NO MATTER how many times you've done it, decorating your home for Christmas never gets old.
But if you've got babies or toddlers crawling around, the twinkling lights and shiny baubles adorning your tree could cause unwanted accidents.
The team of paediatric nurses behind baby and child first aid education page CPR Kids warned of the dangers your Christmas tree poses to your little one.
The page's social media manager Casey de Farria said: "It's easy to forget baby-proofing the temporary seasonal additions around the home, even if you are usually on top of proofing all the things!"
She pointed out perils of Christmas decorations that might not have occurred to you.
1. Baubles
Casey shared a shocking image to illustrate just how important it is to baby-proof your tree and decorations.
Read more on festive health
NOEL TROUBLE
I'm a first aider – here's 6 life-saving tips you need to know this Xmas
PARENTAL WARNING
The 12 choking hazards of Christmas & how to save a child in an emergency
You might have already taken care to adorn your tree with baubles that don't shatter and left off the especially small decorations for fear your little one might put them in their mouth.
But Casey warned parents to be wary of ornaments whose different parts aren't properly fastened on.
The top part of some baubles where the string is fastened on is sometimes detachable, held in place by two little metal legs that insert into the ornament.
The picture shared by Casey was a scan of a toddlers throat, showing how the tot had ingested the detachable part from the top of a bauble.
Most read in Health
SICKENER
Fury over junior doctors’ strike which will be longest in NHS history
RED ALERT
New warning signs in pubs and footy grounds urge men to check for cancer
REAR ENDGAME
New ‘golden ratio’ reveals celeb with best bum in the world (& it’s not Kim K)
MYSTERY
Man, 20, falls sick with ‘never-before-seen illness’ that triggers brain swelling
"Thankfully, there was just enough air space for the little one to breathe until it was removed," Casey wrote.
Meanwhile, experts at the National Capital Poison Center in the US said warned parents to supervise children at all times around ornaments -especially if they're made out of glass.
They explained: "Glass Christmas ornaments can be attractive to young children and can break easily.
"Stepping or crawling on the glass is a problem, but some ornaments also contain lead, mercury, or methylene chloride, which can poison children if they touch, taste, or swallow them.
"Even though they are sharp, small glass pieces usually pass through the digestive tract uneventfully."
2. Batteries
A mum commenting under Casey's post also warned other parents to pay special attention to the batteries of Christmas lights
She wrote: "A battery leaked in one of our light battery pack I got acid liquid all over my hands when I turned the battery pack off the other night.
"Not realising I put my hand to my face after and it burnt my lip and face."
Casey thanked the mum for the warning and reminded other parents to be similarly vigilant.
Button batteries – notorious for being life threatening to curious kids – are also something parents should keep a watchful eye over at Christmas.
Check over your decorations and any new toys your little one receives for the tiny batteries, which can cause internal burns if swallowed.
3. Lights
The twinkling string of lights that adorn your tree is another item best kept out of reach from your kids.
You should always check whether any of the little bulbs on the lights have fallen off – their so small that your child could pick it up and swallow it.
But St John Ambulance Medical Director, Lynn Thomas also advised that you inspect the cables for any damage or fraying.
Don't use the lights if you notice either of those things. Instead, you should dispose of the lights safely.
HOW CAN I BABY-PROOF MY TREE?
Casey all shared an image of the lengths she'd go to to baby-proof her Christmas tree when her tots were still young, showing how she'd put a fence around the tree to stop them from getting to it.
A blockade sounds like a extreme measure, but it's certainly effective at keeping your tots well away from the dangers of baubles and lights.
You could also try elevating your tree to keep ornaments well out of reach, cutting away the lower branches, Today's Parent suggested.
You can also stick to paper and pompom ornaments to be absolutely sure they won't shatter, or put bells on the lower branches to alert you to exploring little hands.
Source: Read Full Article