Are you celebrating Christmas with a baby or toddler? Keep scrolling for some easy ways to keep your child (and your Christmas decorations) safe this holiday season!
This post on how to childproof your home for Christmas was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
I’ll never forget my first Christmas with a mobile baby. My son was almost a year old and getting into absolutely everything.
I thought decorating our Christmas tree together would be this magical memory. Instead, I spent the entire time hovering nervously while he grabbed at every shiny ornament within reach. I was terrified he’d pull the whole thing down and get hurt by broken glass.
It completely sucked the joy out of what should have been one of the most special times of the year.
But here’s the good news. Over the years (and three kids later), I’ve figured out exactly how to make Christmas both festive and safe. You don’t have to choose between beautiful decorations and peace of mind.
Why Christmas Childproofing Matters
Recent data shows that more than 15,000 decoration-related injuries happen every November and December. That’s over 250 injuries every single day that need emergency room visits.
Most of these accidents are completely preventable with a few simple precautions.
How to Babyproof Your Christmas Tree
Let’s start with the centerpiece of the holiday season.
Anchor Your Tree Properly
This is non-negotiable. Trees can and do tip over, especially with curious toddlers around.
Use fishing line or sturdy wire to anchor your tree to the wall or ceiling. You can attach it to a hook in the wall or even run it to a nearby window frame. This extra step takes maybe 10 minutes but could prevent a serious accident.
Skip the Glass Ornaments (For Now)
I know, I know. Those heirloom ornaments are beautiful. But trust me on this one.
Pack away the glass and breakable decorations until your kids are a bit older. My youngest is four and I’m still holding off for another year.
Instead, stock up on shatterproof ornaments. These plastic ornaments look almost identical to glass but won’t break if (when) they hit the floor. Many come in gorgeous finishes like matte, glitter, and metallic that photograph beautifully.
I let my kids each pick out a few soft fabric or felt ornaments every year at Target when they go on sale. They love having their own special decorations, and I don’t have to worry about injuries.
Decorate Strategically
Here’s a trick that actually works. Keep all your special ornaments (even the shatterproof ones you care about) on the top two-thirds of your tree.
Put the most boring, least breakable decorations on the bottom third where little hands can reach. My kids lost interest in the tree pretty quickly when they realized the bottom ornaments weren’t that exciting.
Fill the Space with Ribbon
Once you remove all the breakable stuff, your tree might look a bit bare.
Thick wired Christmas ribbon is your friend here. Wrap it around the branches to fill space and add visual interest. It’s way cheaper than buying a ton of new ornaments too.
What About a Playpen Around the Tree?
You might have heard the old tip about putting your tree inside a playpen. I need to be honest with you about this one.
There have been multiple recalls on playpens in the past couple of years due to serious safety hazards including suffocation and entrapment risks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued warnings about several playpen brands sold on Amazon.
Instead of a playpen, consider using a baby gate to section off the area around your tree. This gives you the same barrier but with better safety standards. Just make sure you get a hardware-mounted gate if you’re using it to block stairs or protect against falls.
Childproofing the Rest of Your Home
Holiday Decorations
Think vertically. Put breakable decorations on high shelves, mantles, and wall-mounted displays where kids can’t reach.
Be careful with garland and stockings hung at kid height. If they can pull them down, they will. And weighted stocking holders are actually dangerous because toddlers can bring the entire heavy holder down on themselves.
Instead, use hooks screwed securely into your mantle or wall for stockings.
Baby Gates Are Your Best Friend
Hardware-mounted baby gates should go at the top and bottom of stairs. Never use pressure-mounted gates at the top of stairs because they’re not secure enough.
I also kept gates in front of our master bedroom and bathrooms during holiday gatherings. It’s way easier to gate off a few rooms than to childproof your entire house when you have visitors.
You can also use gates to keep kids contained in just a couple of rooms during family gatherings. This saved my sanity more than once when I was trying to cook dinner for 20 people.
Secure Your Electrical Cords
Keep Christmas light cords out of reach and use outlet covers on any unused outlets. Some parents put a decorative box in front of outlets being used for lights, which works well too.
Watch Out for These Hazards
A few things I learned the hard way:
Candles should be up high or switched out for flameless LED candles. One toddler hand swipe and you’ve got a fire hazard.
Real mistletoe and holly are toxic. Use artificial versions or keep real ones completely out of reach.
Button batteries in decorations and toys are incredibly dangerous if swallowed. Check that battery compartments are secure and can’t be opened by little hands.
Tinsel is a choking hazard (and seriously dangerous if swallowed). We skip it entirely.
If You’re Hosting Guests with Young Kids
Visitors might not realize they need to put their medications and personal care items away. Remind them to keep purses, bags, and toiletries up high and out of reach.
Put toilet locks and cabinet locks on bathrooms and any cabinets with cleaning supplies.
Make Dinner Time Safe Too
If you’re using fancy dishes for Christmas dinner, set up little ones with non-breakable toddler dishes. They come in cute holiday patterns now.
Grab a splat mat to put under their high chair. It’ll save your floors and your sanity when they inevitably throw food everywhere.
Creating Memories Instead of Stress
Look, I get it. The first Christmas with a mobile baby or toddler can feel overwhelming. You want everything to be perfect and magical.
But here’s what I learned. The magic isn’t in the glass ornaments or the perfectly styled tree.
The magic is in watching their faces light up when they see the tree for the first time. It’s the joy of letting them hang ornaments (even if they’re all clustered on one branch). It’s not spending the entire holiday season anxious and stressed.
Take 30 minutes to do these safety steps now. Your future self will thank you when you can actually enjoy the holidays instead of constantly worrying.
And honestly? Some of my favorite Christmas photos are of my kids with our hodgepodge tree decorated with plastic ornaments and too much ribbon. Those imperfect, safe memories are the ones I treasure most.
Loving these tips on How to Childproof your Home for the Holidays and looking for more Christmas ideas? Find out my favorite Christmas Paper Crafts, Where to Hide Christmas Presents, Santa Letter Writing Tips, and the Best Christmas Presents Under $50 That Look Expensive!
