Holiday Decorating and Babies...

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how to decorate for Christmas this year, being it's Alex's first.
I really thought we'd go all out & make it special for her, but the more I think about it & talk to BTDT Moms, the more I'm leaning to "less is more" .
I'm even on the fence about getting a Christmas tree now.
Do I get a nice big tree only to obstruct it with a baby fence?
Do I decorate my railing with the green roping & lights only to have another baby gate in front of it?
We aren't really going to be having much company, so it's not like we're even decorating for anyone to see.

I'm really thinking about just doing our usual outdoor decorations & keeping it to a real minimum inside.
Maybe I should wait unti next year or the year after to put a tree out again?

I'd love to hear from other moms, both BTDT and first timers, what are your plans for holiday decorationg?

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

I'm not BTDT for a toddler but we're going all out and hoping for the best, I guess worst case scenario I'll have to put a gate around the tree. To me it wouldn't feel like Christmas without decorations. The only time we haven't done it is when travel and won't be home.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

We went to Target and got some decorations today. I am not going to put out all of my really nice glass stuff. We actually bought a whole bunch of plastic sesame street ornaments for the tree We will be decorating but it'll be so different --- but we do want her to be in awe at everything.

If worse comes to worse and the big tree doesn't work out (it's a fake tree) we'll either put a gate around the tree or we'll pull out our table top one and use that....but I do want to have decorations up for her.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

We aren't doing a tree or any reachable decorations inside for this very reason. When Roman is older next year we will but for this year we're just doing the outside, and going to family's for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

i have always put up a tree and put a gate around it> maybe consider getting a very small tree and putting it up on a table. that's what my mom did when i was young. a small table that the tree skirt can cover.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

We're doing our usual decorations. Marron will be 8 months old by then and we'll just have to watch her real closely. Maybe we'll put it up late and take it down early to reduce the risk...

ETA: I was also advised to tie the tree to the window, which I think I will do also.

Message edited 11/24/2006 11:12:11 PM.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

We bought a fake tree- so at least if he does touch the tree- or moves up against it- needles wont be everywhere- and he wont be picking them up and putting them in his mouth..


We are going light on the ornaments on the tree- and only putting them in out of reach places...

If I find he is pulling on the tree- Im gonna get fishing wire and tie it to the wall..

My other decorations went up- everything is out of reach- my dancing snowmen and stuff like that, things that are stuffed animal like- I put out on "his" level- that way if he decides to touch it-its no big deal..

I have a feeling the next couple Christmas' will be this way..

Do you have a "fancy" room in your house- where you could put up a gate and just keep the room off limits- even if usually it is not?

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

My son was 10 months (and crawling adn pulling up for months by this point so very mobile) at Christmas and we went all out. we did put a tree, decorated our railing and put out stockings. He loved the lights and "helping to docorate". I did protect him and my tree with a playyard and it worked nicely for us. He'd pull up on that but never touched the danger of the tree (pulling it down on himself was my biggest fear there). To tell you the truth he more wanted to get at the gifts under the tree then teh tree and decorations.

Kevin so far is loving Christmas and I am very excited to go all out this year. I was never a Christmas person but now it is more fun. Not sure if I will gate the tree this year or not (he's 22 months) or just hope no works - but I am thinking better safe then sorry...we shall see. Unfortunately - I probably won't have time until mid-December to put up my tree so I have to wait and see.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

I am hoping to decorate the exact same way I always have. I mean granted, Megan isnt crawling or walking yet so I may be off on this one but I know my mom never changed anything when my sister and brother were babies. We were just taught NOT TO TOUCH anything and we didnt. The only thing she did different was that she wouldnt put breakable ornaments around the bottom of the tree.

So hopefully next year when she is walking, I will be able to teach her to stay away from the tree and other decorations as well. I hope it works because I dont want to change anything and I want to put all my stuff out for her to enjoy.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

I haven't started decorating yet and I'm not BTDT, but I'm planning on putting hanging decorations and putting them higher up. As for the tree, this is our first Christmas in a house and gosh darn it, I want a real tree for once, so we're going for it. I don't mind having to block it off. I'd rather have a blocked off tree than no tree at all.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

I plan on doing everything the same except I'll make sure the breakable ornaments are not on the bottom of the tree. Any decorations out around the house will still be out, I will of course make sure he can't get to them. I believe in teaching kids what they can and can't touch.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

We are doing all the same and will just watch her.. SHe isnt walking yet and doesnt crawl much where the tree will be only the walker so we will just watch her.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

Last year Logan was only 4 months so I decorated as normal. This year he will be 16 months. I plan to have a tree (gated by the playyard) and only things that are up high. I figure I will only put about 1/2 my stuff out because he will touch EVERYTHING!!

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

I always did what I always did, before I had kids and after. I come form the school of thought to teach them to not touch. I've never had a problem with putting up a tree or ornaments. You can always put up a play yard gate around it.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

Last year was her 1st but she was only 3 months old so I decorated as usual. This year, we are putting our tree (which is fake) in a corner of the room and kind of blocking it off somehow....I will still put of most of my decorations minus the ones that go on the coffee table and end tables. She loved looking at the lights last year, I hope she still likes them.

Re: Holiday Decorating and Babies...

Nicholas will be 7 months and as of today, he isnt crawling yet so we plan on decorating the same. We usually put alot of lights outside the house and I dont have too many decorations inside. Just stockings I think.