Holiday Decorations That Are Toddler Safe
The first holiday season with a toddler hit me like a freight train. One minute I was admiring my tree, the next my little one had yanked down three ornaments and was taste-testing a glass ball.
As a mom of 5 kids, I've navigated this challenge more times than I can count. Each holiday season, thousands of people end up in emergency rooms due to decorating-related injuries, with nearly 15,000 cases reported between November and January alone, and children making up a share of those accidents.
I spent countless hours following my toddlers around like a security guard, but after learning the hard way with each child, I've discovered you don't have to choose between gorgeous decorations and safety.
You just need the right holiday decorations, toddler-safe strategies: the right materials, strategic placement, and a few clever tricks I've perfected over the years. By the end of this guide, you'll know how to deck the halls while keeping those tiny fingers away from danger—and if you're looking for more ways to keep little ones engaged during the holidays, check out our Christmas crafts for kids and other crafts for kids that are perfect for toddlers.
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Holiday Decorations That Are Toddler Safe
Essential Safety Features to Look for in Toddler-Safe Decorations
First: materials matter immensely. Here's my shopping checklist:
Size requirements - If it fits through a toilet paper roll, it's a choking hazard. I carry an empty roll in my purse during holiday shopping.
Material check - Fabric, felt, wood, and certain plastics are your friends. Glass, ceramic, and metal edges aren't appropriate for toddler-accessible areas.
Weight matters - Lightweight decorations cause less damage when pulled down. Heavy decorations need secure mounting or should be kept out of reach.
Edge inspection - Run your fingers along every edge. If it feels sharp to you, it'll hurt your toddler's soft skin.
Flame-free lighting options are game-changers. Real candles are a complete no-go. Battery-operated LED candles look realistic—guests can't tell the difference. Get ones with battery compartments requiring a screwdriver, because toddlers love removing batteries.
Secure mounting systems are non-negotiable. Command hooks hold things securely without damaging walls.
When looking at labels, watch for these certifications:
ASTM International certification - Meets toy safety standards
CPSC compliant - Consumer Product Safety Commission approved
Non-toxic labels - "AP certified" or "conforms to ASTM D-4236"
Age recommendations - If it says "not for children under 3," take it seriously
Just because something's sold in stores doesn't mean it's safe for toddlers. Those little button batteries are extremely dangerous if swallowed—they can cause serious internal burns in less than two hours. Any decoration with batteries needs a screw-secured compartment.
The Best Toddler-Safe Christmas Tree Options
The traditional big tree covered in decorations? That dream died the first year my son started walking. I set up a gorgeous 6-foot tree that lasted exactly 4 hours before he pulled it over.
Here's what actually works:
Wall-Mounted Felt Trees
These are clever. You hang a felt tree on the wall—completely flat—with felt ornaments that attach with Velcro. Your toddler can decorate without danger.
My daughter spent 20-30 minutes moving ornaments around, and I didn't say "no, don't touch" once. The only downside is it doesn't look as traditional, but during toddler years, function over form is my motto.
Tabletop Trees on High Surfaces
When I wanted a "real" tree, I got a 3-foot artificial one and put it on a high console table pushed against the wall, decorated with nice ornaments completely out of reach.
Make sure the surface is stable and against a wall. I used museum putty under the tree stand to prevent sliding.
Full-Size Secured Trees
If you're determined to have a traditional floor tree, you must secure it properly with tree straps or anchoring systems.
My full-size tree safety protocol:
Get the widest, sturdiest tree stand (spend the extra $30)
Use tree straps to anchor to wall studs (two—one at top, one halfway)
Put a baby gate around the entire tree perimeter
Only put toddler-safe ornaments on the bottom third
Keep the water reservoir covered
The baby gate creates a visual and physical boundary. My kids learned the tree was inside the "special zone."
Alternative Tree Ideas That Actually Look Good
Creative solutions from parent groups:
Wooden peg trees - Flat wooden triangles with pegs for hanging ornaments
Book trees - Stack books in a tree shape on a shelf
Ladder trees - Decorative ladder against the wall with ornaments on rungs (secure it)
Tomato cage trees - Flip upside down, wrap in garland
The toddler years are temporary—just 2-3 holiday seasons needing extra precautions.
Real trees have sharp needles and water that can spill. Artificial trees eliminate those concerns, though cheaper ones may have lead (check for lead-free labels) and sharp wire ends.
My choice? Artificial tree for toddler years, properly anchored.
Childproof Ornament Ideas That Still Look Festive
All my beautiful glass ornaments? Packed in the attic. But you can have a gorgeous tree with childproof ornaments.
Fabric and Felt Ornaments
These are my go-tos. Soft, lightweight, and if they fall, nobody gets hurt. Target and Michaels have nice felt ornaments that look genuinely attractive.
When my kids grab them, I don't panic. I calmly say "let's put that back."
Wooden Ornaments
Wooden ornaments look traditional and classy, surviving multiple drops. Make sure they don't have small detachable parts. Check the paint—some aren't non-toxic. Look for child-safe labels or non-toxic paints.
I found an Etsy business making personalized wooden ornaments with engraved designs—no paint at all. Beautiful and totally safe.
Plastic Shatterproof Ornaments
Quality has improved. Target's Wondershop collection looks like glass until you pick them up. Spend $15-20 for nicer sets—cheap dollar store ones look fake.
Shiny, reflective finishes look more like real glass. I have rose gold shatterproof ornaments that are gorgeous.
DIY Salt Dough Ornaments
This became a yearly tradition. Recipe:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Mix, roll out, use cookie cutters, poke a hole for hanging, bake at 200°F for 2-3 hours. Kids paint them with non-toxic paints.
They're completely safe even if someone bites one (tastes terrible but won't hurt them). They're not super durable, but they're easy and cheap to remake.
What to Absolutely Avoid
Glass ornaments
Ornaments with shedding glitter
Small beaded ornaments
Ornaments with ribbons/strings longer than 6 inches
Anything with small bells that could detach
Ornaments with sharp hooks (use ribbon loops)
Fragile spun glass ornaments
I packed sentimental ornaments in a box labeled "For Later." They'll be more special when I bring them back out.
Safe Holiday Lighting Solutions for Homes with Toddlers
Between electrical hazards, hot bulbs, and cords everywhere, traditional holiday lighting can be a nightmare.
LED Lights Are Your Best Friend
Switch to LED lights everywhere. LED lights stay cool even after hours of use. Old incandescent bulbs get hot enough to burn skin. LED lights? Barely warm after running all day.
This matters because toddlers will touch your lights. LED lights also don't shatter easily, use less electricity (less fire risk), and last years.
Battery-Operated vs. Plug-In Lights
Battery-operated lights are perfect for areas without cords or where outlets are scarce.
I use them for:
Inside cabinets or high shelves
Wreaths and door decorations
Places where cord access would be dangerous
Temporary displays
For plug-in lights, cord management is critical. Use cord covers, tape cords to baseboards, and run them behind furniture. Eliminate loose cords that toddlers could trip over or pull.
Cool Projection Lights
Projection lights shine holiday patterns onto walls or ceilings without touchable components. Set up the projector high or in another room for instant festive atmosphere with zero toddler access.
I have one projecting snowflakes on our ceiling. My kids are mesmerized—it's become a calming bedtime routine. Projectors cost $15-50, and since they stay out of reach, there's no safety concern.
Outdoor Lighting Safety
Ensure everything is weatherproof and all connections are secure. Keep outdoor decorations in areas kids don't access.
Timer plugs turn lights on at dusk and off at 11pm automatically.
Candle Alternatives That Actually Work
Real candles aren't worth the risk. Flickering LED candles from brands like Luminara have moving "flames" inside. They're pricey ($15-30 each) but last forever.
Get ones with remote controls and timers. For scent, use a plug-in wax warmer in a high outlet.
Toddler-Friendly Holiday Decor for Every Room
Each space has different challenges and opportunities.
Living Room Strategy
Decorate high and smart. Focus on mantels, high shelves, and wall decorations completely out of reach.
I have garland on the mantel with battery-operated lights woven through. No hanging cords. I secured it with command hooks every 12 inches.
Hang wreaths and signs at 5-6 feet up. The coffee table stays mostly clear—it's at toddler height.
Kitchen and Dining Room Decorating
Keep counters mostly clear. Maybe holiday dish towels or a small decoration away from stove/sink. Decorate above cabinets if there's room.
For the dining table, I only put out nice centerpieces when having company. When we do, I use a cake stand elevated in the center where it's harder for kids to reach. After dinner, it goes back on the fridge.
Bedroom Holiday Magic
Bedrooms are controlled environments. For kids' rooms, stick with soft decorations—felt garlands, fabric advent calendars, holiday stuffed animals. Everything needs to be safe if they wake early and play unsupervised.
Projection lights in kids' bedrooms work great. Mine's mounted to the ceiling, so they can't access it but enjoy the show.
Bathroom Considerations
Minimal decorating. Swap towels for holiday-themed ones. Maybe a holiday-scented soap dispenser. A small decoration on the back of the toilet tank can work.
Outdoor Decoration Safety
Outdoor decorating lets you go bigger without constant toddler access.
Secure all decorations—stake or anchor them. Inflate decorations get tied down with multiple stakes.
Extension cords are elevated and covered with cord protectors. Use outdoor-rated power strips in weatherproof boxes, plugged into GFCI outlets.
Creating a Toddler Decoration Zone
I created a specific area that's the "toddler decoration zone"—a low shelf with 100% safe decorations they can touch, move, and play with. Felt ornaments, wooden figures, and fabric garlands, they can rearrange.
Having this space gives kids ownership, reducing the temptation to mess with other decorations.
We also do a felt board advent calendar at their height. Each day, they move a felt piece to the next number.
DIY Toddler-Safe Holiday Decoration Ideas
The best part about DIY is controlling exactly what materials go into them.
Fabric Garland Tutorial
Easiest craft ever, looks great. You don't need to sew.
What you need:
Fabric in holiday colors (clearance section)
Scissors
String or ribbon
Cut fabric into strips 1 inch wide and 6-8 inches long. Tie each strip onto string with a knot. Keep adding strips. The frayed ends look shabby-chic.
I made 20 feet in one afternoon for $12.
Sensory-Friendly Holiday Wreath
Designed for kids to touch. Started with a foam wreath form, then hot-glued different textures:
Soft felt pieces
Puffy pompoms
Smooth wooden beads (large, can't come off)
Crinkly fabric
Soft faux fur pieces
Hung at my son's height, he touches it constantly. Hot glue holds strong enough that nothing comes off.
DIY Felt Advent Calendar
I bought a large felt piece for the background (2x3 feet) and smaller felt pieces in colors. Cut out numbers 1-25 and glued them to little felt pockets sewn onto the background. Each pocket holds a small felt shape.
Each day, kids move a felt star from one pocket to the next. Cost $15, lasted three years.
Use fabric glue or Velcro dots if sewing isn't your thing.
Homemade Window Clings
Recipe:
1/4 cup white glue
2 tablespoons dish soap
Food coloring
Mix, pour into squeeze bottles, draw designs on plastic sheet protectors. Let dry 24-48 hours, peel off. They stick to windows.
My kids made a bunch for our sliding door. Totally safe—just glue and soap. They wash off easily with water.
Natural Decorations That Are Safe
Pinecones from our yard go in bowls and baskets. They're free, festive, and safe to handle.
Bake pinecones at 200°F for an hour to kill bugs. Then kids "paint" them with white glue and sprinkle cinnamon for natural scent.
Branches in a vase with lightweight ornaments create a minimalist tree. If knocked over, it's just sticks and water.
String cranberries and popcorn for garland. A classic that's literally food.
Avoid holly berries and mistletoe—both are toxic if eaten.
Paper Chain Garlands
Paper chains are cheap, easy, and safe. My kids love making them—they pick colors, I cut strips, they loop and glue.
We hang them in their rooms or doorways. If they rip, we make more.
Use a glue stick instead of liquid glue—less messy, holds fine.
Strategic Placement: Where to Put Decorations in a Toddler Home
Placement is more important than what you buy.
The Three-Foot Rule
Nothing interesting or grabbable goes lower than three feet from the ground—high enough most toddlers can't reach, low enough you can still enjoy decorations.
I measured this with a tape measure around my house. Remember toddlers can climb, so three feet next to a couch doesn't count.
High Shelves and Mantels
Our fireplace mantel at five feet is prime real estate. I put garland, candles (flameless), and nice pieces there.
Secure everything with museum putty so items won't slide off. This removable putty holds things firmly—get it at craft stores or Amazon for $5.
Floating shelves at adult eye level work great. The top of tall bookcases is fair game. Just anchor bookcases to walls.
Ceiling and Upper Wall Decorating
So much unused space above eye level creates ambiance without toddler access.
I hang snowflakes from the ceiling using fishing line.
Hanging paper lanterns or tissue paper decorations work great—lightweight so if one fell, it wouldn't hurt anyone.
Use command hooks to hang decorations high on walls. Wreaths at 6 feet up, felt banners near the ceiling.
Securing Floor-Level Decorations
For floor decorations like Christmas trees, use earthquake straps attached to wall studs—not just drywall.
Heavy decorations need genuine weight so toddlers can't move them. My large wooden nutcracker weighs 10 pounds—kids can't budge it.
Baby gates create physical barriers for floor decorations.
Using Visual Barriers
Furniture placement discourages kids from accessing areas. I moved our couch forward to create separation from the console table behind it.
Area rugs create visual zones. Our tree sits on a special holiday rug—I've taught my kids that rug is "tree space."
Room-by-Room Placement Strategy
Living room: High mantels, top of bookcases, high shelves, ceiling decorations, gated floor tree. Nothing on tables below three feet.
Kitchen: Top of cabinets only, maybe top of fridge.
Dining room: Centerpieces only during dinner parties, then put away. Wall decorations above chair height.
Bedrooms: Medium-height decorations okay. Kids' rooms get all soft, safe stuff at any height.
Bathrooms: Minimal. Swap towels, maybe one decoration on toilet tank or high shelf.
What Can Safely Go in Toddler-Accessible Areas
Soft fabric decorations can go lower. Felt garlands on ottomans are safe. Board books with holiday themes on low shelves. Stuffed holiday characters on couches.
Large wooden blocks or figures without small parts can sit on low shelves.
The felt tree goes at toddler height—that's the point. Having one thing specifically for them reduces desire to mess with other decorations.
Alternative Holiday Decoration Approaches for Toddler Households
Traditional approaches don't always work.
Going Minimalist
My second year, I went super minimal—small tree with just lights, one wreath on the door. Done.
My toddler didn't care. She had zero concept of what "fully decorated" should look like. She was just as excited.
Less decorating meant more time enjoying the season. Less cleanup in January too.
Focusing on Experiences
Best holiday memories have nothing to do with decorations.
We drive around looking at others' light displays. Free, kids love it, zero safety concerns. We make hot chocolate and cruise neighborhoods.
Visit holiday displays at malls, botanical gardens, or local attractions. Someone else handles decoration and safety.
Baking cookies, making gingerbread houses, and holiday crafts create memories without elaborate home decorations.
Temporary Decorations Strategy
I have "special" decorations that only come out when I'm actively supervising. When grandparents visit or for holiday parties, I pull them out for a few hours. Then back in the box.
Get pretty photos with nice decorations without constant stress.
Creating One Special Holiday Corner
Some families create one corner that's amazing and toddler-proofed.
A friend decorated shelves inside a large cabinet with glass doors. Little village, lights, fancy ornaments—everything she wanted. Her toddler could see it but the cabinet stays locked.
Use a large playpen or baby gate to section off one corner. Inside, create your dream display.
Outdoor-Focused Decorating
Decorated front porch, put lights on bushes, whole display in the yard. Inside? Practically nothing. The house looked festive from outside, inside I didn't stress.
Digital and Projected Holiday Magic
Technology offers options without physical decorations.
Digital picture frames display rotating holiday images. Mine cycles through family photos, winter scenes, and festive art.
Smart bulbs change regular lights to holiday colors. I make living room lamps glow red and green from my phone.
Projection lights are my favorite tech solution—projecting snowflakes or patterns on walls and ceilings with zero toddler access.
Final Thoughts
You don't need to implement everything—just a few strategies make a difference. This phase is temporary, though it feels endless now. Give yourself grace. Kids don't care about Pinterest-worthy decorations; they want to enjoy holidays with you.
My approach: shatterproof ornaments, strategic placement above three feet, and supervision. Don't stress when things go wrong—it happens. The memories matter more than perfect decor. Start small if overwhelmed. Join parent groups for support and ideas.
Most importantly, enjoy this season. Your toddler experiences holidays with wonder—protect that magic while keeping them safe. Here's to joy, laughter, and zero emergency room visits. You've got this.
