Toddlers and Christmas Trees

How does this work?

Jack is really very good about not touching things. I still have all my breakables out and about and he knows not to go near them. The same with the wine rack -- but I'm wondering how he will be with the Christmas tree.

All those bright lights and - balls - my god I think he'll go crazy. Normally I like to have my tree up by now but I've been putting it off - but will attempt it this weekend.

Any advice at all?

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

i don't have any advice, but I was worried about the same exact thing. Oddly enough, DD hasn't even attempted to go near it??? I know i'm probably jinxing myslef just by saying this!

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Kaitee was 16 months old last year. I let her help me decorate it and then she never tried to touch it again. I am hoping the girls will be good this year.

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We put the tree up when Lucas was napping...from the moment he woke up all I hear is "tree" and sure enough that first time he saw it his chubby hands were all over it. So we put up a gate...it's in the extension so a regular gate was fine. If we had it in an open room I would have considered a superyard gate.

Right now he leans on the gate staring at the tree...such mischief in those eyes!

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Emma was ripping ornaments off it every five minutes when I first put it up. She broke one of my nice ones and then proceeded to step on it and cut her foot. She hasn't touched it since though. I recommend putting the nicer things toward the top!

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Bella has never gone near the tree...

But she is also a weird kid that has not climbed out of her big girl bed and made ONE attempt at climbing out of her crib in 3 years....

and we can light our fireplace and she won't go near it...

Weird kid...

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

when my big DD's were little i wrapped boxes in xmas wrapping paper (I had put bricks in them) and put them in front of the tree. (it was in a corner) and it looked festive and kept them from getting to the tree.

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I put the tree in the corner of the room and it's on a side table away from the floor. But I noticed that he was interested in the "snow" tree skirt.

I have some panels of his superyard that I can put to protect the tree. But so far he has been good with it. I just put the tree up last night.

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Bella was pretty good with the tree last year so I think she'll do well this year too (probably just jinxed myself) We put the tree in the corner too and we put a light up see saw under the tree to distract her and it seemed to work. We didn't mind if she touched it and it kept her from touching the ornaments. We also put only non breakables on the bottom branches.

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I put ours up last night. So far its been well so-so. He was REALLY excited over just a few ornaments and I have yelled and explained not to touch it about 15 times today, but I still feel its a success. If we continue this way I wont need the gate, but we have the yard gate so I might put it up if he doesnt listen in a day or two once the novelty wears off.

BUT...my kid touches EVERYTHING. Literally every single thing thats not nailed down he plays with.

I couldnt EVER EVER EVER dream of a leaving like a picture frame out or anything, so it sounds liek Jack is much better then Noah in that regard!

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

for the low lying ornaments, did you use the metal hangers for them or just like a ribbon to hang them on the tree. I am afraid of her eating one of those metal hangers

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I won't put any of the metal hangers on the bottom or any breakables. If it's a big problem, I'll put up the superyard gate around it.

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Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

I am putting the tree in the den, and then putting a gate up so she can't go in the den unsupervised.

Yeah I will put non-breakable ornaments on the bottom. And I will try to teach her not to tear down the tree. But in the meantime, I will just try to keep her away.

We are cutting ours down this weekend....

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Rylan is all over mine...all you here all day is Rylan no...don't touch

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We put our's up last night and Lily hasn't really paid attention to it at all.

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

i am having the same issue--i think i am only decorating the top of the tree

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Posted by JenBenMen

i am having the same issue--i think i am only decorating the top of the tree

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

we put out tree in an area where DS cant get to it (baby gate blocking the entrance way). So far though, he hasn't shown much interest in it

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Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Sofia is 18 months & we let her decorate the bottom 1/2 of the tree with our non breakable ornaments. She has been really good about not bothering with it. She will go over & make two ornaments talk to each other or kiss (so cute) But we haven't had to tell her not to touch the higher stuff.
She LOVES the tree - Every time she wakes up its the 1st thing she wants to go & look at. She keeps saying 'light, light'.

Re: Toddlers and Christmas Trees

Megan didnt go near the tree once last year. And we have a small living room so its literally hard to stay away from, but she was SO GOOD.

I plan on just teaching her that shes not allowed AT ALL to touch it. She can look but no hands. I am hoping with determination and consistency, it will work. I refuse to put a gate around it (I dont really have a choice with how small the room is anyway) so I am hoping it works.