My 8 mo old daughter, Ava, is pulling up to everything and starting to cruise around so my husband and I are anxious about putting up our xmas tree this year. We would skip it all together if we didn't think our older daughter, Ella, would really enjoy the tree (and I think Ava would enjoy the lights as well). So...I am looking for a baby fence to put around our tree. Does anyone have one that they really like, or think it is worth it? Where did you find it? Any other ideas?
Our tree is too big to put up on something or in a playpen so we decided to try using the rubbermaid totes around it, since we happen to have a few around the house, and it has worked well so far! The fencing are just too expensive at the stores, but my husband (being the craftsman that he is) liked the idea of building a "gift box fence" for next year! Thanks for all your great advice and Happy Holidays!!
If you have a tree thats on the smaller side an artificial tree that is...setting it up in the pack n play works really well...My 10month old loves the lights and my 4yr old loves to put on the ornaments so we had to have he tree too. And my 10month old doesnt like the pack n play anyway its way to confining for someone who wants to get into everything!
that's what we do. I think the one we use is Safety 1st model. Grey plastic. Babies R Us. However, you might only use it for the tree. My son figured out very quickly if pushed somewhere on one side he find a piece of furniture to wedge it on then crawl underneath the other side.
if you tree is small enough. put it in a pack-n-play. if you only have one, could the 8 mos go w/o it for 5 weeks? Or get a mini tree to put on top of a piano/filecabinet/ or something tall.
We have a little boy who will be a year old this month. so i've wondered about putting ours up also. we've decided to try and put it up on a computer desk, so he can't reach it. i hope this works for us, but if you get any better suggestions please feel free to send them to me.
happy holidays. chris
We have a 14 month old baby and were very worried about the tree as well. We were pleasantly surprised that she has hardly touched the tree at all. We didn't put any breakable or precious ornaments on this year just in case but it really hasn't been a problem. She just ooh'ed and ahh'ed and when she does touch it I gently remind her no touching. I realize 14 months is MILES from 8 months, but I wanted to give some input. Good Luck!!
I also have an 8 month old and what we did was get some rubbermaid totes and put them around the tree. That way our son can still stand by the tree but there is no way he can pull at the tree or get hurt.
Hi S.!
Jacqui gave you some great ideas! Walmart, online, has a circular child gate as well. Might want to look there also. I've had to put the tree on a table in the past to keep curious little hands from it. They still enjoy the lights, but it's out of harm's way. Whatever you choose, enjoy the holidays!!
Just Me!
S.
My mother in law made the cutest thing for us. It is suposed to block a fireplace, but we use it around the tree. It is a folding contraption made of plywood pieces decorated like christmas presents. It has hinges between each present. Hard to describe, but think of the folding brass ones that go in front of fireplaces. It works like that...
:) Both your girls will enjoy the Christmas tree allright :)
what I suggest:
0. I would not fence anything: prohibitions only make want things more, is it not so?
What I would do:
1. secure the tree firmly so that in no way it could fall down if pulled by lower branches.
2. do not hang any fragile, easily breakable, and definitely glass ornaments on the lower part of the tree.
If you want to hang some of such up higher, make sure the ornaments are "sitting" there securely : if there is a hook on the ornament, bend it around the twig, if there is a string, tie it up tightly to the twig.
3. this is FUN: make some ornaments with Ella, using colored paper, like chains of colored coils, some origami-like stuff, and cut white-paper snowflakes, and hang these paper ornaments on the bottom of the tree: you win twice: the tree will look nice and will be safe there, and Ella will be proud she participated in decorating it
4. you can already teach Ella to treat the tree well:
show her, how to PET the tree, touch the branches and ornaments gently, like petting, never pulling or grabbing, show her how the tree likes being treated, and she will follow the example as she is in the age of 'monkeying'= repeating all your motions with the greatest pleasure.
Also, you can teach Ella how to teach Ava, as if the elder girl will see Ava pulling on ornaments, she can hug the little sister, and pet her and then pet the tree, and show that this is GOOD way to communicate. Ava won't realize immediately, but there is a big chance she eventually will. Also, the communication between sisters will be growing warmer.
Actually, it is a great time to start making sure your daughters are great friends, trying to avoid any jealousy.
My sons were growing great friends: not a fight, no problems whatsoever, the difference in age like your daughters. now they are in their 20s :) and still great friends, yet you need to make it happen, it does not just fall from heaven, right?!
5. keep the chairs away from the tree, as Ava will not figure it out yet, that she could pull the chair closer to climb and reach the upper part of the tree. Ella will, so think about all the chairs and boxes and whatever she could move to climb...
6. and very important: DO NOT THINK THAT SOMETHING BAD MIGHT HAPPEN!!! Be sure that all is and will be great, and it WILL.
Your thinking process influences the surrounding space, right?! So, MAKE your Christmas space HAPPY!!! :)
Merry Christmas, happy days to you all!!!
