The sparkling lights and twinkling strands of tinsel are hallmarks of the yuletide holidays. The same decorations that bring so much holiday cheer can also be a source of anxiety for parents and pet owners alike.

We are equal parts excited as we are anxious in anticipating my young son’s first Christmas. Anything on the floor or at eye level is fair game for a 10-month-old with an eye for contraband - Especially twinkly, sparkly contraband (i.e garland, tinsel, light bulbs, and fake snow).

On top of the normal baby proofing tips (see Jessica’s blog post on that here) These are a few tips to keep your little ones safe this holiday season!

1. Keep Decorations Localized -  Try to keep your decorating to areas that are easily blocked off from your little one. It’s hard to be everywhere at once especially when you have more than one kid in the house or are trying to accomplish things around the house.

2. Avoid using certain decorations - Tinsel, fake snow, itty bitty bulbs, and lights are all tempting for babies and small children and might be better used in the coming years. These sparkly bite-sized pieces are easy to miss during the day to day clean up for adults. The vacuum can’t grab everything and it is easier for children to spot a piece of plastic or paper from 1 foot off the ground (think crawling or playing children) than from 5 or more feet off the ground where most adults might view the floor.

3. Set up a safe space - Try blocking off a specific area that is free from extra decorations for your child to safely play in. In that same vein I’d encourage you to get on your child’s level- In my case, it meant crawling around the specific areas where my boy likes to play. Keep an eye out for exposed plugs, low hanging ornaments or Christmas tree lights that are within grabbing distance.