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This year is my daughter Alexa’s second Christmas, but it feels more like her first. This is because last year, she was too little to care about opening presents and looking at decorations. We are so excited to make this holiday season memorable for her! The challenge that comes along with this is a quandary that many new parents share: how to child proof your Christmas tree and other decorations.
Last year, Lexi wasn’t crawling or walking yet, so we didn’t need to worry about child proofing anything for the holidays. This year, she’s walking, climbing, and grabbing everything in sight. We wondered how we would be able to set up a tree and put out presents while keeping them away from her curious hands.
If you’re wondering how to child proof your Christmas decorations, this post is for you! Here are my best tips for setting up your tree, using your fragile ornaments, and much more!
In the process of brainstorming how to child proof our tree, we came up with multiple solutions. Hopefully one of these works for you!
I have to credit my husband Juan with this idea. We have a white play area, and he thought of using that to keep the Christmas tree of limits. We’ve also seen Instagram reels where people put their tree in a play pen. This is a great way to keep your tree away from tiny tots who want to play with it.
Ultimately, we decided against using this solution ourselves. Our living room is small and space was an issue. But if we had a bigger living room, this one would’ve been my top choice.
My original plan was to put a small tree on my blue buffet table, but we recently moved that buffet out of our living room. I think that a small tree on a buffet table surrounded by gifts would be a great display! You can also put your tree on an end table or as a centerpiece on a dining room or kitchen table.
We ended up going with a three-foot tree on an end table. We scored this gorgeous pre-lit balsam fir at Target, and it even sat in a nice basket, which meant we didn’t need a tree skirt.
You can keep your tree within reach of your child but opt for ornaments that are not breakable. That way you don’t have to worry about your child getting hurt or your ornaments being broken. On my tree, I used some soft pillow ornaments that I know my daughter can’t get hurt on. These easy DIY Christmas ornaments are another great option that is safe for children.
If you have a collection of breakable Christmas ornaments that you are longing to decorate with, never fear! You can still find pretty ways to display these fragile treasures, even if you have a grabby child in your home.
Using a thin Christmas colored ribbon, string your favorite ornaments along the length of the ribbon, tying a knot around each to hold it in place. Then, hang them on a wall or over a mirror, as I did here. I used small white hooks to attach each end to the wall.
If you have a collection of beautifully colored glass balls, like I do, try displaying them in a bowl or footed pedestal vase. You can place this up on a buffet table or in a China cabinet.
I like to add a few small ornaments to a vase full of snowy faux eucalyptus. You can add a few baubles to any winter floral arrangement for a holiday touch.
You can opt to hang a single ornament in each window of your home. This is a great way to keep your favorites on display!
Use florist wire to attach your favorite ornaments to a Christmas wreath. This is a great way to dress up a plain wreath!
I have a golden tree branch that I like to place in one of my vases. During the holiday season, I think it’s beautiful to hang some of my favorite ornaments from the branch. I scored this gold branch at an antique store, but you can make your own using gold spray paint and a carefully selected branch from your yard.
If you have a small child in your home, be sure to keep safety in mind when decorating. Keep holiday candles out of reach and never burn them when you aren’t there to supervise. Be mindful of placing any décor within your child’s reach.
Keep presents out of reach until they are ready to be opened. When setting out lights, be careful that the cords are not somewhere that your child can get tangled in them or pull them out of the plug.
Have you learned how to child proof your Christmas tree and decorations? Share your tips in the comments below!
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