How Do You Toddler Proof A Christmas Tree?

Mittsy

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep all the Christmas tree stuff and other decorations safe from a very mobile, curious, and mischevious toddler? Catharina has already broken her 2nd ornament, and I'm worried that we're soon going to have a bare tree. I'm also concerned about our feet if one of us steps on a overlooked small piece of ornament Evil or Very Mad

Melissa528 · Senior member **Joined:** 03 Nov 2005 **Posts:** 2084

Could you use bulbs that are not glass? I know that they are not as pretty but i'm sure that they will be much more safe for a toddler.

noodles · Full member **Joined:** 12 Nov 2005 **Posts:** 438

It may not be pretty but you could buy a round gate to put around the tree to keep her hands off of it. We also bought plastic decorations for the botttom of the tree and put the glass ones up top. Also, explain to her that they are Pretties...we look at pretties we don't touch them.
HTH
noodles

4chixmama · Senior member **Joined:** 20 Dec 2005 **Posts:** 1555

I've heard of people putting the tree in the playpen;I've never tried it though. I usually don't hang anything breakable too low on the tree. For the other decorations, I put most of the breakable things up higher, & leave things she can't hurt where she can get to them. I have soft, stuffed snowmen & things that she hauls around & plays with, & as long as she has some things she can reach that I don't take away, she doesn't pursue the other things for long.

ahmom · Senior member **Joined:** 30 Mar 2006 **Posts:** 3612

^^ When Adeliade was smaller- we put our tree is a pack and play. Still decorated the top part and put a red velvet blanket around the edges to dress it up a bit. Worked like a charm.

Last year- we put our tree in the spare room and Christened it "The Christmas Room." It's best feature was a door that we could close to keep him out.

This year he is too occupied with the train set underneth the tree to do any damage to anything else. Perhaps you could get her a Fisher Price Nativity so she has something that she can play with special that she associates with Christmas and the tree?

Ndt · Senior member **Joined:** 03 Jan 2006 **Posts:** 1739

We ended up not putting a tree up for DS1's first christmas, because he was too mobile and curious and we knew he would be trouble Wink

We got a large potted tree instead, and put it on a table with the gifts on and around the table. Brother put the dining room chairs around the tree as a kind of fence. For DS1's second christmas, we got some "Special" ornaments, (AKA cheapies) that he was allowed to touch and play with instead of the ones on the tree.

esperanzaloca · Senior member **Joined:** 05 Oct 2004 **Posts:** 1686

Last year we put it on top of a coffee table, dd was crawling, but not pulling up. This year it is behind the couch, on top of the coffee table, on top of a desk. The desk and table are covered with pretty x-mas tablecloths, and dd can't get behind the couch. It also happens to be in front of a big window, so we leave the lights on at night and people outside can see it. Smile

NanceXToo · Senior member **Joined:** 18 Mar 2005 **Posts:** 8927

You might want to consider an inflatable Christmas tree for a year or two Very Happy

Either that or put it in a different room gated off. Or go with the playyard idea. Or one of those circular baby gates. Or get a very small tree that you can put up on a table out of reach.

Guest · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject:

I was concerned about this myself, this year. Last year my son was only 5 months old in Dec and couldn't crawl yet. I knew I didn't want my ornaments broken...And I didn't want him hurt by them either. I didn't put any of my usual ornaments up this year. I put up lights and I put up these plastic candy canes that my mother found for us. Our tree may be on the plain side, but at least I know my son will not get hurt by any of the ornaments...And we won't lose any of our keepsakes. Liam takes the plastic candy canes off of the tree all of the time...I just put them back up when I put him down for a nap, or down for the night. They do make unbreakable ornaments these days...I think you can find them at Target, Lowes and Home Depot...They are plastic and are made to look like glass bulbs that you normally would put up.

bear2th · Senior member **Joined:** 06 Feb 2006 **Posts:** 2224

Not quite the same, but our dog George, just can't get a handle on the tree inside the house and he pees on it. So we do a shorter tree up on a table. DH screws the tree base the table (we bought a cheap end table just for this purpose). It worked ok, but may not be sturdy enough for a toddler. The playpen or other room idea would probably be best.