Decking out your home with festive decorations gets you in the Christmas spirit. Your house feels cozy, warm, and comfortable filled with the all the glitz and sparkle of glass balls, shining lights, and tinsel.
But there’s one important aspect to holiday decorating that’s often overlooked – holiday decor safety. Here are some tips for keepings kids and pets safe amidst holiday decor:
Tree Safety
Regardless of whether your tree is live or artificial there are safety precautions that need to be considered – especially when kids and pets rule the roost.
Before shopping for your next tree, read this report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on how choose a Christmas tree. Here are some other tips to keep your family even safer this holiday.
Live Trees
There is something special about a fresh tree. Going to the lot to find the perfect one with your family is a tradition you look forward to each year.
While the smell is fantastic there is a downfall to having a live tree. Their needles dry out and create a mess. In turn, they become a fire hazard. To extend freshness the tree and lower its risk of catching fire, be sure to water it daily.
Artificial Trees
If you want to avoid the hassle and mess of getting a live tree every year, artificial trees are the way to go. Still, these can also pose a safety risk.
To reduce the risk of fire, when purchasing an artificial tree make sure it is labeled “fire resistant.”
Tree Sturdiness
With curious pets, it is important to purchase a sturdy tree and base to support the tree. This will prevent the tree from leaning or toppling over.
The Trimmings
When decorating the tree there are a few things you can do to make it safer.
Use ribbon or twine to hang ornaments instead of hooks (which can be a choking hazard for kids and pets). You’ll want to hang breakable or valuable ornaments high and out of reach little ones. Nix the tinsel. Pets often ingest it, which can lead to a host of health issues.
With babies and pets crawling on the floors, its important to vacuum needles from live trees regularly. A tree skirt is helpful in detering small hands (or paws) from exploring the base of the tree and possibly knocking it over!
The Lights
One of the best parts of Christmas décor are the beautiful lights that go up inside and out.
Before use every year plug in each strand and inspect them for burnt out bulbs and damaged or frayed wires. With additional lights being plugged in during this time, make sure all unused sockets have covers to protect your child’s exploring fingers. Additionally, hide the cords to prevent any chewing. You can use tape or plastic tubes to protect the wiring.
Candles are another festive addition in holiday decor. The fragrance of a Christmas candle can get anyone in the holiday spirit. Take extra care that all candles and matches are out of reach of prying hands and that candles are extinguished when leaving. Also, be sure to position your candles away from any other decorations that could hang over or catch fire if near heat.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
Learn More:
- Decorating for the Holidays: Christmas
- Preparing for Guests: How to Baby Proof Your Home
- Do It Yourself Cleaning: Quick Tips for a Clean House
The post Holiday Decor Safety: Keeping Your Kids and Pets Injury Free appeared first on Passion for Home - Bestlaminate Blog.
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