Holiday Safety Tips for Parents

Holiday Safety Tips for Parents

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and spending quality time with your loved ones. As a parent, you want to ensure your children are safe and happy during this festive time. However, with all the excitement and distractions, it can be easy to overlook potential dangers. That’s why we’ve put together some essential holiday safety tips for parents to help you keep your family safe and secure while you enjoy the holiday season.

A quick safety note before you scroll: this article is general guidance, not medical advice. If you think a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For possible poisonings (including button batteries), Poison Control in the U.S. is 1-800-222-1222.

Quick holiday safety checklist (the “commit this to memory” version):

• Secure the tree (tip-over + cords) and turn off lights when you leave the room or go to bed. 
• Keep small parts (ornament hooks, batteries, tiny toy pieces) out of reach—especially in homes you don’t control (grandparents’ houses, rentals). 
• Set a “hot zone” rule in the kitchen (stove/oven + hot drinks) and a “sit to eat” rule for toddlers. 
• Test smoke + CO alarms, and don’t run cars, grills, or generators in enclosed spaces. 
• Assign one adult to watch kids during parties—don’t rely on “someone’s got it.”

Tree Safety

Picking out and decorating the Christmas tree is an annual tradition for many families. While there’s nothing cozier than the warm glow of a tree, it’s essential to take certain precautions, especially with little ones in your home. Christmas tree safety is no joke, and it’s important to be aware of any hazards that can come with this beloved holiday decoration.

• If your family traditions include picking out a live tree, find the freshest tree possible (fresh trees have bright green needles that don’t shed if you give a branch a shake). Ask the tree farmer to cut 2” from the trunk so your tree can absorb water easily once home.
• Water your tree daily—a fresh and hydrated tree is less likely to catch fire.
• If your family traditions include decorating an artificial tree, opt for one that is flame-retardant and safety-tested.
• Your tree should be sturdy, secure, and not easily toppled. If your kids are younger and prone to playing with the tree, consider a tabletop tree instead. Otherwise, set up that baby gate perimeter!
• To prevent overheating and potentially catching fire, position your tree at least three feet from any heat source, including fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, and televisions.
• Eliminate any small ornaments that are a choking hazard (anything that will fit inside a toilet paper roll is too small).
• Don’t light candles near or on your Christmas tree (or use battery-operated candles instead).
• Choose LED lights for your tree—they’re more energy efficient, they last longer, and they don’t get hot to the touch (tiny fingers are safe!).
• Use indoor UL-listed lights on your tree.
• Turn your lights off any time you leave the house and when you go to bed. Leaving them unattended is a serious fire hazard.

A few “extra credit” tree tips that save headaches later:

• Anchor the tree to the wall or ceiling, especially if you have climbers or pets. A sturdy stand helps, but anchoring helps with tip-overs. 
• Keep the tree from blocking exits—this is a big one people forget when furniture gets rearranged for hosting. 
• Hide or secure cords. The hazard isn’t only chewing—cords can get pulled, yanking a tree, hot cocoa, or ornaments down with them. 
• Skip “fake snow” sprays and flocking in poorly ventilated rooms—some products can irritate eyes/airways, and you don’t want that in a house full of babies and cousins. 
• Real tree stand water can attract toddlers and pets. If you’ve got little ones who explore everything, a tree collar or barrier can help keep hands out of the base.

Safe Decorating

If you’re anything like us, you’re eager to deck the halls as soon Thanksgiving winds down. But, some holiday decorations can pose safety hazards if not used properly. These tips will keep you on the (right) festive track.

• Mistletoe and holly berries are toxic when ingested—if they’re part of your decor, ensure they’re well out of reach of your kiddos. Poinsettias aren’t poisonous, but they will cause an upset tummy.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against using decor that looks like treats or candy. They’re extra tempting to curious kiddos.
• It’s fun to include the family in decking the halls. Find some kid-safe ornaments and decorations and let their creativity go wild. It’s a bonus that they’re occupied and will let you take care of the festive business.
• Instead of traditional candles, opt for flameless versions. You’ll eliminate the risk of burns and fire hazards.
• Make sure any trimmings, faux icicles, and tinsel are lead-free.
• Avoid wreaths, swags, and garlands with small elements (like berries or ornaments) that can be plucked off and swallowed (or make sure they’re hung out of reach).
• If dreidels are displayed with your holiday decor, they should be too big to fit in your child’s mouth to avoid choking.
• Ornament hooks can puncture skin and be dangerous if swallowed. Hang ornaments by the string on any low branches your children can reach.

A few decorating hazards that show up every year (and are easy to miss):

• Inspect light strands (new or old) for cracked sockets, frayed wires, and loose connections. Toss damaged sets instead of trying to “make it work.” 
• Use extension cords that are rated for the job, don’t overload them, and keep connections off wet ground outside. 
• Keep inflatable decorations and their tie-downs away from play zones as stakes and cords can trip kids running full speed through the yard.
• Watch for battery compartments in decor (singing ornaments, LED candles, remote-controlled lights). Coin/button batteries are a serious ingestion hazard. Treat them like you’d treat medication: locked up or out of reach. 
• Be careful with “holiday slime,” sensory bins, and water beads at parties. They’re tiny, easy to spill, and can be dangerous if swallowed.

Food and Drink Safety

No holiday is complete without a feast (even if it’s takeout). If your plans include preparing a big meal, you’ll want to follow these tips to keep your little ones safe in and out of the kitchen.

• When cooking on the stovetop, use the back burners and keep all pot and pan handles angled away from the front of the stove.
• If your small kiddos (under three) are going to be in the kitchen while you’re cooking, make sure they’re in a high chair, playpen, or in a gated space.
• Always keep the oven door closed and locked.
• Keep your appliances clean to avoid grease fires.
• Popular party snacks like nuts or popcorn are choking hazards for young children, so make sure they’re out of reach of any tiny fingers.
• Childproof drawers with sharp utensils.
• Make sure the kiddos aren’t close when you’re carrying hot dishes or pans.
• Have a working fire extinguisher handy.
• Alcohol poisoning is a common risk during the holiday season. Don’t leave open cups out (kids model adult behavior, so they may copy what they see you doing) and dispose of any empty or partially empty cups immediately. Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous for children.
• Hot drinks burn fast. Keep coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and soup mugs away from table edges and out of reach on “adult-only” counters when toddlers are around.
• Set a “sit to eat” rule for little kids. Walking around with food is a common choking setup at parties.
• If you serve foods like grapes, hot dogs, cherry tomatoes, or big cheese cubes for toddlers, cut them into safer shapes/sizes (and supervise).
• Leftovers: get perishable foods into the fridge within about 2 hours (sooner in a warm house full of people). Holiday food safety problems spike when food sits out “just a little longer.”
• Allergens show up in places you don’t expect during cookie season. If your child has allergies, consider labeling platters (or keeping a “safe plate” separate) so relatives don’t have to guess.

Indoor Safety

In addition to following these holiday safety tips, do a thorough babyproofing of your home before hosting friends and family.

• Test your smoke and carbon dioxide alarms to make sure they’re in working order.
• Don’t overload your outlets.
• Have your fireplace inspected, and use a sturdy fireplace screen when burning fires.
• Don’t burn paper or pine needles—they can float out of your chimney and ignite on your roof or your neighbor’s home.
• Don’t throw discarded wrapping paper into the fire—it can cause a flash fire.
• Clean up gift wrap, bows, and ribbons as soon as presents are opened. Long ribbons are a strangulation hazard, and bows may be swallowed (they can also contain staples that will prick curious fingers).
• Plastic packing materials are a major suffocation hazard. Never leave them lying around.
• Secure extension cords against the walls in high-traffic areas so that no one trips on them.
• Always make sure a grownup is the designated kiddo-watcher. In a group of adults, it’s easy for everyone to assume that someone is watching the kids, but because of that, no one is. “Assigning” that role prevents the chance that children are left unsupervised.
• If guests bring bags (purses, backpacks, suitcases), do a quick sweep after they arrive. Meds, vitamins, cannabis edibles, and nicotine products can end up at toddler height fast.
• Party tip: put a small bin near the entry of your home or near your backdoor for “danger stuff” (lighters, matches, vape devices, loose batteries). It sounds intense until it saves you from crawling under couches later.

A few indoor safety items that matter a lot in colder climates:

• Carbon monoxide (CO): check that detectors work, and never run a car in an attached garage (even “just to warm it up”). Same idea for grills and generators, keep them outside and away from windows/doors. 
• Space heaters: keep them at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, plug directly into the wall (not a power strip), and turn them off when you sleep or leave the room. 

Outdoor Safety

Kudos to braving the elements to create a festive facade! Don’t forget to take extra care any time you’re using a ladder.

• Use outdoor UL-listed lights for any outside decorations.
• Don’t hang lights with metal nails, brads, or tacks, and don’t hang them on metal gutters to avoid electrical shock.
• Make sure any light strands are high off the ground, securely fastened, and can’t be tugged loose by little ones.
• If you’re using a ladder to hang lights, make sure no kiddos are close by and that you put the ladder away as soon as you’re finished.

Toy Safety

Gathering your family together and watching your kids open their presents might be the most joyous part of the holiday—knowing the toys are completely safe is just the cherry on top.

• Always choose age-appropriate toys. Not only does it avoid the inclusion of small parts that are choking hazards, but it will also spare everyone frustration-induced tantrums.
• If you’re purchasing a toy for a child with special needs, check in with a parent for any sensory issues first.
• Mind electronic toys with batteries, button batteries in particular—they’re a choking hazard.
• If you buy any ride-on toys (bikes, scooters, trikes, etc.) or roller skates, buy helmets and pads, too.
• If you value walking (and little ears not hearing “colorful” language), pick up any LEGO pieces as soon as playtime time is over.

Toy safety gets tricky during the holidays because kids are opening things fast and adults are distracted. These are the biggest misses we see:

• Do a “floor sweep” after gifts are opened—twist ties, plastic tabs, deflated balloons, tiny accessory pieces, and packaging bits can end up in mouths. 
• Button batteries deserve their own rule: if a product has a coin/button battery, make sure the compartment is secured (usually with a screw) and that spare batteries are stored up high/locked. 
• High-powered magnets (magnetic balls, some building sets, “fake piercings”) can cause severe internal injury if swallowed—keep them away from younger kids, and don’t assume “it’s a teen toy” makes it safe in a mixed-age house. 
• Watch sensory toys like water beads. They’re small, easy to spill, and can be dangerous if swallowed. 
• When shopping online, double-check the seller and look for current recalls before gifting—especially for battery and magnet toys.

Travel Safety

Car accidents are more common during the holidays, so it’s even more essential that you ensure the safety of your smallest passengers.

• Make sure all children are buckled in every time you travel by car. And any passenger under thirteen should ride in the back seat.
• Winter coats and car seats do not mix! Never buckle your child into a car seat while they’re wearing a thick coat or jacket. Place the coat (or a blanket) over your little one after they’re safely secured in their seat.
• Never drink and drive.
• Take extra care while driving on Christmas and New Year’s Eves—there are more impaired drivers on the road during these holiday nights.

The holiday season is a magical time for families to come together, create lasting memories, and celebrate annual traditions. Being conscious of holiday safety will ensure that the merriest season is filled with joy, lots of laughs, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your children are safe and happy. From kid-friendly decorations to safe travel, these tips will help you navigate the holidays with confidence. Albee Baby wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

A few travel add-ons that help when plans change (because holiday plans always change):

• Pack a small “car kit”: water, snacks, diapers/wipes, a warm blanket, and an extra phone charger. Winter delays are annoying without kids and brutal with them.
• If you’re traveling to see family, confirm you’ll have a safe sleep setup at the destination before you leave (a firm, flat surface with no loose blankets/pillows). 
  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• If you’re flying, label gear, gate-check responsibly, and do a quick parts check before you leave the airport (wheels, buckles, hardware).

Holiday Safety FAQ (quick answers to common parent searches)

Q: Are poinsettias poisonous?
A: They’re widely considered low-toxicity, but they can still upset a child’s stomach. Mistletoe and holly berries are the bigger concern—keep holiday plants out of reach and call Poison Control if you’re worried. 

Q: What do I do if I think my child swallowed a button battery?
A: Treat it as urgent—don’t “wait and see.” Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) for immediate guidance, and seek emergency care as directed. Keep spare batteries locked up. 

Q: How do I know if holiday lights/cords are safe to use?
A: Check for cracked sockets, frayed wires, loose connections, and use cords rated for indoor/outdoor use as appropriate. Turn off lights when you leave the house or go to bed. 

Q: What’s the simplest way to avoid “everyone thought someone was watching the kids?”
A: Use the “one adult, one job” rule during busy moments (arrivals, gift opening, kitchen chaos). Rotate the role every 20–30 minutes so it’s fair and clear.

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents and hope you feel empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or [email protected].