Holidays are all about spreading joy and keeping everybody in good spirits and Christmas safety is a boring subject. But Christmas cheer can quickly turn into a holiday disaster, especially with little ones running around.
However, with a couple of handy tips in mind, you can successfully detect potential threats in your home and eliminate them to ensure the holidays are spent safely and the faces of your loved ones are lit with bright smiles and sparkling eyes full of joy.
Here’s what you can do to safeguard your kids (and your ornaments!) and childproof your home during the most beautiful time of the year.
Christmas safety- tree
There’s no Christmas without a beautiful Christmas tree. Still, all the sparkles, lights, and shiny ornaments make it very tempting to kids. They may try to grab the ornaments and accidentally pull the Christmas tree down or otherwise knock it over.
The best way to ensure your Christmas tree stays in place is to anchor it to the wall using straps or add weight (e.g., sandbags) onto its base. Also, you can install a circular fence around it or place it in a corner and attach it from wall to wall. You can also go for a smaller, lighter version of a Christmas tree for your table – equally festive as the traditional one, minus the hazards.
2. Christmas plants-pets
We all love the sight of colorful plants during Christmas. Some holiday plants like Poinsettia don’t present a threat to humans when ingested, but they are not that safe for pets. However, other plants like mistletoe and holly berries can be toxic, causing vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea if eaten. The best way to prevent your kids from ingesting them would be to keep them somewhere high up, out of their reach. Although, your safest bet would be to not use them at all – at least until your children are older.
3. Dreamy candles safety
Another festive essential we can’t imagine our holidays without are beautiful Christmas candles. They help to create a cozy vibe in our homes and make them look warm and welcoming. Of course, I don’t want you to think you need to give up on this lovely decor element to ensure Christmas safety! Certainly, avoid placing them near the tree or on the tablecloth which they can grab and pull.
Instead, all you need to do is make sure they’re kept out of your children’s reach. So, place them on a tall fireplace mantel or anywhere they can’t reach. That way, you can enjoy the Christmas signature fragrances like vanilla, mulberry, and cinnamon filling your home without any worries.
4. Mesmerizing ornaments
Shiny, beautiful, and bright – Christmas ornaments are our favorites. For children, however, they’re simply new toys they get to play with during the holiday season. This has their curious little hands reaching for ornaments on the tree, which can result in them breaking the ornaments, or worse – swallowing them.
To prevent this from happening, reserve the more fragile ornaments for the top of the tree (or avoid using them at all) and hang the shatterproof ones near the bottom. Go for shatterproof lights as well, and block the outlet to prevent the kids from putting their fingers in it.
5. Fun toys
What you decide to place under the Christmas tree can also pose a potential danger to children, especially smaller items and toys with batteries.
Dolls and teddy bears with eyes sewn on are a much safer alternative to toys with plastic eyes. That is because young kids may be tempted to rip off the plastic and ingest, which presents a severe choking hazard. Batteries that come with the toys can also be hazardous if swallowed. Your safest bet would be to read the labels before purchasing gifts for your kids and to make sure that the toy meets safety standards and that it’s age-appropriate.
6. Pretty ribbons and wrappings
Last but not least, the wrapping paper and ribbons we use to pack and decorate our gifts can also be dangerous if kids get their hands on them. Although they are beautiful, they can present a choking or suffocation hazard, as well as a result of accidental fires. To prevent all of these from happening, make it a habit to pick up wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons as soon as your children are done unwrapping their gifts and toys. Remember to store them and keep them away from your children’s reach.
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and we’re all eager to spend the holidays enjoying precious moments with our loved ones. Nevertheless, Christmas can be a rather hectic time of the year, even more so for parents with small children. However, by assessing your surroundings and taking Christmas safety precautions to protect your kids, you can enjoy the frenzied fun and festivities without too much worrying. Safeguard these six items from our list in order to escape the holiday hazards and ensure a cozy, fun-filled and stress-free festive season this year!
About The Author:
Chloe Taylor is a journalist from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic, lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. When she is not writing or traveling, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time.
