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Christmas tree baubles

(34 Posts)
VivieSov Tue 20-Dec-16 14:24:06

We're hosting our daughter and son-in-law with our 10-month-old grandson who is at the crawling stage and is pulling himself up and walking with a walker. We have downsized and our house has rather small room and no space to raise a Christmas tree above floor level. Do we have a tree this year with the thought that our grandson might hurt himself whilst none of us is looking? Or do we keep all decorations out of reach? This is our first grandchild and I can't remember when our daughter was the same age - in 1980! Thanks grans.

annehinckley Mon 26-Dec-16 09:47:48

We have the tree & baubles, but I don't use mistletoe these days. The berries just look too much like jelly sweets, & being pale grey, wouldn't be obvious if they fell onto the floor.

Nelliemoser Thu 22-Dec-16 08:20:31

I have my tree inside what is my garden fruit cage. made to about a metre square. It consists of poles and end pieces which fit together like a sort of frame tent. The frame is covered with a sheet. It seemed to deter any attempts to climb it or eat it.

The alternative is to put DGS2 in the fruit cage and the tree in the corner.
Last year he was eight months and crawing everywhere. I think we had our tree on a spare table when DS was about 14months and just walking.

Jan51 Thu 22-Dec-16 07:30:38

When ours were small my mum and dad used to pull one end of the sofa forward so that it went across the corner and put their tree on a small table in the corner behind it. I can't remember that we worried about them touching our tree at home x

paddyann Wed 21-Dec-16 23:49:35

never moved ornaments or anything else for our kids or grandkids and didn't have safety gates or safety locks of anything either.They have to learn and its better and easier when they are young

f77ms Wed 21-Dec-16 20:43:01

My nephew stood on a bauble when he was one and ended up in hospital with a hugely swollen leg . Since then I have been a bit more careful with allowing toddlers near the tree.
I would ask the Mum what she thinks - you don`t want to be barking at him everytime he goes near it ? It is up to his Mum to say No, not his nana I would think.

GG22 Wed 21-Dec-16 16:47:06

I found that putting my most precious and fragile ornaments on the upper branches and those that could stand being played with on the bottom worked very well.

First grandchild - if you are anything like my DH and I, that child has not a hope of a moment unsupervised during the holiday or any other time. Our DC1 at 6 is still never alone (except when in the bathroom) because time with him is so very precious. Enjoy that baby!

callgirl1 Wed 21-Dec-16 16:22:32

We had 5 kids, never any problems with the tree, but the first Christmas we were married, we had a young cat, the tree was in the centre of the large old fashioned dining table, but he managed to dislodge nearly every bauble, they`d go flying, and always managed to land, and shatter, on the narrow stone border around the edge of the carpet!

notanan Wed 21-Dec-16 16:17:09

I've never restricted our trees, by the time the kids are big enough to be in a room by themselves, they're big enough to be sensible with the tree. Until then they're not going to be all by themselves with it.

I just don't put the most delicate baubles a the bottom is all when they're babies.

Bobbysgirl19 Wed 21-Dec-16 15:49:40

A 10 month old would not be left unsupervised at all. Ask the parents if they have a tree up and what are their views. If your rooms are small you could get a lovely slim one that would save you on space and would fit easily into a small corner.

minxie Wed 21-Dec-16 15:40:15

When my children were small, nothing was moved, they have to learn not to touch. It's very laborious but they get there in the end

marionk Wed 21-Dec-16 15:26:33

Have decorated our tree with no breakable ornaments and have placed a willow branch on top of the dresser with lights and all the precious stuff on.

Legs55 Wed 21-Dec-16 14:54:31

I never moved anything for either my DD or any of the DGC - they knew not to touch as I had some valuable (& breakable) antiques, many at "child height" - they were Nanny's things - look not touch. Christmas tree was never a problem when my DGC were little, just need to be supervised naturally tchhmm

A chat with your DD is a good idea but children love a Christmas tree, would be a shame to have to compromise too much.

EmilyHarburn Wed 21-Dec-16 13:00:29

Discuss this with your daughter. You have downsized. If you had a conservatory you might have had your tree in that and only let your grandson in when there was a whole group of adults. As others have said get a play pen to go round the tree. Your daughter might have one. You want to have an enjoyable time with no frantic trip to A & E. so do what you and your daughter thinks will work.

Lupatria Wed 21-Dec-16 11:59:30

never worried about babies and baubles - as some have already said, it's never too early to learn the word "no"!
i've brought up two children and helped with four grandaughters and also catered for friends with children in the past almost 50 years and never moved an ornament any higher or put the christmas tree in a playpen [or raised it]. children learn very quickly and know at an early age what they're allowed to touch and what they shouldn't.

Pinkshoes26 Wed 21-Dec-16 10:47:31

Christmas trees and sparkling lights
Snow filled skies and star lit nights
Baubles, stockings, presents that wait
Grand chilren excited for that special date

I have a small house with a large tree. Train that runs around under. Lots of Christmas out.
Tiss the season.
Things may get broke. I shall not worry.
Children bring s much joy.

dizzygran Wed 21-Dec-16 10:27:56

If space is limited just have lots of greenery and a small tree on the windowsill if you can't manage without one. Much better to have room for a little one to move around without worrying. Have a lovely day.

goose1964 Wed 21-Dec-16 10:15:54

we never made any provisos for our kids if you have a real tree they will get pricked and soon lean to keep away - works for cats too

rubylady Wed 21-Dec-16 03:54:41

Vivie You'll have to sit on the stairs to open your presents. tchgrin I have a tiny tree now, on my windowsill, with tiny baubles on it and lights and snowflake decorations and a tiny fairy. Lovely. No fuss, straight out of the suitcase and up with new batteries for the lights.

I suppose children do have to learn but it depends on what sort of relationship you have with your grandchild. If you see them all the time and mind them regularly, then to tell them to keep away seems fair, but if you don't see them often or they are a little more standoffish, then maybe try and get round this problem for this year without causing friction with mummy and daddy. smile

J52 Tue 20-Dec-16 20:15:09

We've always had a tree. Before DCs we had two boisterous cats and lived in a house with a wooden beam in the sitting room. We suspended the tree on the beam, changed to unbreakable baubles and when the cats launched themselves at it, it just swung!

With our own small children and GCs we put the tree higher up on a small table. This year GCs are all bigger, so tree is on the floor, up to the ceiling.

stillaliveandkicking Tue 20-Dec-16 19:53:16

Never stopped having a tree. I just brought my children up with the words "no, don't touch".

rosesarered Tue 20-Dec-16 19:32:44

We never stopped having a tree, either for our own DC or for the DGC....they all survived.

ginny Tue 20-Dec-16 18:56:34

Never worried when mine were small. First was 9 months old et her first Christmas. As others have said he won't be on his own in the room and never to early to learn 'no'. 10 month old DGS has been today and loved looking at the tree but seemed to know not to touch .

VivieSov Tue 20-Dec-16 17:29:47

Thanks everyone so far. We have some wooden decs, so that's good, and will probably get some more to fill in the gaps, very trendy. And will just have the tree in the hall, I think.

harrigran Tue 20-Dec-16 16:56:08

DS was one year old a week before Christmas and would keep squashing the baubles so I put the tree in the playpen, only had to do it for one year.

tiggypiro Tue 20-Dec-16 16:24:37

I have never moved anything out of reach as it is never to early for children to learn what 'No' means.