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Original poster

Christmas tree + toddler

31 replies

ThomasinaLivesHere · 01/10/2023 11:17

We bought a Christmas tree at the sales in January and now we’ve settled in our house and have a nice window in the living room to put it up but I’m wondering if it’s just going to be a nightmare with a toddler. He likes climbing and I’m sure will be attracted to the bobbles etc on the tree. We obviously don’t leave him alone although I’m just trying to decide if we should hold it off for a year as will it just be a pain to continue to direct him away from the tree and he might get upset he can’t play with it. Anyone had any experience with toddlers and Christmas trees?

OP posts:
TrailingLoellia · 01/10/2023 11:21

Oh yes I have! First, no glass balls or ceramic decorations. Nothing that can cut if broken. Second, no tinsel or small things that can be a choking hazard. Third, get a baby fence and put it around the tree and tell the child they can look but only touch if you are there to ensure the tree doesn’t fall on them. Take the fence down on Christmas Eve when you put out the presents and then put it back up after present opening.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/baby-fence/s?k=baby+fence

bettynutkins · 01/10/2023 11:22

I guess it depends on the child but mine has never been particularly bothered about the tree. He looks at it, does "jingle" certain baubles but it's not a problem. I have an 1 year old joining in this year so will see.

I've never heard of any toddlers climbing trees or pulling the whole thing down etc. I'm sure it'll be fine.

Only advice is to put your favourite/breakable ones at the top where he can't reach.

TrailingLoellia · 01/10/2023 11:27

I had two climbers. My DDs. They would have climbed the curtains, kitchen counters, bookcases, window sills if I hadn’t taken measures for their safety and let them build pillow forts to climb instead,

I was a climber- at age 2, I climbed a book case and then it fell over and on me putting me in hospital and my parents frantically anchoring every piece of furniture to the walls. I graduated to trees as a girl.

Devilsmommy · 01/10/2023 11:29

My husbands first child pulled over a Xmas tree when he was a toddler and I've got a 1yo climber so been having the same worries 😆 I like the Idea of the fence but don't know if lo would just pull it over or try scaling it🤣

GettingStuffed · 01/10/2023 11:46

My cousin's daughter and my daughter have children born days apart. The first Christmas they both showed beautiful Christmas trees and a few days later they both had a tree with no baubles on the lower branches.

I can't remember ours doing anything like that but that way be because we only had real trees and they prick like needles.

gotomomo · 01/10/2023 11:46

Mine never touched the tree. Nor other things like the tv, plus etc - I told them no! Perhaps I got lucky but in my experience you have to teach them not to touch by having temptation, I just wouldn't put breakable ornaments on it

gotomomo · 01/10/2023 11:48

Or and don't put chocolate ones on either, dd2 did eat them aged 3, all 12 one morning sneaking downstairs quietly (we had moved and didn't bother with a gate because she was good on stairs!)

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 01/10/2023 11:50

Never had a problem with either of mine, though of course had to tell them a few times not to touch.

They could never have pulled a tree over though - we always had a fairly big real one, in a big bucket of wet gravel.

TheChosenTwo · 01/10/2023 11:52

Mine we always fine with the tree, never climbed it or pulled it over. They used to help decorate it so knew to be ‘gentle’ or ‘careful’ with it. Not that it was down to excellent parenting skills obviously 😂 it’s just luck of the draw but all of mine left the tree alone once it was up, perhaps would take a bauble off to look at it again but not climbing it. We always had a real one and they’d help water it too.

Bbq1 · 01/10/2023 11:59

I think it's a fallacy that a child will attempt to climb a Christmas tree. Never had any problem with my ds trying to. He enjoyed the lights and baubles but didn't pull it over. I think erecting a fence around it will look ridiculous and just attract a child to it more.

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 01/10/2023 12:01

To solve a similar problem with cats, I bought a tree with the decorations already fixed on.

ShowOfHands · 01/10/2023 12:04

I've never had a problem with DC (my own and visiting) and the tree. Same as the television, oven etc. It's simply not to be climbed. They loved the tree though. Both used to lie under it watching the lights.

TrailingLoellia · 01/10/2023 12:08

Bbq1 · 01/10/2023 11:59

I think it's a fallacy that a child will attempt to climb a Christmas tree. Never had any problem with my ds trying to. He enjoyed the lights and baubles but didn't pull it over. I think erecting a fence around it will look ridiculous and just attract a child to it more.

The fence worked for us as it reminded them the tree is off limits. Toddlers are not known for just needing to be told once!

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 01/10/2023 12:16

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 01/10/2023 12:01

To solve a similar problem with cats, I bought a tree with the decorations already fixed on.

My Xmas tree one year was clad in flattened cardboard boxes to try and stop DCat from chowing on the fake snow covered branches. I even had to block the gaps at either end of the settee. The tree looked ridiculous with just the top part of the branches poking out from a mountain of cardboard 😅 prior to that I'd tried sprinkling chilli powder around the bottom of the tree branches but DCat happily licked it all off. Bauble wise the only time he'd knock them off was by walking underneath it and I always made sure the baubles on t bottom weren't breakable. I'm the daft bugger who managed to let my beautiful glass Eyore bauble fall off the tree cos I'd put it on the wrong branch. I watched it fall but didn't click on in time until it shattered into pieces on my wooden floor. Gutted!

WhyHasAllTheRumGone · 01/10/2023 12:20

I'm a childminder and I've never had a child who messed with the tree too much. I always have the biggest most ridiculous tree I can find and glass baubles on the top half. They are intrigued by it, give the bottom baubles a wobble to begin with, but very quickly it loses its novelty. Just keep reminding "ah! We don't touch the tree." And then distract with something.

reluctantbrit · 01/10/2023 17:49

We never had a problem but we were able to shut the door in a way so that DD wouldn't be able to be in the living room without us.

We have a real one, from 22 December to 6 January so the period is reduced as well.

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 01/10/2023 17:50

Never had a problem with my kids either , surprisingly 'cos they were into everything else 😁.

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 01/10/2023 17:53

ShowOfHands · 01/10/2023 12:04

I've never had a problem with DC (my own and visiting) and the tree. Same as the television, oven etc. It's simply not to be climbed. They loved the tree though. Both used to lie under it watching the lights.

Ahh yes ! I remember them lying on their back under the tree looking into it , never done it myself but it must look amazing from that view 😂.

jannier · 01/10/2023 18:14

I'm a childminder we always have a real tree no glass ornaments on it. Children have never been a problem after the first couple of touches. When they start it takes about a week for them to adjust to things that they can't touch then they realise what I mean by no touching and distraction. Same with climbers lift them down saying no come play

Original poster
ThomasinaLivesHere · 01/10/2023 18:22

Thanks for the replies. I think I will put it up and hopefully he’ll learn soon to not touch it. I had thought of putting a pen around it but I do wonder if that would just encourage him to try to climb in. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/10/2023 18:44

We used a fibre optic tree , no baubles , it slotted into the stand , if it got knocked over , no problems . When DD and DS were old enough we went for a real tree , they were fine .

I put chocolate foil wrapped decorations on the bannister swag, noticed a few missing ...... then heard DS whisper to DD "If you unwrap them take the chocolate out , leave the wrapper and she';ll never know " Xmas Grin

DC were fine with the tree .
The cats ,otoh. are little ratbags so we are tree-less !

minisoksmakehardwork · 01/10/2023 18:44

Yes! Our solution was one of the ikea HOL side table/storage boxes. Cable tied the lid to the box then cable tied the tree to the lid so it wouldn't get pulled over. Also meant when the cat climbed it, it was safe too.

Don't put anything you treasure low down on the tree. Get them to help decorate as that will give them permission to touch in a controlled manner.

minisoksmakehardwork · 01/10/2023 18:45

Oh, and we also put a few proper bells on the tree so if it did get 'knocked' we could hear it and know to intervene.

QuiltedHippo · 01/10/2023 19:35

We put a playpen around it last year with an 18 month old, honestly they weren't that into it and we could shut the living room off. Will keep breakables high up this year but think it will be OK and at least now we can communicate with them properly this year

Babyboomtastic · 01/10/2023 19:47

We've always had a tree and it's never been an issue as we've never been too precious about it. Sentimental baubles go at the top as do glass ones.

One year we did keep score of breakages and the cat easily beat the toddler.

If they pull a bauble off, we put it back on. No big deal. We don't even tell them to leave the tree alone, but generally they do. We don't make a big deal of it, so they don't take the baubles off for mischief etc.