It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year. You probably already spent hours curating boards on Pinterest for your picture-perfect Christmas décor. However, if you’re a mother of three buzzing balls of energy, you may need to rethink your approach to decorating your home for the holidays by opting for childproof décor alternatives.
A recent study from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that more than 15,000 injuries occur between November and December because of unsafe holiday decorations.
Now before you throw away those boxes of 3 generations old Christmas décor, here are a few pointers to get you started on decking the halls while keeping your toddlers safe:
Ornaments, tinsel + decorations
When decorating your Christmas tree, make sure to use materials labeled as “shatterproof” near the bottom of the tree and keep ornaments with tiny or sharp parts near the top. Swap your metal hooks for ribbon hangers too to avoid injuring curious hands (and paws). If you can skip the breakables and delicate, fragile décor until your kids grow older, that is a much safer and better option.
Tips for using tinsel: make sure your tiny elves can’t get tangled up in it. Or add it to your list of other Christmas décors you can put off using until your children are older.
Toys
Be mindful of the kinds of toys you buy for your child, ensuring they meet safety guidelines and that you purchase only toys marked in your child’s age range.
Candles
If you can’t do away with candles, be sure to place them high and out of reach of children. Never place them near flammable objects or substances. Safer alternatives include wax burners or faux candles that give you that nice candlelight flicker without the actual flame.
Wrapping paper, ribbons and snow
Prevent possible suffocation and choking from wrapping paper or plastic packaging by disposing of them as soon as they unwrap the gifts.
Stockings
Weighted stocking holders are the top causes of child injuries during Christmastime. Swap them out for a safer alternative: hanging stockings on hooks that are nailed securely in place on a wall.
Lights
No Christmas décor is complete without string lights. Make sure you get the shatterproof kind and that all the plugs are out of a child’s reach. Parents suggest putting a fake weighted gift box in front of a power outlet to prevent your child playing with sockets.
These are just few of the tips Motherly suggests for childproof Christmas decorating. Read the original article here to see more specific suggestions for safe holiday decorating, including the mammoth of a task of childproofing your Christmas tree.
Got any childproof Christmas decorating tips of your own? Share it with us in the comments below!