A 'real' Xmas tree + an 18month old who is typically into everythign = chaos?

[Tobermory]

I love real trees The smell and even the droping of needles, whilst a PITA, is just so Christmassy.
DH thinks we shluld buy a fake one this year.
DD is 18 months and into everything. DH is sure that DD will eat all the needles or pull over the tree (we normall get a 6ft one) making all the needles drop even earlier and that a fake one will be easier all round.

Ihst at really sensible of him? Should i sigh inwardly but agree nonetheless cos it is the right move or should i stnad my ground and prepare for even more needle pickign up this year?

If you think DH is right, please would you link me to some lovely fake trees...does such a thing exist?

Am rather that people who have 'spirited' boys apparently find it impossible to say no/teach appropriate behaviour. Is there a link..?

Oh we say no. We model/discuss appropriate behaviour. We act when it is inappropriate.

But it is an awful lot easier to just remove the tree from instant temptation to touch, than to spend 4 weeks constantly removing child from tree. Why look to make your life more complex.

I have a friend whose first child is a non toucher, tell her once not to do something and she'll comply. They congratulated themselves on their good parenting and tutted about children who were into everything. Their second is a toucher, who will keep going back to things in spite of being told not to. They now laugh about what they thought...

Umlellala think you are misunderstanding, I have no problem with saying no or in teaching appropriate behaviour.
The difference is that DS1 will listen and take heed and DS2 will take no notice whatsoever and continue to do his own thing.
Gather you don't have "spirited" boys?...

Have 2yo and 8mo. Will be putting tree in corner blockaded by sofa on one side and playpen on other!

Or put tree in a room that you can put a stairgate across.

Cordon off tree behind settee, a very good idea. Think i might have to put that proposition to DH as a def. maybe.

Umlellala - dont think the at the end of your post quite took the sting/judgeyness from it.

I have a 'spirited' dd who likes to touch everything (and have taught v challenging boys too), hence why I suggested working with it. Always agree about taking the easy option, but my dd would be working out how to climb into the playpen/get behind the sofa, so think it's easier to show her what she can do.

And what's so wrong with being judgey sometimes? None of us are perfect. You can come and judge me on my non-sleeping, going-through-fussy-phase toddler dd (and non-sleeping ds, so it probably is something I'm doing...).

We've always had a real tree and have had 3 DC. I don't remember there ever being a problem for some reason.

We have a new kitten this year. Having a feeling that this year may be challenging

OK maybe judgey was the wrong word. I think you made a pretty big assumption in saying parents with spirited children find it 'impossible to say no or teach appropriate behaviour'.

Nature v nurture ?

I didn't say that. I was reacting to the fact that some posters said that my suggestion (of teaching appropriate behaviour) was ridiculous and would never work with their 'spirited' children. Was not making general assumption at all.

Btw nurture, if you're asking...

Actually, apologies. Because re-reading, katylou who used the word 'spirited', actually didn't say what I thought she said.

So sorry, for my sleep-deprived confuson.

Apologies from me too, I read your comment out of context and thought you were making a generalassumption.

Nurture, really? All the way?