Have a Baby Proof Christmas!

Christmas is the most exciting time of the year for a 2 or 3 year old who's at fever pitch and full of the spirit of the season and perhaps the most confusing for a baby or toddler who can't quite grasp the implications of all that's going on. Opportunities for disaster are as great as those for fun and inspiration.

Childproofing the Tree
From the standpoint of safety, should you have a fresh tree, or is an artificial one best? There are points to be made on both sides of the question. The main concern is to make whatever tree you choose as childproof as possible.

  • Be sure a fresh tree you buy really is fresh. Test the needles; reject a tree on which they are dry, breaking easily. The freshest three you can get will be one you cut in the woods yourself, as close as possible to the time you'll put it up.
  • Saw about two inches off the bottom of the tree to expose fresh tissue that will soak up moisture and, once it's set up, keep the stand filled with water.
  • Don't position your tree near a heat source.
  • Consider having a small, tabletop tree for a few years while your child is small. If you do have a large one, set it up in a corner where it will at least be protected on two sides, and fasten it in some way to woodwork, walls or heavy pieces of furniture. Or try setting it up inside the playpen, as some parents have done.
  • Take your fresh tree down as soon as the needles begin to fall.
  • If you buy an artificial tree, avoid one made of metal, which is not safe because of its sharp edges and electrocution potential. Never use electric lights on a metal tree; if they are faulty they can charge the tree.
  • Be aware that not all other artificial trees are fire resistant. Set them up as far from heat sources as you can, as you would a live tree.

Tree Decorations.

Your child will be fascinated with the tree and its decorations. You may wish to decorate sparingly for a few years, saving precious and dangerous ornaments until the child is old enough to look without touching.

  • Test tree lights before you put them on the tree by plugging them in and let them stay lit for a few minutes before putting them on the tree.
  • Also check any extension cords you plan to use to be sure they aren't frayed. Buy only UL listed cords. And be sure not to overload wattage; add up watts and make sure there are not more than 1500 per outlet.
  • Don't let light bulbs touch the tree itself - even tiny ones can get hot. Cut needles away, if necessary. On artificial trees, the heat from the lights may deform the needles.
  • Don't use indoor lights outdoors, their wiring may not withstand severe weather.
  • Avoid bubbling lights, they contain toxic chemicals that can escape if they're broken.
  • Never use candles to light a tree of any kind.
  • Turn off tree lights when you leave the house, always by unplugging them from the wall outlet.
  • Use only flame resistant, non breakable ornaments while your child is small, and hang them high where they can't be reached.
  • Avoid using strings of real popcorn or cranberries on the tree for a few years, because your small child will reason that if one decoration is edible, all must be. For the same reason, don't use ornaments that look like food.
  • Be sure tinsel, if you use it, is lead free.

Holiday Plants

  • Skip the mistletoe and holly decorations while your child is small, because the berries of both are poisonous if more than a few are swallowed. The leaves, if lodged in the larynx, obstruct breathing and may cause inflammatory reactions.
  • Consider dispensing with pointsettias, too, or at least place them high. The white, milky juice in their stems should not be ingested, and it also irritates the skin of some children and adults.

A Cozy Holiday Fire

Few, if any, creature comforts are potentially more dangerous than a cheerful fire in the fireplace. There are a few important dont's:

  • Don't hang the Christmas stockings above a burning fireplace.
  • Don't burn wrappings, trees or wreaths in the fireplace. They burst into flame too fast and burn too hot to be safe.
  • Don't let children throw anything into a fire.
  • Don't leave a fire unattended, and don't let one burn overnight.