presents away until last minute. Wrapped presents are too tempting. And let them play with it touch it when you are there so they don’t need to do it when your not. Tanya
- Last year we out ours on our buffet ( bought a mini tree) this year I am not sure what I will do yet, he is 2 so I am sure he will get to it wherever I put it! Melissa
Buy a baby proof Christmas tree – yes they exist!
Traditional Christmas tree is just too tempting for babies and toddlers? Here’s the perfect solution for mums – buy a baby proof Christmas tree!
- Buy one that shines different colours and you don’t have to decorate it Siah
- I have to have a Christmas tree; can’t not have one. I think a wooden one will do the trick. Caitlyn
- A felt tree on the wall with felt decorations. Jodi
- Fibre optic! Best thing we ever did….it’s pretty and colourful, and we just add a few balls from middle up. Our 9 yr old doesn’t touch…5.5 yr old still does sometimes… Will be interesting to see what our 11.5 month old (will be 1 by then) will do. Racheal
SEE ALSO: Christmas tree hand painting
Don’t make the temptation too great!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year (just ask the song writers!) so the temptation may prove too great for a curious and excited toddler! Our community suggests opting for a compromise… yes, have a tree, but keep baby and toddler proof options in mind.
- I don’t have any presents under it until Christmas Eve. Megan
- Ha ha well we have a life size Santa he moves his hips, dances and sings. EVERY kid is so scared of him my tree stays pretty perfect. Ha ha Fiona
- Half decorate the tree… just the top half out of reach of little hands!! It worked a treat for me last year… just had the lights down to the bottom but the rest up the top 2/3’ds of the tree. Melissa
SEE ALSO: Gift ideas for grandparents
Persistent Parenting for a Toddler Proof Christmas Tree
For toddlers, many of our community opted for toddler proofing via teaching. Persistent parenting, deciding on, and laying down the rules. Allowing children to explore but not destroy… While this might not work for younger kids, our parents were enthusiastic about this method for toddlers.
- Tell them no! You can’t not have a Christmas tree! And they soon learn not to touch it Carmen
- Don’t put anything around it, don’t give up, don’t think ‘I can’t be bothered’ a firm ‘no’ looking into their eyes and pull them away, the next time they do it raise your voice a little and continue getting louder each time they go for it and don’t give up because you can’t be bothered. Never put guards around things because when they go visiting they will want to touch everything because at home everything has a guard or lock. Never did that with my boys and never had a problem! Annette
- I think it’s important to teach toddlers boundaries which includes the Christmas tree. I set mine up whilst my almost 2 year old was in bed and when he woke explained that mummy had put up a very special tree with pressies under and special balls (obsessed with balls so call the baubles balls) that his just to look at not touch. His maybe touched the decorations once or twice however always asks. I also let him put a bauble with his name on the tree which he loved and told him now his a big boy he can help… Lauren
- I have a 3 year old. I took him to pick decorations and decorated it together. He knows he’s allowed to touch it so he isn’t overly interested because it’s not forbidden. It has fibre optic lights so he can’t pull them off and only decorations, no tinsel or beads etc. I just thought Christmas is for kids so they may as well have the pleasure of touching the tree… Megan
- Ask me this again next year! My 12 month old is so inquisitive and is not quite at the stage where I can reason with him. I have images of coming into the lounge room and finding him perched on top of the tree with a bauble on each ear… Hannah
SEE ALSO: Christmas colouring pages
Let the children play! At least until they’re bored!
Why opt for a baby proof Christmas tree when you can opt for a baby and toddler dream Christmas tree! These parents believe that an amazing Christmas tree is one the whole family can enjoy!
- Put the ornaments they CAN play with at their height. Place the more precious ones too high. Children will learn to respect the tree with experience. Kim
- I let my kids touch it and play with the balls, they usually get bored of it after a couple of days. Shona
- This worked for a 6 mth old and 18 mth old. We put it up in stages. First just the tree for a couple of days so you can teach them what it is, then the next layer we do is lights. Leave it for a couple of days so they adjust. Then it’s the decorations. Top half of tree where they can’t reach first then bottom half the next day. At the first sight of each stage we would look at the tree and explain it’s pretty but not to be touched. All our decorations are shatterproof and mostly plastic balls or ornaments. Won’t be using the glass balls until the youngest is 2 I reckon. Best time to teach them they can’t touch it is as soon as it goes up as it’s least tempting as just a tree without decs. Caz
- Let them decorate the tree themselves. No child will touch what they have made. Works for me. Carol
Introduce a Family Christmas Tradition
While the Christmas Tree is one of the most popular family Christmas traditions, there are other ways to engage your baby and toddler in the Christmas spirit – and they can be “truly yours”. Family Christmas traditions like starting a Christmas Eve Box or planning a charitable activity for your toddler can make a big difference in how your kids remember and feel about Christmas – beyond a baby proof Christmas tree.
We’ve got some amazing ideas for starting your own family Christmas tradition that you can start THIS YEAR.
