You Must Protect Your Holiday Decor From Children
The most beautiful time of the year is also a terribly dangerous time of the year, judging by the 15,000 holiday-decorating injuries reported annually by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Parents should take extra care when bringing out their inner Buddy Elf on Santa’s Eve – everything looks lively and edible to young children and can be played with. Last week, mom Nicole McIntosh Leo shared on Facebook how her toddler son pulled on a Christmas stocking and a weighted stocking holder fell over his eye. (“Our story has a happy ending,” writes Leo. “Our son has a flawless prosthetic eye.”)
Despite the horror, these accidents are preventable. Here are some ways to keep your holiday decor safe from kids:
Weighted stocking holders: Let’s start with this. If you have children, don’t use them. As Leo suggests, use an alternative like 3M Command Hooks , which attach to a flat surface and come off neatly when it’s time to remove them.
Glass Christmas tree decorations: keep them out of the reach of children or use shatterproof ones. If the glass ornament does break, Jolie Kerr, our columnist for Ask a Clean Man for Parents , gives this advice: “Use a piece of sliced bread to pick up the pieces! The trimmed side of the potato works as well, but a slice of bread tends to be easier because you don’t have to stop to cut it. First, you need to pick up large pieces, and then you can collect small pieces and fragments from the bread. “
Popular holiday plants: Some common holiday plants can be poisonous or toxic, especially to children or pets. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Mistletoe: Poisonous. According to ThoughtCo : “ Phoradendron species contain a toxin called foratoxin, which can cause blurred vision, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, changes in blood pressure and even death. Viscum mistletoe species contain a slightly different cocktail of chemicals, including the poisonous alkaloid tyramine, which causes similar symptoms.
- Poinsettia: Not particularly dangerous. Although it’s not worth eating. (Edited for addition: As commentator Maria Patenaude notes, people with latex allergies should be careful with poinsettia plants as they belong to the rubber tree family. In one study, 40% of people who are allergic to latex were also allergic to poinsettia.)
- Holly: Poisonous. The apparently toxic chemical is theobromine, which is found in chocolate, which can make dogs sick. Holly berries contain this compound, and even consuming just steam can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and drowsiness. If you’re decorating holly, remove the berries. If a child has swallowed a berry , remove any residue in the mouth, rinse his mouth with water or milk, and call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Holiday Lighting: Use indoor indoor lighting and outdoor outdoor lighting. Attach extension cords to the wall, but not under rugs, to prevent people from tripping over them. And be sure to turn off the lights when you leave the house or go to bed.