should i have a tree?

[ToothlesstheDragon]

I haven't had a christmas tree since DS's first christmas (he was 4 months old) Fast forward to this year and i have a three year old, a 10 month old (in december) and a cat.

DD is crawling and grabbing everything, but i feel the DC might be missing out on having a tree (as well as me!)

DH doesnt think we should have one but I thought I should see what others opinions were.

Christmas isn't Christmas without a tree!

But of course you must have a tree!

Even if you only have a little one set upon a table out of reach.

I agree with Jelliebellie - how can you have Christmas without a tree? We have 3 under 5 who are always into everything but somehow dont damage the tree or pull it down.

If it is easier not to have a tree don't have one. Especially if you think you might spend the whole of Christmas worrying the baby will be messing with it or the cat will be pulling it over.

I vote tree!

What about one of those fibre optic lighty-changy-colour ones? Then you don't need to actually decorate with baubles etc that could get into the wrong hands!?!

YY to fibre optic tree. We had one when DS was a toddler.
Nice twinkly lights, colour and if it got pulled over, nothing to break. Not a proper tree IMHO but it's a good compromise tree.
Got it from Argos, 11 years ago.

We now plug it in the hall on a timer and tell the DCs they can't go downstairs until Father Christmas switches on the tree.
(They are 12 and 9 yo)

we've had mini ones but tbh they dont do the job, it has to be big, bright and well, christmassy. Looked into a prelit one that looked quite good but i would probably want to decorate it :o

will investigate further into the world of trees

You have to have a tree.

If I only had on Christmasy thing at Christmas it would be a tree.

I have children of a similar age and will be having a tree. What's the problem? Presumably you don't leave the baby crawling around on its own for hours??!! My elder child didn't do any damage to the tree at her crawling age Christmas (she was 9 months and I now have an 11 month old)

My 2 cats patted the lower baubles, but never did any damage. I've had a tree with a 12 months old, a 9 month old and a 6 month old with no problems.