Babies and Christmas trees don’t mix
As you and your family get into the Christmas spirit, it is important that you take precautions when it comes to your young children.
Putting up a Christmas tree and Christmas lights is still a big tradition with Jamaican families, but it’s important to note that many of these will catch your baby’s eyes and pique his curiosity. And as parents of babies know, the process is eye to hand to mouth.
Here are some tips for Christmas tree safety that will prevent a visit to the hospital.
1. Beautiful Christmas trees come with various hazards especially to younger children, even in their undecorated state. Be aware of the fact that the child can pluck the needles from the tree and ingest them. So overseeing your child starts as soon as you acquire your tree.
2. Place the tree away from lamps, candles and gas stoves.
3. Even though real Christmas trees look and smell fabulous, when you have young children in the home, an artificial tree may be the better option. This is especially true if your child suffers from allergies.
4. Get rid of the sharp hooks normally used for hanging and use things like ribbons instead.
5. If you have breakable ornaments, pack them away until your child gets older. Use plenty of child-made (and non-breakable) ornaments instead.
6. All young children will be curious about those pretty balls and baubles. Make sure ornaments don’t have very small pieces. These could pose a choking hazard to your child.
