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I haven't put my tree up yet, but it just occurred to me, I'm in big trouble. My 11-month-old is crawling and standing and climbing and grabbing. Plus, she loves sparkly shiny things and twinkly lights. Uh-oh. What do I do to baby-proof my Christmas tree?
That's what KriStaBeLL312 of the CafeMom Newcomers Club wanted to know. She asked other members of the group for their ideas, comments, and suggestions. Here are the highlights:
"An electric fence is the only surefire way of keeping him away." —Tazz2
"I don't have any ideas. When my daughter was that age our tree was ugly—the bottom half was such a mess."—kayleighsmom110
"My husband made my daughter terrified to touch the tree! She thought it would eat her. He would stick his hand in the tree and then scream like it was hurting him! It worked, she never touched it!"—lilasmom2007
"My problem is not my baby, it's my damn cat. This year we bought a flat tree that hangs on the wall."—mamachase
Those are some funny responses. But really, is there no way to keep your tree pretty and your baby away? How did you baby-proof your tree?
If you're looking for ideas, Cafe Cynthia has some good advice in the Toddler Buzz on childproofing your tree.
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Comments (17)
I should of cat proofed my tree! Argh!
no, we didn't really baby proof our tree. We DID put all the breakable ornaments on the top half (our of reach!) but that's about it. My boys have been pulling ornaments off and putting them back on for weeks now lol. Luckily we have an artificial tree, and it's only about 6" and very light, so I am not worried about the tree injuring the kids!!
....and did I just read electric fence? *scratching head*
No need this year, thank God! My cats don't even seem that interested in our tree this year, let alone our son (last year, though, the one cat took every single ornament off that tree!). Our living room is so crowded right now that any kind of barrier would be overwhelming. Hopefully Bobby will be a genius at 16 months (next Christmas) and I won't have to worry about it!
my 2 year old knocked the tree down twice already and since then we've had a few close calls
My daughter destroys the bottom 2 feet of our tree every day. Wish I would have thought of the electric fence LOL
I did NOT baby proof my tree but mna do I wish I would have. My 14 month old re decorates it muliple times a day. It has bald spots everywhere. When I say "No honey thats the pretty tree" He says "pidy" and kisses what ever orniment he just ripped off so I cant got too upset.
I have heard of people setting up their trees in the playpen-- that way it is "protected" from little fingers. I went minimal with my tree, I have lights on it, candy canes and bead necklaces. I have cats who like to be in the tree, and a 2 1/2yr old - so I did not want to have ornaments broke, or have them be taken off the tree, played with and lost.
I have (had!) a lighted, artificial tree. The puppy has it pretty well chewed up now... I don't have any kids at home and the youngest grandbaby so far is 3 y.o. so I don't have to worry about children--not HUMAN children, that is!
I thought the poster who said her husband convinced their child that the tree would eat them was pretty funny! Although it's not easy, now is the perfect opportunity to teach your baby some discipline. It can be hard to discipline an 11 month old, but it will pay off if you're consistent. Your child is probably old enough to understand the word, "no" by now. Everytime you catch your child touching the tree, say "no" firmly, take them away from it, and plop them down elsewhere. Do it as many times as you need to. It's also a good idea not to put valuable or breakable ornaments within reach. I have a 20 month old who would have torn our tree apart if I'd let him.