[mevertin]

We put our tree up on Saturday and by last night Naldo had broken 4 ornaments. We moved everything up high but he discovered if you throw things at the tree ornaments will fall off. Our tree is bare on the bottom and tipping sideways from the weight of the ornaments on the top. It will definitely not be a Martha Stewart Christmas at my house.
Mary
mom to Bobby 11, Bridget 10, Angela 8, Eddie 4 (home from Guatemala in 2005) and Naldo 17 months (home since Feb.)

[whereintheworld]

We decided that a tree with only wooden and straw ornaments would look great this year! If it's breakable, it didn't make the cut. I figure we have plenty of years in the future to put out all of the ornaments. (Gotta tell you a secret, I actually think I like the tree better with fewer ornaments!!!!)

[dianneemily]

It wasn't Martha Stewart at my house before kids, lol

Last year, my youngest dd, age 1.5 at the time, dropped a Peanuts snowglobe and it broke. I cried - my stepson and I had bought that snowglobe together the first year after my dh and I got married and it was special to me. I found one just like it on ebay and got it.

This year, she dropped another smaller snowglobe (no senimental value, so no big deal). You would think that mommy would learn by now!

My girls are leaving the tree alone for now, but I did hang only non breakable ornaments within their reach. My best friend doesn't get out her "good" ornaments while her kids are little.

I really can't blame them, I mean there is a TREE in the LIVING ROOM, they just HAVE TO TOUCH IT!

[Dmitry'smom]

I am going to put off putting up our main tree for a while. It is the pretty one with all the glass ornaments and I have a monkey of a daughter.

I am going to put of the two most kid friendly first and see how she does.

[melissa41]

We can't even imagine how the tree will survive in our house. We have definitely decided on non-breakable items, maybe some ribbon, wooden, etc for ornaments. We use to joke we would put the tree up on Christmas Eve and take it down Christmas day. Now that doesn't seem so far-fetched!

[michelemk]

I'm debating on whether or not to put ours up. The only place it can go is in the living room, which is Miranda's main play area.

[DeeVee]

I'm seriously considering foregoing a tree this year. I just am not up to the challenge of keeping Jesse from trying to climb it, grab the ornaments, knocking it over, etc. I have three other children, so I'm not a newbie to this, but with everything else we're dealing with, I really don't need the added responsibility of keeping Jesse safe from a tree in the house.

I think Christmas lights outside may be the extent of my decorating this year.

[SKL]

I have my Christmas tree up all year long. My kids learned right away not to touch it. It is in the room where they play, and they don't bother it. I know, I'm lucky!

[skiouro]

My babysitter already has a tree up and Kaya has learned not to touch this tree. I am hoping and praying it carries over. I put her tree up in her room yesterday. She has done good, but today did take an ornament while I was trying to take pictures, but I let her.

[nannyisme2004]

My cousin has twins - 2yrs old. Last year when they were getting ready to turn two she put up a paper tree. I loved it! She cut out a tree out of the big colored paper (like they use in the elementary schools - butcher paper?) and her and her kids made ornaments out of different things (using paper plates, glitter, etc.). And she stuck it on the wall in the living room. It was so creative and looked great. They had fun doing it and there was nothing to knock down.

[emi]

We put our play yard around our tree so the boys can't really reach it. It doesn't look as nice, but our ornaments don't get broken!

[jimanddarla]

Originally Posted by dianneemily

I really can't blame them, I mean there is a TREE in the LIVING ROOM, they just HAVE TO TOUCH IT!

I know! What do we expect?

We haven't put ours up yet but we will in time to have it up for a couple of weeks. I've seen these folding "gates" that are sold in catalogs that are supposed to keep toddlers away from the Christmas tree but Abe would just pick it up and toss it aside like the Incredible Hulk!

I like the idea of not putting any breakable ornaments on the tree until they are older. IMO we have too many ornaments anyway. This, like almost everything for the rookie parents and their little boy, will be a challenge

[LMblue]

I put up a tree this weekend with shatterproof ornaments from Menards, ribbon, and lights. The ornaments are made of plastic and hang with a string. So far my daughter is staying away from the tree, but who knows how long that will last.

[avoel]

I think I have enough other fun Christmas stuff that they can touch..the Fisher Price Little People Nativity and Santa Train, an advent calendar shaped like a tree with magnetic ornaments that hangs on the wall, tons of Christmas books, and several years worth of those singing snowmen things from Hallmark (thanks to the grandparents) that they are happy to touch those and leave the tree alone. But, just in case, all the ornaments on there are theirs, and fun things that they can touch. I saved all the breakable stuff and packed it away for when they are older. They will only be this age once..I will have years for the breakable stuff later!

[annaguat]

LOL I have no breakable ornaments left on our tree. We are now on our tent and elevent little ones. I guess our tree is already grand child proof when the time comes. Has the tree fallen over already? Normally ours comes down atleast once or twice every season. Anna