Christmas Trees

[pablopatito]

Well, we've finished our Christmas shopping and are now considering decorations.

Last year we had a Christmas tree as normal, as DS was only 7 months old and not mobile. But this year, as he'll be 19 months old, I'm worried that its a really bad idea.

Any experiences of trees with toddlers? What are the practicalities? I love a good tree. I will, however, never install a plastic one.

[Quootiepie]

can you put a guard around it possibly?

[Elibean]

Depends on the toddler, and on how badly you want your tree: we had a 12 month old dd one year, nearly 2 yrs old the next, and little friends of hers of all ages both times....and had real trees.
I'd say either barricade (a visual barricade was enough for dd at nearly two, but she wasn't that adventurous in those days - others might have climbed over: one friend had her dh build a wooden fence type thing all around theirs ) or make sure tree is either very small, and/or securely attached by cord to wall or something - so they can't pull it on top of them. Then go for unbreakable decorations, and no electrics - we used that option at 12 months, was fine.

[fransmom]

have been wondering about this as dd is also about the same age as your ds. at finished shopping. i'm nowhere near as organised tho i have got nearly all dd's clothes.

we have 6' artificial tree and bit worried about dd playing with it.

[fransmom]

meant to say the wooden fence things is good idea but we live in rented flat so can't do too much wall stuff. how else could we get round it, short of not having tree at all?

tia

[WestCountryLass]

My DS never touched our Xmas trees but our DD is another matter and couldn't stop herself. We alsways used to have six footers but last year we got a small one and put it on a table so she couldn't get it. This year we are having a big 'un as she is older and understands better (I think/hope).

[Elibean]

Small one on table good option, think we did that first year (blur, can't really remember that Xmas!). fransmom, the fence my friends built wasn't attached to the wall - they were also in rented place. Think they put tree in a corner, then made a sort of V shaped fence which they just propped against both walls, IYSWIM - it was enough of a visual barrier to deter their dd, who was about 22 months at the time. It was about 18" high, and they just reinforced 'no' a few times when she was curious to get past it - and she quickly learnt it was a limit. But might not work for a more persistent curious toddler!

[Bozza]

I would never dream of not having a Christmas tree. Over the past 5 Decembers I have had children aged:

7 months
10 months
19 months
22 months
34 months and so on.

Each year we have had a large real tree with fairy lights and decorations. I put the breakable stuff at the top but we have a lot of nice wooden ones that the children like. I also take them to choose a new decoration each every year.

[Bozza]

A tip I have read on here is to put it inside a play pen.