I keep going back and forth in my mind about whether or not to put up a Christmas tree this year. We buy a real one, and had a gorgeous one last year, but I'm dreading keeping my toddler from destroying it. I'm not too concerned about the ornaments, since I'll just put the more fragile ones higher on the tree, but I'm worried that he'll be pulling off lights and such.
Of course I know my toddler best, but I was wondering how any of you moms and dads have dealt with trees and toddlers in the past, either real or artificial ones. We put one up last year when SoJo was crawling, and he was pulling at the branches then, so I have no idea what will happen this year. Thoughts?
November 25, 2023
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Sharing your concerns. I know we'll put her cardboard tree up on her dresser out of reach...and we'll use our artificial tree until we're in our own place. Wondering if we should get a round baby gate to pu around the tree to ward off her curious grabbing? :D
ReplyDeleteOh Kathleen...you know you can't have Christmas without a tree. You?? What you are feeling is similar to wedding day jitters.
ReplyDeleteYep, goina be a ruckus in your house this Christmas. Let him at it. Besides, this year he will understand when you say no.
I always have had a tree. Even when my girls were little. They just never pulled at it. I did put the breakable decorations up top. In fact, I don't think I put anything on the tree that I would be heart broken over losing.
ReplyDeleteIf you are really worried that he could pull it over on himself then you could always tie it to the wall with twine. My parents used to do that because my dad could never get the tree to stand up in the stand right. We hung our Christmas cards over the twine...Ah the memories...
This is an on going dilemma at our home! 2 years ago we adopted 2 active boys then aged 13 mo (walking) and 2.5 yrs. That year we opted to use a hand-me-down table-top Christmas tree. We had it on the kitchen counter corner for a few weeks and then put it down on a side table a few days before Christmas. Our oldest would have been fine but our 1 year old's personality was such that he was in to everything and could have pulled a full-size tree over on himself. It was the best decision for that year. The tree did get knocked over now and then but we were able to easily put it up again. We were still able to take pictures of the boys beside the tree and pile up lots of presents under the table.
ReplyDeleteLast year we had a full-size tree and the boys were very good with it.
This year we have our biological 1 year old to think about. To date he is not so "in to things" and he tends to follow the lead of his older brothers. We are going to try a full-size tree with most of the ornaments hung high.
I did hear of a family with an at-home day care (many toddlers running around)who placed their tree in a play pen so that the children could get quite close to see but not touch or knock over.
Good luck with whatever you do!
We live in a tiny house ,and I have a crawler and a toddler. So we put up a small Christams tree I got from Michaels last year. I am going to let my 2 year old decorate it. It will still be festive,yet practical:0)
ReplyDeleteWe have high ceilings in our living room. So the years that I have had toddlers, we put ours up on a card table.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest will be 2 right before Christmas and Im facing the same issue! With my oldest she never messed with the tree so it was no big deal. But my youngest is always into everything!!! I just cant imagine Christmas without a tree up though so Im not sure what to do!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to give my tabletop tree a shot. We got it at a thrift store a few years ago for like $7. I've definitely gotten my $7 out of it, and I recycled, plus it's going to be harder for Lili to get at it than a tree on the floor would be. If I can't keep it in the living room I'll put in in the basement, behind the baby gate. I'll probably see it more there, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm rather fond of the lotus towel, but I should probably get the "kitty cat" towel for my little girl. She, too, is outgrowing our smaller hooded towels and I need to get some larger ones.
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ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a problem with my 4 year old but my almost 2 year old is likely to be a pest this year. I plan to have a train around the base, figuring that will distract him enough...
ReplyDeletelike last year, we are putting the almost 4 foot artificial tree up on a side table, cover base with tree skrit and rest of table with christmas quilt. THEN we can go ahead and wrap all those gfts we have hidden thruout the house (you KNOW the ones I mean, that you've bought all year long that arent SANTA), and that helps BLOCK access to the tree. my daughters 2 1/2. this is a safer bet for us. oh and crystal ornaments go on ornament stand up on mantel where she cant reach them.
ReplyDeleteNEXT year, REAL 12 foot tree!
Can you put it in a room that has a fence? If your tot is like mine, a fence/gate means nothing. We are putting ours downstairs this year, where he only goes sometimes, and then only with adult supervision, for just the reason you are discussing.
ReplyDeleteWe have three little ones ages 2, 3 and 4 and we bought a child gate that goes around the tree on 3 sides. The tree is in the corner so it is then enclosed. The gate has a door to get in and out. We LOVE this and we don't have to worry about the kids around the tree or the gifts.
ReplyDeleteWe only had one tree mishap when the twins were 1, it was minor and there were no injuries. I have always put up a real tree from when I was in college, albeit a small one, until now (I am getting it on Friday!). I did not gate off my tree or block it in anyway (maybe it made the tree less tempting?) although when the twins were 1 and my oldest was 3, I did keep my very antique fragile (irreplaceable) ornaments off and used them elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI am certain you will do what is best for your family.
I'm facing this issue, too, and we were brainstorming ideas this morning. Right after we decided we'd just have to keep the baby out of the living room by using gates, I happened to be at a children's consignment shop and saw they had a play yard!
ReplyDeleteSince I have a toddler and a baby on the way, I decided to get it because I'm sure I'll use it for other reasons. So the play yard will go around the tree this year, and hopefully keep Noodle from getting to it. We also always attach the tree to the wall with twine "just in case". Can't be too careful!
We are doing a table top tree. Our 20 month old is just too interested in things he is not supposed to touch.
ReplyDeletePut it up but keep the most "sacred" ornaments off it. My tot was so in awe by the beauty of the tree she left it (mostly) alone. We will see what #2 (now 2) does this year. I wish us both luck. Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteWe allow the kiddos to touch the bottom branches with one finger, and only if we are close by. Offenders are punished...but I have also trained my kids not to mess around with my DVD's and decorative items, the the tree is just an extension of a system that we already have in place. :)
ReplyDeleteI put the tree in the playpen away from furniture and only decorated the part above the playpen. The tree stayed safe.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Felt tree? We're going the potted route so we can plant it in the yard come spring. Last year's is still alive so it seems like a good tradition to carry on...
ReplyDeleteLast year Deeds pulled out lots of the tiny white Christmas light bulbs (which causes the whole strand to go out). It was a little stressful. He did pull over the tree a couple times as well. This year I have the tree on top of the kid-sized table, and I have a string tied around the top and anchored to the curtain rod holder.
ReplyDeleteHe does still remove ornaments but like you, I put the hardier ones on bottom.
When my son was a crawler, we had a little tree (real) on top of the table. Last year when he was walking we put a fake one on top of the bookshelf. We'll probably do the same thing this year.
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