Life Hack: How to decorate for Christmas while keeping children and pets safe
Make sure children and pets are kept safe when you're decking the halls. Picture: iStock
While traditionally December 8 was the date when most Irish households would decorate their home for Christmas, you have likely noticed festive decor appearing earlier and earlier each year. More recently, the Late Late Toy Show is the unofficial start of proceedings for many families who wish to have their home feeling festive while watching the programme on a late November Friday night. If you’re aiming to put up the Christmas tree in time for Patrick Kielty’s first show, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
Cat and dog owners can take some simple steps to pet-proof their Christmas trees and decor. If you are stringing lights up, tuck the wires deep into the tree to keep them away from teeth and claws. You can also use tape to secure any wires running along the floor and prevent pets from fraying them.
Those shiny decorations are magnets for many pets, so keep anything breakable out of reach. A good rule to follow is to fill the bottom third of your tree — essentially anywhere within reach of curious pets — with shatterproof baubles and keep your breakable and sentimental ornaments to the higher branches.
Know what decor is dangerous to pets and Keith we keep them out of reach or do not use them in your decorating. These include tinsel, ll which can pose a choking hazard, potpourri which can be harmful if eaten, and while not a decoration, sweets and chocolate will be more plentiful in your home and is toxic for pets, so keep them out of reach to avoid a visit to the vet.
If you are leaving your pet home alone, limit their access to the Christmas tree. You can close the door to the room in which it is standing or if your pet is crate-trained make sure you make use of the crate to keep them safe.
If the smallies are helping out by hanging baubles and decorating too, there are a few ways you can make the experience safer for them.
Make sure the child only decorates within their reach — no climbing on furniture, etc, to hang decor on higher points which could cause a fall from a height. For any higher point, such as placing a star or angel on top of a tree, ensure it is done under adult supervision.
Give children non-breakable ornaments to hang, such as shatter-proof baubles. Grown-ups should hand more delicate ornaments higher on the tree.
Know what items might be toxic or poisonous for children. Toddlers in particular put their hands in their mouths often so be vigilant when they are helping out. Plants like mistletoe, holly and amaryllis are toxic when eaten and substances like snow spray has toxic ingredients too.
