https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:31:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383666 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:02:53 +0000 Honeybee 383666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always get a real tree, and we haven't had any issues with DD. The first Christmas (she was 6 months, so crawling), we mostly were able to keep her away from the tree or practice touching it gently, which seemed to work. Last year (she was 18 months) she was soooooooooo into Christmas, so it was very easy to convince her to be gentle with all of our decorations. She didn't want to break them. Oh, we also only put lights/ornaments on the top half of the tree, which looks a little weird, but keeps curious hands off of the more breakable stuff. :)</p> <p>We'll see what happens with DS this year. He'll be 9 months and probably cruising by that time, so we'll just have to watch him carefully around the tree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383613 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:44:10 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 383613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Small tree on top of a table!!!!</p> <p>I couldn't imagine not putting a tree up....I love the warm glow the lights put off. So cozy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383496 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:59:46 +0000 Smurfette 383496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No LO one yet but I don't have any family or friends that didn't put one up cause they were scared of the LO's touching the tree. I think that my SIL just didn't put any ornaments on the bottom one year, with her first, but just did the whole tree last year with her 2nd. I don't know anyone that had issues after telling them no a couple times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383476 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:55:28 +0000 Mrsbells 383476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have also seen the gate around the tree </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383443 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:49:47 +0000 MrsTiz 383443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just make sure they don't touch it! Tell them not to. Get the Elf on a Shelf and make the tree seem veerrrry important and a no-no to touch!</p> <p>If you can't keep your LO away from the tree, it's no reason to not put one up- it's a time to practice listening skills :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383433 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:46:53 +0000 banana 383433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son will touch it for a little while and then he gets uninterested. We put up LED lights on a fake tree so they're not hot or dangerous and we only put up soft cloth ornaments and some plastic ones up at the very top. Maybe you could try putting it up and see how she does? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383424 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:44:45 +0000 Minnie_Girl 383424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family had live trees every year and the only precautions my parents took were warning us to be careful, and pulling us away if we tried to put needles/ornaments in our mouths. There were never any problems with the kids (only the cats!). </p> <p>In my experience, toddlers realize that Christmas trees are special and will treat it as a sacred magical object! You could also get a more prickly tree, so that there's less incentive to grab onto it... *evil* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383078 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:33:47 +0000 heffalump 383078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish. But lo learns pretty quickly when she's not supposed to touch something. I'll tell her no and she'll throw a fit that lasts one minute for the first couple of times, than she's done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383065 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:26:43 +0000 Andrea 383065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD has never touched our tree so we still put it up. She's so good sometimes. Woohoo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383056 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:21:31 +0000 chopsuey 383056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe put the tree on top of a table? We're gonna skip the tree this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383053 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:18:16 +0000 mrs. wagon 383053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh I have also seen (fake) christmas trees set up INSIDE of a pack n play. Saves money if you don't want to buy multiple baby gates or a playyard gate. Maybe we'll do that this year!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383051 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:17:11 +0000 SugarplumsMom 383051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is still immobile and this is one of the reasons why I want to put up a tree early this year. It'll be a lot more difficult next year - I want to enjoy it while it lasts! As for what we plan to do next year, maybe buy a smaller tree and raise it up on a stand or table (and have just the presents on the floor). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383040 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:04:17 +0000 photojane 383040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>the baby gate is a good idea! one of the play-yard types that can wrap around the tree.</p> <p>we didn't have a toddler last year, but we had a puppy with lots of curiosity and energy, so we elevated the tree. we covered an old wooden bench with pretty fabric, and plopped the tree up there. then we just put the gifts around the tree on the bench and the floor in front. it actually looked really nice, and the pup couldn't reach! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383037 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:01:16 +0000 mrs. wagon 383037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>baby gate 'round the tree :) helps to keep presents out of reach as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-trees-and-toddlers#post-383035 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:59:59 +0000 Rubies 383035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're considering not putting up our tree this year because we know LO would just get into it, topple it over, or fall into it. But I'm trying to argue with my husband that billions of families before us has figured this out somehow.</p> <p>Do you put a tree with toddlers in your house? How do you prevent them from getting into it? </p>