How can i keep my 19 month old son from completely wrecking my Christmas Tree????1 I have no where above ground level to put it.2 I can not put it in a different room as i have a through dining/lounge. The tre is artificial & approx 5ft.It is really becoming a bone of contention between my partner & i.
2007-12-03 01:38:38 · 29 answers · asked by Ally L 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I have five children and run a playgroup. There isnt much you can do only to keep the dangerous decorations at the top and put child friendly ones on the bottom they will be curious and will want to touch them it is part of their development. Put some decorations at the bottom which you allow them to touch and ignore them doing so and the novelty will wear of eventually.
2007-12-03 01:42:22 · answer #1 · answered by Daisy 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
We put our tree up on sat, I put all the breakable decorations on the top and soft stuff on the bottom. As soon as it went up my daughter (just turned 1 last Tue) was straight at it so right away I told her "No touch" and then every time she went near it. She can walk perfectly fine but as soon as she goes near the tree she stumbles into it and looks about with a little smile on her face as if to say "I wasn't touching the tree I just fell into it".
I also have a 4 year old and he loves touching the everything on the tree so this year we got a train that goes around the bottom and he loves it hasn't touched the decorations at all this year.
You just have to be firm and say "No" from the start they do get the message its like everything else in the house they need to learn what they are allowed to go near and what not.
Good Luck!
2007-12-03 04:14:17 · answer #2 · answered by 11111 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We were s worried about our 14 month old and the Christmas tree but were determined to put it up anyway. My main concern was it being tipped over which was solved in 2 ways... my husband drilled holes into the base of the tree and attached the tree base to a piece of wood about 1.5 x 1.5 feet. Now the tree is very sturdy. Secondly, we put 2 small eye hooks into the wall and tied the tree loosely to the wall so it couldn't fall over. Wow! You've never seen such a sturdy Christmas tree before!
We also put the tree up with lights only over a week ago, just to get him used to it. He's paid it only a little attention, mostly to touch the bottom branches to feel the prickles. We've taught him the word "gentle" (because we have pets) so we tell him to be "gentle" when he touches the tree. Now that I've put up the decorations, making sure that there are only plastic balls and ornaments and no glass, he's in awe but he doesn't pay it too much attention. And I know that if he falls into it, it's not going to fall over and hurt him.
Hope this helps!
2007-12-03 01:52:37 · answer #3 · answered by ChefMel 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Taking him away from it when he goes to attack it. Is the tree itself the problem or the ornaments? If it's the ornaments, put them all at the top away from where he will be able to reach them. If it's the entire tree, nothing more you can do but just teach him he can not touch.
Find humor in this, take a picture of him doing this, because soon, it will all be a memory and you can laugh about it.
2007-12-03 05:48:25 · answer #4 · answered by mamacandy74 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't let such a simple thing ruin your holiday. Don't put the big tree up this year. Buy a little living tree or a small artificial tree. You can buy small noble firs or rosemary trees for around 15 dollars. You don't have to use miniature ornaments. Just use your regular ones as long as they aren't heavy. You can even use lights too. Put it on a table, counter or mantle out of reach of your son. You will all still enjoy the holidays but you won't all be stressed about the tree.
2007-12-03 01:45:48 · answer #5 · answered by iceemama 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
A slap on the bum when he touches it might get the idea through. If not try putting the tree behind, say, two large armchairs so he cannot pull it on top of him. A playpen is also another route to think about. Only had to give a sharp word to my kids and they left well alone (and do not put any presents under the tree which will add to the problem ). Do not let him be alone in the room with the tree. Be thankful you do not have a pair of kittens as I had once. Now that was more than a bone of contention.
2007-12-03 01:48:43 · answer #6 · answered by SYJ 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
I agree with most of the other answers in that you should keep saying 'no!' & its a method that WILL work. However, who's problem is this? Yours? coz he might ruin ur pretty tree? or his?
Personally... I'd take him by the hand... show him all the parts of the tree.. let him touch it..(supervised) Let him see what all the fuss is about. Afterall u've just put a great big sparkly thing in his usual play area! Of course hes curious!
Then, explain that not to touch when mummy's not there!
ok so he may not get the idea immediately.. but give him periods in the day when u take his hand & let him touch it.. let him keep a safe decoration with him.
All of this should work hand in hand with the yelling 'no' thing. Can u imagine if someone put something YOU thought was amazing & exciting in your lounge & kept yelling no! Its like .... heres some yummy chocolates.. but dont touch them! Hell no! let me at them! lol
2007-12-03 01:55:52 · answer #7 · answered by Carol x 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
We had that problem last year. We went to Babies R Us & bought an octagonal baby gate. I think its really more of a "play yard" for little ones, but it worked perfectly as a fence around the tree so he couldn't get at it last year.
2007-12-03 07:58:32 · answer #8 · answered by smithlette 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem last year, my son was 19 months old, in the end we just moved all the decorations halfway up the tree, looked odd but we we're sick of telling him not to touch.
2007-12-03 04:08:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wondered the same thing about my 15-mth old. So far what's working for me is, every time my son goes near the tree, I tell him just to look and wave hello to the tree.
It's very cute. He walks up, points a finger at it, then starts waving and smiling. So far so good.
2007-12-03 02:35:13 · answer #10 · answered by berrel 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋