Toddler Proof Christmas Decorations & Tips – Celebrate Safe
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Christmas is such a magical time, but let’s be real—decorating with a toddler running around can feel like a high-stakes mission. 2 Years ago, I learned this the hard way when my youngest decided the lower branches of our tree were his personal toy stash and favorite new hiding spot. Between the shiny ornaments and all the tempting Christmas decor, keeping little hands safe while preserving the holiday magic can be challenging. So, let’s chat about some of the best Toddler Proof Christmas Decorations to keep your home looking festive, while keeping the little ones out of harm’s way.
I get it, you want your house to look like a winter wonderland, but those adorable tiny hands can be full of curiosity and mischief. From tugging on the lower branches of your Xmas tree to exploring fragile glass ornaments, toddlers bring a new level of unpredictability to the holidays. But don’t worry—this is the perfect time to embrace creative ideas like shatterproof ornaments, felt trees, and Christmas tree gates. With a little planning, you can have a beautiful, toddler-proof holiday while maintaining peace of mind, trust me!
The Importance of Toddler-Proofing During Christmas
Toddler-proofing during Christmas is about more than just protecting your precious ornaments—it’s about ensuring your child’s safety while keeping the joy of the holiday season well alive. Small ornaments, sharp metal hooks, and heavy breakable decorations pose choking hazards or could lead to injuries.
When their curious little hands pull on the lower branches of a tree or grab a heavy decoration, it can quickly turn a festive moment into a trip to the emergency room. That’s what we plan to avoid.
Another great thing about toddler-proofing is the peace of mind it offers. When your decorations are safe for little kids to explore, you can spend more time soaking in the magic of the season and less time worrying about your child accidentally hurting themselves or breaking something. It’s a small investment in your mental health and a practical way to create a stress-free holiday environment for the whole family.
Have you ever seen those memes about cat owners having to put their Christmas trees into lockdown mode or else the cat will destroy it? Well, turns out, little kids can be somewhat similar to cats in that regard, lol.
Lastly, toddler-proofing allows you to involve your young child in decorating traditions without the fear of getting hurt. By using shatterproof colorful ornaments, soft materials, and natural decorations like salt dough creations or popsicle stick crafts, you’re allowing them to get creative and have fun, all while giving your child a sense of ownership over the family’s holiday decor. What a beautiful gift to give them during a season of gifting.
Toddler Proof Christmas Decorations & Ideas to Consider
Skip the Glass, and Opt for Shatterproof Ornaments
I learned this one the hard way, sort of, after my first was born. My husband and I were decorating our Christmas tree as we had always done, not realizing our ornaments weren’t shatterproof. Mind you, we’ve had them for years, and then we were getting ready for our first Christmas as new parents.
I had set one of the ornaments down while I hooked another and next thing you know, my little baby crawled right over, tossed the ornament, and it shattered immediately! Thankfully, I was right there and was able to pick him up and clean up the mess, and of course, I hopped on Amazon to order some shatterproof ornaments asap. Talk about a minor stressful situation as a new parent, but thankful things didn’t end worse.
So, while glass ornaments look stunning, they’re not a good idea for homes with small children. Instead, shatterproof ornaments are a perfect solution. These durable decorations look just as festive but can withstand tiny hands tossing them across the living room, seriously. Plastic ornaments and colorful alternatives available at stores like Hobby Lobby are other great options to keep the Christmas spirit alive without the worry of broken glass and injured kiddos.
To further ensure safety, replace those annoying sharp metal hooks with ribbons or ornament anchors. These attachments are safer for toddlers and still keep your decorations secure on the tree. By making the switch, you can enjoy a beautifully decorated tree while avoiding potential accidents, like mine, during the holiday season.
Decorate a Felt Christmas Tree
A felt Christmas tree is a fantastic toddler-proof alternative to the traditional Christmas tree. And if you don’t want to skip the actual tree, you can at least set one up for your kiddos in a safe area.
Available as DIY kits or ready-made options, these felt trees can be mounted on a wall at toddler height, giving little ones their own tree to decorate and reuse over and over again. They come with velcro ornaments to make this activity interactive and fun, allowing your child to rearrange decorations (which they will, a lot) while keeping your full-sized tree untouched, at least, that’s the goal.
This idea is not only safe but helps to keep those tiny fingers busy. It’s a great way to let your child feel involved in the magic of the season.
Stick with Lightweight, Fabric Holiday Decor
Another way to keep your home safe, but also decked out in all of the holiday magic is by replacing heavy, fragile decorations with lightweight, fabric ones instead.
Target carries one of my favorite lines of kid-friendly decorations. From their fabric holiday figurines to their fabric tree ornaments — they are so adorable and will turn any child-filled home into a magical wonderland during Christmas.
We’ve adapted a few of their products into our home over the years and you can find more of their kid-friendly line right here!
Use a Baby Gate or Christmas Tree Gates
If you’re determined to keep a traditional Christmas tree in your home and you have a little explorer on your hands, baby gates or specialized Christmas tree gates are the best way to create a barrier between your toddler and the decorations. These gates are the perfect solution for keeping breakable ornaments, glass decorations, or even the tree itself out of reach.
Place a baby gate around the tree in your living room or dining room to create a safe zone while still allowing your family to enjoy the festive decor. This solution works whether you have a fresh tree, pre-lit tree, or any kind of artificial tree, making it versatile for every home.
Decorate the Top of the Tree Only
Another simple trick for toddler-proofing your Xmas tree is focusing your decorations on the top of the tree, think hip level and above. Keep fragile ornaments, sharp hooks, and anything with sentimental value out of reach and high above those little hands.
The lower branches can be left bare or adorned with toddler-safe decorations like felt garlands or pipe cleaner candy canes. This approach is particularly helpful if your toddler is especially curious and loves all the shiny things. While we can’t promise this method will avoid any tantrums to get to those shiny, sparkly, ornaments, we can at least assure you it’ll be much safer.
Cover Any Unused Outlets from Little Fingers
This one is crucial because it can be incredibly dangerous. Electrical outlets can be a significant hazard at any time, especially during the Christmas season. Covering unused outlets is a simple step to ensure your child’s safety. Use outlet covers or safety plugs to block access to any exposed outlets in areas your little one can reach, such as the living room, dining room, or around the Christmas tree.
During the holidays, outlets often host extra lights, pre-lit trees, or extension cords, which may attract attention. Make sure cords are secured (I love using these cord sleeve covers) and outlets are safely covered to minimize risk. Not only is this one of the best investments for childproofing during the holiday season, but it’s also a great way to have peace of mind while your toddler explores their festive surroundings.
Use Natural Ingredients for DIY Projects
Get creative this Christmas season with DIY projects using natural ingredients that are both toddler-safe and eco-friendly. Salt dough ornaments, cinnamon sticks, and dried orange slices are wonderful options for homemade decorations and crafts! Not only are they safe for littles, but they also add a rustic and cozy charm to your holiday decor.
For a fun craft with your young child, try making ornaments from popsicle sticks. You can create candy canes, stars, or even small tree decorations using non-toxic Wikki Stix. These projects bring the whole family together, creating cherished memories while keeping your home clear of harmful ingredients and safe.
By taking these precautions now, you’ll not only make this holiday season stress-free but also lay the groundwork for keeping this season safe for next year and beyond. So embrace this stage of parenthood filled with curious little minds and hands, while making it not only safe but festive and enjoyable for all. Happy holidays, from this mama of 2 to you!
