Christmas decorations are a spectacle for all members of the family to enjoy. Everything from the colourful patterns of tinsel and baubles to the act of putting up the decorations is a reminder of the merry festivities of the season. This is especially true for bright Christmas lights and dazzling displays set up in your living room.

Young children, however, are often unmindful of the perils. All they see are bright, colourful objects to play with.

The responsibility is then up to you to childproof your Christmas decorations, and here are some tips to help you do just that:

Place ornaments up high

One of the first things you need to check is how far up can your child reach? Measure the height of your child with his or her arm raised up. Add half a metre for when your child jumps and that's the reach of your child. This will serve as a benchmark for how far up and away from the ground you have to place your Christmas decorations. Doing so will prevent your child from reaching up and taking hold of the ornaments. At the very least it will give you more time to react when your child starts pulling heavy furniture to reach those colourful displays you hung up on your living room.

Firmly secure your Christmas tree

The one thing you don't want your child to do is pull on the tree and cause it to come crashing down on his or her head. This is a very real risk as young children often find themselves climbing up and playing around the colourful Christmas tree. Use multiple wires and ropes to secure your tree to posts or other heavy furniture. Placing your tree a corner of the room also minimizes the areas where it can come crashing down, as well as making it difficult for the child to push against the tree.

Avoid choke-hazard ornaments

Children have a tendency to put things in their mouths, which is why you have to make sure that your Christmas decorations are large enough that a child can't insert the whole thing in his or her mouth. The decorations must also be tough enough to withstand a bite as a child may attempt to nibble at it. In the same vein, you should also never put up food ornaments like candy canes when you have a very young child as well. You really don't want your child thinking that all the ornaments you hung up on your Christmas tree are sweet and edible.

Shield and obstruct outlets

Christmas lights and animated displays can mesmerize children, and it won't take them long to realize that those wondrous lights are connected to this cord which in turn is connected to the wall. It is for this reason that you have to protect the power outlets that supply electricity to your Christmas decorations. An ideal scenario would be to use outlet shields specifically designed to be childproof. If this is not possible, then block access to the outlets by moving large pieces of furniture and putting them beside the outlets. These measures should prevent your child from exploring the outlets.

Avoid poisonous/toxic Christmas decorations

Holly berries, poinsettias, Christmas cacti and mistletoe are poisonous to young children, so make sure that you clear your home of these traditional plants at least until your child becomes a little bit older. Cheap, fake ornaments also contain toxic materials that pose very real health risks when your child puts them in his or her mouth. This is why it is important that you buy ornaments from a trusted and reliable supplier of Christmas decorations.

Immediately dispose of Christmas wrapping

Once the big day has come and those gifts have been opened, it is important that you get rid of it or at least put it away as soon as possible. The attractive patterns of the wrapping can present serious choking hazards, especially when your child walks away from your eyes while chewing on a bit of wrapping paper. The same applies to packaging items like bubble wrap or foam chunks. These look too much like candy and can be very easily ingested if your child gets his or her hands on some.

Keep these tips in mind and your child will be able to enjoy a happier, safer display of Christmas decorations!

 

 


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