The holiday season is a magical time of year filled with joy, love, and laughter. As you prepare to celebrate, your home comes alive with festive decorations, twinkling lights, and seasonal plants. While these elements add to the holiday spirit, they can also pose potential hazards for young children. To ensure a safe and happy holiday season, it’s essential to re-childproof your home during this time. In this blog, we will be covering six things to keep in mind before you start decorating.
1. Keep Holiday Décor Out of Reach from Little Hands
While holiday decorations might seem safe, they can be appealing to small children and become a safety risk. Items like garlands and fragile ornaments should be placed out of reach of little hands. Consider using tabletop decorations that can be out of reach or hung high on the tree to prevent accidents.
2. Childproof the Tree
Keep your littlest family members protected by ensuring it is fenced in or placed in a room that can be closed off to curious hands. Additionally, avoid decorating the bottom of the tree or using glass ornaments near the lower branches, where children can easily access them.
3. Keep an Eye on Lights and Cords
Holiday lights and electrical cords can present both electrical and tripping hazards. Cords should be secured with tape to prevent tripping and use covers to keep children from tampering with them. You should also check that all electrical decorations are in good condition and avoid overloading outlets to reduce the risk of electrical fires.
4. Know Your Toxic Plants
Many families bring holiday plants like poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly into their homes to add to the festive atmosphere without being aware of the safety risks. These plants can be toxic if ingested, making them a potential danger to curious kids. Be sure to keep them out of reach or opt for artificial alternatives that are safer for kids.
5. Watch What’s by the Windows
Avoid placing enticing decorations near windows where they will draw children’s attention and increase the risk of accidents. It is essential to keep window covering cord safety in mind during the holidays. Window coverings should be cordless if little ones are present; but if replacing them with safer cordless options is not possible, it is critical to keep cords well out of reach. This is especially important to be aware of when decorating for the holidays.
6. Be Mindful of Temporary Furniture Placement
It’s common to move furniture around to accommodate your Christmas tree, but you might not realize this could create a potential hazard. Be mindful of furniture placement near shelving or windows which may not have been accessible before to little climbers. Remember tip #5 and ensure your window coverings are cordless!
