This blog post is a paid partnership with Big Lots for the Ho Ho Whoa Campaign. All thoughts, pictures, and opinions are my own.
One of my most favorite parts of the holiday season is decorating the Christmas tree. Ever since I was a little girl, my mom has bought me an ornament. It is so fun to put each ornament up on the tree each year and have that piece of each year to reminisce about.
This year, we have three one year olds running around the house, getting into anything and everything. Everyone told me just to skip the tree this year, but I couldn’t do that! It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without a tree! So, I decided to “toddler proof” my tree the best way I could, without gating it or hanging it from the ceiling! We were lucky enough to find EVERYTHING we needed at Big Lots, our holiday one stop shop!
I think I did a pretty good job, but the girls are still very interested in the tree! I am going with the fact that they just love Christmas as much as their mama does and they’re not plotting how to tear everything off.
Buy a pre-lit artificial tree
Artificial trees are a great alternative to the real thing for a few reason. With an artificial tree, typically, you won’t have the mess of the pine needles falling everywhere. With toddlers running around the house and putting everything in their mouths, that is the last thing you want on the floor. Having one that is pre-lit is ideal as the lights won’t be drooping down, making it easy for toddlers to pull off. If they are able to pull the lights off, it could pose the risk of pulling the entire tree over or wrapping around their neck. Neither of which you want!
Big Lots has a huge selection of artificial trees. From mini trees to skinny trees to 7.5 foot trees – you’re bound to find one that fits your needs.
Use Shatterproof Ornaments
This might be the number one tip, make sure you’re using shatterproof ornaments. The goal is to not have the toddler mess with the tree, but they’re toddlers. It’s going to happen. I mean a new, big, lit up tree in the house? Curiosity is going to lead them right to it. With that in mind, you want to make it as safe as possible. You don’t want ornaments that are going to break the second their little hands touch them, let alone drop them! Shards of glass and plastic are not an ideal Christmas decoration.
Shatterproof ornaments look similar to the glass ornaments, yet are much ore durable and less breakable. I was extremely impressed with the number of shatterproof ornaments Big Lots had on their shelves. It seemed that most of them were shatterproof and they weren’t just plain round ornaments – they had a large variety.
I typically don’t go with a matching tree, but I loved these colors! Plus, Big Lots has their ornaments so well organized by style that I didn’t even have to work that hard. It was all in one section. Even better that the holiday wood sign ornaments come in a three pack. How perfect is that!
Do not use tinsel
Just say no to tinsel. It is shiny and most likely, any toddler will be drawn right to it! To me, it looks weird and should be left off anyways. Second, it isn’t safe. Huge choking hazard. I suggest going with some sort of garland. I opted for a plaid twine garland that says Merry Christmas. It looks great!
Keep Out of Main Area
What I mean by that is, keep it out of the main path that your toddler (or toddlers take). I chose to put ours next to the couch, out of the typical path and away from their toys. That way it would have to be a decision to walk over to it, hopefully giving me time to re-direct. Ha.
Put Fragile Ornaments Up Top, out of reach
I opted not to put any of my 33 unique ornaments (+ all the others I’ve collected on my own) up this year and focused on a matchy-matchy, toddler friendly tree. If I was going to (and I probably will next year, I would put them at the top, out of reach of little hands.
Add Bells
This is more of a safety idea vs. decorative idea. Just in case you’re in the other room or distracted by one of the sappy Christmas movies, when you here that little ding – you know it’s time to spring into action and stop the toddler takedown of the Christmas tree. Ha. Also, bells work great for the cat who also wants to tear the tree down.
One last idea that I thought of, but didn’t actual do, is to use string/ribbon instead of the metal hooks to put the ornaments on. Luckily, the metal hooks are green and blend into the tree. We haven’t had much of a problem with the girls getting the hooks.
While these tips might not keep your toddler away from the tree, I hope they help you realize you should still have a tree with little ones around! There are so many fun, effective ways to toddler-proof your Christmas tree so your child (and tree) stays safe!
How did you toddler proof your tree this year?
