How To Childproof For The Holidays!

Have you put up your holiday decorations yet?  As someone who did not grow up with the traditional holiday festivities, I adore the opportunity, every year, to bring the magic of the season into my home. And this became even more true once we had children!

Of course, when you think of children and holiday decorations, you have to be sure that everything is as safe as possible. Children have a way of finding trouble. What is the best way to childproof your holiday set-up without sacrificing the magic of your decorations? Here are some pediatrician-approved tips.

Top 10 Tips For Holiday Childproofing

1. Gift wrap with wrapping paper, but be wary of adding too many bows and ribbons which could be choking or strangulation hazards.

2. Be extra vigilant before handing new toys over to your children – make sure they are age-appropriate and safe and that siblings do not get ahold of them (I have had several 26th-December phone calls from parents whose children swallowed pieces of new toys). 

3. Last year, we had a tremendous scare: we found a button battery on the floor. Now we are very careful about minimizing the presence of these in our home, but in this case the battery was from a grandparent’s hearing aid. So even if you know you are vigilant, when there are visitors in the home it is important to check, and then double check for these hazards. The same goes for medications!

4. Baking and warm beverages form the basis for many holiday traditions. Be extra careful with young children around the oven, and be sure to keep hot beverages away from the edges of counters and tables. 

5. Nuts, popcorn and hard candy are choking hazards for young children as well. 

6. “Special” or fragile ornaments and decorations should either be placed up high or put away when you have young children. 

7. Make sure children don’t have access to weighted stocking holders. 

8. Oh Christmas Tree! Most children and pets will be attracted to your tree, and so its not crazy to try to put it behind a barrier (we put heavy weights in gift-wrapped cardboard boxes a few years ago and placed them strategically around the tree). Consider anchoring your tree as well if there is a danger of it tipping over onto a child or a pet.

9. Fire safety: Make sure your tree is watered frequently and does not dry out. Be extra careful in the kitchen. And never leave candles unattended. Every holiday season, there are house fires that are attributed to trees, decorations, and cooking. This is also a good time to check smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms. 

10. Avoid certain plants in the house if you have pets or young children. Mistletoe and Holly berries are poisonous to humans!