Toddler-Proof Decorations for Fall

Bonjour!

As we slide into autumn, I’m always ready to refresh and reorganize the house, from the closets to the pantry to my wardrobe. I can’t wait to get out fall decorations after months of waiting out the holiday lull after St. Patrick’s Day and spring. Today’s post shares my new approach to fall decorating with a toddler in the house.

The Innocent Days of Decorating with a Newborn

Last fall, I had a delightful lump of a five-month-old who laid around, gently cooed, and gazed at his jungle mobile with the singing, light-up purple toucan.

The house was not baby-proofed. Outlets remained uncovered. Breakables littered every available surface. Such larks!

I could put out as many pumpkins, leaves, Halloween tchotchkes, and other décor as my little heart desired — to a certain extent. Because in the early days of new parenthood, everything becomes a bargain for your time, energy, and mental ability, including the process of lugging a decorations tub up from the basement, putting everything out, putting everything away, and lugging the tub back downstairs. Le sigh.

Decorating Around an Active, Curious Tiny Human

This fall, life is a little bit different. I have a delightful spitfire of a sixteen-month-old who careens through my home like a whirling dervish.

Everything is put away. Nothing is safe from curious little fingers and everything goes right in Le Bébé‘s wet little mouth — even the poor dog’s toys. Lump no more!

So what’s a person to do? My new approach: decorate up!

Decorating Up: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

The trick with toddlers is distraction and redirection. And so any new holiday décor that may be just too tempting for little fingers and mouths must be aloft.

My decorating tips for toddlers in the house, applicable for all seasons:

• Place decorations on high shelves and mantles. Keep low surfaces like coffee tables and benches clear of all temptation.
• Make sure the decorations are made of soft and/or non-breakable materials. Halloween examples include, but are not limited too, stuffed Snoopy Draculas, stuffed Snoopy pumpkins, stuffed Snoopy witches, and so on.
• Hang holiday cards high on a wall with ribbon or tape or place on high shelves or mantles.
• Adopt new decoration styles. This year, I strung up some orange lights and hung fall-themed plaques and pictures on doors and walls.

Life with a baby is dynamic, fun, and a constant lesson in adaptation and adjustment (just ask Le Chien!). I love my little boy and can’t wait to share all the holidays with him, and decorating is a way to set a festive tone, create traditions, and make the house feel cozy, gezellig, Gemütlichkeit, hygge.

I just can’t help but wonder … what will we do with the Christmas tree?

How do you like to decorate for the holidays?

Merci for reading and please subscribe and share!

À votre santé,

Katie