With 15 month old twins who are always in different directions, I am wondering if I can get a Christmas tree this year. Any tips for childproofing? Is a Charlie Brown tabletop tree the way to go?
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Interested to see responses! We have a 15-month old and I have no clue what to do about our tree (we have an artificial one). I think I've seen people recommend just not putting ornaments towards the bottom? Should be interesting...
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mrs. blue posted about this issue with her twins!
http://www.hellobee.com/2013/12/19/a-baby-proof-christmas/
i was concerned about having a christmas tree with our then-11 month old. however except for a few ornaments he pulled off, he generally didn't touch the tree. when he would get near it i would keep saying "careful" and "gentle" and he probably got sick of hearing me because he largely ignored the tree.
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I have a big play yard gate type thing. Thinking about surrounding our tree/presents with that. Might keep the cat out too....
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We just do a big tabletop tree. It's a nice centerpiece for our dining table!
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My LO was 9 months last year and crawling, so she tried a couple times to get in the tree and we told her no. I am sure this year at 20 months it is going to be a harder fight, but we aren't not having a tree. We are going to just put soft, nonbreakable, ornaments on the bottom.
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Sadie's pretty good at listening these days. She's a sensitive soul who is afraid of disappointing us.
BUT, last year when she was getting into everything, we blocked the tree with her play yard. We have this one: http://bit.ly/1x1ufWkPeople have actually posted pictures of their trees under the customer images for the play yard.
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I think we may just put our tree in the dining room that we have gated off anyway. Then he can't get in there...
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We have had no issues with our son and the Christmas tree. We put ornaments that he can play with on the lower level.
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My defiant nephew pulled my sister's christmas tree down last year. Oops. Tree should have been secured. My SIL (his mom) told him not to touch but grabbed the tree and pulled. Luckily, my uncle was there to grab him before the tree came down on top of him. Smashed glass ornaments everywhere. I've seen my mommy friends put up baby gates that surround the tree.
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I usually go the path of least resistance route, with two under 2, I probably would do a felt tree with felt ornaments!
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DD has been fine with ours, we just try to keep the more fragile ornaments out of reach.
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LO was 10 months last Christmas and liked to look but really didn't touch. We get a real tree so I'm slightly concerned about her trying to get to the water but we're hoping she won't realize it's there if it's covered well with the skirt and we only water it at night or early am so she doesn't see. I'm hoping a lot of reinforcement that she can touch but must be gentle will work this year at 22 months. I'll keep breakable ornaments up high. I'm also going to put up a small artificial tree in her room with ornaments she can touch so I'm hoping I can redirect her to play there. We do have a play yard gate we can use to section the tree off if all else fails.
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M turned one right before last Christmas and she was fine with the tree. She tried to take ornaments a few times but it was nothing crazy- and it's not like she was ever left alone in the room with the tree. I just didn't/won't put glass/breakable ornaments within her reach.
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We did a tree last year (DD was 20 months) and we really had no issues with her bothering it too badly. We got shatterproof ornaments, just in case, and we hung anything breakable up high where she couldn't reach.
ETA: We didnt put any presents out until Christmas Eve. Too much temptation.
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We do a big baby gate around the entire tree. Keeps them from pulling ornaments off and snooping around the presents too. We take out the gate on Christmas morning.
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I' so torn on this. Part of me says that I'm not changing my Christmas traditions just because I have a toddler - I've always had a real tree, it's important to me, and he's 1.5, which is totally old enough to learn that he can't play with the tree.
On the other hand...I also have a newborn. So how fast can I realistically move when I'm pumping or feeding his brother and he goes for the tree? And what happens when I need to leave the room for a diaper change - do I take him with me every single time? Because clearly I can't leave a toddler unattended in the same room as a Christmas tree. We don't really have any baby gates, that sounds like a good solution if I can find some that aren't crazy-expensive since I won't have much use for them the rest of the year.
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Last year we just didn't put decorations on the bottom half where she can reach. Looking for toddler safe ones this year. Considering making my own felt ornaments after seeing how $$$$ they are on etsy.
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We did a tree outlined in lights on the wall last year: 1) because we had an 11 month old that gets into everything 2) because we live in a small place and her toys took over the regular tree space.
This year I'm aiming to make a felt tree with ornaments.
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We might try a gift "gate" around the tree.
http://www.lovefromtheoven.com/2012/12/06/toddler-proofing-your-christmas-tree-and-decorations/
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@wonderstruck: Just food for thought (as someone who only has one child): If I had a toddler and an infant, I would probably set up a changing area in my living room to avoid the issue of watching one kid while changing the other.
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We aren't having a tree this year (LO is 14 months). We don't really have much space either now her toys are stashed in one corner of the living room where the tree used to go!
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When Liam was 9 months old at Christmas, we put the tree on a low side table. It was never an issue. When he was 21 months old, we got a regular full tree and it wasn't an issue.
For us, the dogs are a bigger problem than the toddler!
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My daughter was 14 months last year, and we had a tree, we just had the "pretties" higher than she could reach, and no presents were safe, so they were kept in another room! otherwise I figured there is only one way to learn!
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E was 19 months for Christmas last year. We put any breakable ornaments up high, but he really paid very little attention to the tree. I couldn't imagine Christmas without a tree, so I would find a way to make it work.
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There's a picture of me on my first christmas and in the background there is a fire guard around the tree.
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@ElbieKay: It's generally not an issue, there's really nothing in the living room for L to get into - the TV is wall mounted, outlets have covers, and there really isn't space for a diaper changing station. It's just when it comes to the Christmas tree that I'm debating the best way to handle it. I'll probably cave and buy gates to keep him awake from it.
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I've had a 7 month old and a 19 month old at Christmas and both times she completely ignored the tree! We didn't change where we put it or what we put on it. We will have a 13 month old at christmas this year and I'm sure she will leave it alone!
BUT, last year when she was getting into everything, we blocked the tree with her play yard. We have this one: Reply
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