where should i put my christmas tree?????????

Stacy - posted on 12/05/2012

Unfortunantly I have no good places to put my tree but right in the open in my livingroom. I have a very active 21 mo old and he cannot keep his hands off. I would recommend buying the plastic ornaments, I have them and they look just as fine as the glass. Puttig up a gate around it would be excellent, and probably havig it in the corner so they cant go at it from all directions. Last year he was 10 months at Christmas and I put the gifts under the tree, but not this year not until christmas day. He tried and tried to get the paper off the boxes and I really had to stay contant keeping him away. He isnt terrible this year but he does try everyday still, I put stuffed Santas at the bottom so he can reach (and not bother my other ornaments) and let him play with those, it does help with not wanting to touch the rest of the tree. Be careful with the cord too. Mine likes to try so when I have it unplugged I try to hide the cord inside the tree so he cant see it and run the excess underneath the tree skirt.

lol Not to be alarming but wait for next year! He will test those limits!

Elia - posted on 12/05/2012

Buy a gate and put it around the tree.

Juli - posted on 12/11/2009

i had a bad experience one year with 3 little boys ages 4 to 1 and a christmas tree. so now the tree goes on an end table in the corner between 2 couches and is tied to the wall. my oldest never even messed with the tree when he was little he would curl up under it and take a nap, but boy howdy the middle 3 boys taught me a whole new lesson!!

Amanda - posted on 12/11/2009

My son is walking and likes to take off the ornaments. I have all plastic ones so that he could not break them. He thinks they are balls. I allow him to explore the tree and he has not done anything to harm the tree yet.

Cathleen - posted on 12/11/2009

I agree if he's not crawling yet , you pretty much have your choice where to put it. I have mine in the living room , because I really dont have alot of room to put it anywhere else. And my son crawls but I decided to decorate half way up so he cant get to the ornaments.

Patricia - posted on 12/11/2009

I agree with everyone else...although I cannot use the gate any longer since my 2 yr old jumps it...we had to put it up on a table.

Emilee - posted on 12/09/2009

We put it in the corner and then got a play gate that you use for outside that goes in a circle and put that around it

Kim - posted on 12/09/2009

Anywhere that is fine for you. Since he's only 5 months old he's not getting into much but next year you may have to revisit this scenario again. P.S. My daughter is 17 months old and since she's curious about the decorations and wants to touch everything, I tell her "one finger" and she is learning to touch lightly.

Chelle - posted on 12/09/2009

my 7month old is crawling so we only have a 3foot tree thats put on top of a table so she cant reach it....well she can stand up using the table but cant really grab it though lol.

Good Day! - posted on 12/09/2009

Just thought of this. I read an article recently about involving small children in Christmas traditions. It said to get a small artificial tree that is your child's tree. As you decorate your tree, the child can decorate his own tree. That small tree will be his to play with. This might not help, as your child is only 5 months but its something to think about for next year maybe.

Good Day! - posted on 12/09/2009

We put fun non-breakable ornaments on the bottom of the tree last year. She was able to play safely and I didn't worry about my nice ornaments getting broke! The only thing, make sure the tree is very sturdy and won't topple over. (That happened to me one year, thank goodness no kids were around!)

Where I live, it is popular to get a very small tree (3 ft or under) and put on top of a pretty table. That may be a good option for you as well.

April - posted on 12/09/2009

I agree with everyone.. Depending on whether the baby is crawling or not I would just put it in a place where you think your baby wont grab the ornaments or the tree.

April Anaya
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www.april56.fourpointmoms.com
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Michelle - posted on 12/09/2009

Unless he is on the move I wouldn't worry too much, as he can't pull it down on himself or take anything off the tree. Next year when he definately will be on the move, is do what I did when my kids were toddlers. We put the tree in the middle of a playpen. We could all see the tree and enjoy it, without the kids being able to get to it. I still don't put lights on the tree either as my twins have only just turned 3, and basically I don't trust them not to touch them. I still haven't managed to grow eyes in the back of my head lol. And even though they are pretty good with not touching most things, you just never know. Here in Oz our Christmas trees are made out of plastic and aren't of course as heavy as an actual tree. So maybe if you can anchor it down, or put it in a large pot when lots of heavy material to weigh it down. Sorry if I sound ignorant, but not used to real trees when it comes to this time of the year.

Paula - posted on 12/09/2009

i think u could put ure christmas tree up anywhere, ure sons a bit young to touch and realise, my son is a year old and into everythn, a dreaded bringing ma tree out, but when i did he didnt go near it. woop whoo. xx

Letisha - posted on 12/09/2009

I put all my ordament at the top of the tree so my 1 1/2 year old would get to them but then my 4 1/2 year old finds something to climb on and give them to her so know we just have lights and they have left it alone. Its a sad looking christmas tree but it wont matter when u get the gifts under neath. I love decartion on my tree but when u have kids there something u have to give up but as they get older it gets easier with things like putting trees up.

Michelle - posted on 12/08/2009

We actually put a play yard fence around the the tree (I have a two year old and a 9 month old). That seems to work (although the joke in my family is that the tree is in prison). We take the fence down on Christmas day and that's it. Otherwise it's off limits to the kids. Haven't had any problems. You probably don't have too much to worry about if your little one is 5 months old.

Yesenia - posted on 12/08/2009

We ran a rope around the tree trunk and secured it with screws on the walls. Another year we bought a 4ft. tree and placed it on a small table. This is year I'm holding my breath since it is once again on the floor.

Traci - posted on 12/08/2009

I've been pretty lucky. All my kids pretty much listened when I told them to stop touching it. Last year when my daughter was 8 mo old, I put jingle bell ornaments on the bottom row of the tree so that I knew if she was messing with it. Worked like a charm for those brief moments where you have to leave the room...



Other than that, put it where you always would, keep a close eye on baby, and put any ornaments that pose a choking or breaking hazard out of baby's reach. Good luck!

Jenn - posted on 12/08/2009

Our daughter is about 8 1/2 months and she's just starting to crawl, we just bought a small one [about 3 ft i think] and put it up on the table so we didnt have to worry about her knocking anything over or breaking any ornaments in case she does get curious. My sister in law's kids are a couple years older and until she got them to stop touching it and opening gifts she bought one of those little play yard type gates that she just put right around the tree so they couldn't get into it. Mele Kalikimaka! =]

Chrystal-Lee - posted on 12/08/2009

put it in a corner out of the way and tie it so it doesn't tip and fall on the child.

Jodi - posted on 12/08/2009

I agree with other posts. While my 9 month who is nearly walking has absolutely NO interest in our tree we still tied it to the wall with fishing line and kept the bottom part of the tree free of ornaments. One other thing is show the tree to baby, talk about the tree, but make it clear that it's a "no touch" item in the house. If he tries to touch it, make a stern face and say no in an authorative tone. Babies are more likely to stop doing something if their parent shows disapproval of the action. Good luck and have a great first Christmas with the little one!

Erika - posted on 12/08/2009

I agree with the other ladies, you can put it where ever as long as he's not crawling. I put mine in the same spot this year. I have a 2 year old and 9 month old. I just need to keep an eye on them. Have fun decorating!

Erika
http://www.4MyFamilyandMe.com

Jessica - posted on 12/08/2009

I have an 11 month old who is a curious little girl.. but she has left the tree alone for the most part.. If you have enough money you could buy one of the gates like they have for fireplaces maybe? It would make it so you could have your tree up and your baby couldn't get to it.

Jocelyn - posted on 12/08/2009

If you are worried about it falling over (or something like that) my aunt use to tie the top of her christmas tree to the ceiling...

Brandi - posted on 12/08/2009

You're not worrying for nothing, as a large, tall piece of furniture with sparkly lights and breakable ornaments can be dangerous for a curious little one who is probably just starting to become mobile. lol. However, there are a few things you can do. First, thank God that your son is still pretty young, he probably will be interested for a little while and once he realizes that he can't really get to anything on the tree (limited mobility), he probably will just go about his regular business. Second. anchor the tree to the wall (use a heavy duty fishing wire and wrap it around the trunk of the tree. Place eye hooks into the walls and secure the tree using the fishing wire (this way the tree CANNOT fall on your baby) thirdly, make sure the tree is placed preferably in a corner (it is less obtrusive there and will draw a little less of your baby's attention. Lastly, I would suggest keeping small ornaments and breakable ones higher on the tree to avoid choking or getting cut if one should fall off or get broken. Above all else, keep a close eye on your baby around the tree and never leave him in the same room alone with the tree *you never know at his age what he will learn how to do when* Our plan this year for our tree is to place our couch and chair in an "L" shape, leaving a large area open in the corner and placing the tree there to use the furniture as helper barriers, so our youngest (19mos) doesn't have as straight a shot for the tree. Good luck and Merry Christmas. Also, be careful that he doesn't put any of the light strands in his mouth (electrocution hazard obviously, but I recently read that there is lead in Christmas lights, not that I expect you would allow your child to chew on wires, but they are very curious at his age and quick, too lol).

Kirsten - posted on 12/08/2009

Is he crawling yet? If he's not crawling then you have nothing to worry about. Even if he is crawling it shouldn't be a problem, just make sure all the breakable and heavy ornaments are not near the bottom so he can't reach them. My son is 14 months and the bottom 1/3 of our tree has nothing on it but lights because he likes to pull the ornaments off, I didn't put anything there that he could break but I don't want him to hide them under the couch where we'll never find them again.

Andrea - posted on 12/08/2009

I would only worry if your son is crawling.. Otherwise i would put it where ever you feel is safe for baby.. You are mommy and you will know whats best for you son.. Hope this is helpful take care and best wishes...