A quick guide to child-safe holiday celebrations

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Published Date 12/17/2024

Hosting friends and family for the holidays? Perhaps simply getting your house in tip-top shape, laying out a feast and preparing a guest room is preparation enough. But what if they plan to bring their little ones to your non-baby-proofed home? Whole different ball game.

Realtor’s Larissa Runkle says that while we can agree it’s ultimately the parents’ job to keep them safe, it’s also a good idea to do some prep work before they arrive to ensure that no harm comes to them (or your stuff) during their visit.

First off, relocate that antique vase set precariously on your living room side table. Tuck breakable items away. “Even babies under a year old can be mobile enough to crawl and grab things or bump into them, and you don’t want that thing to be fragile and irreplaceable,” says Runkle, who advises to remove sharp, breakable objects within arm’s length of a little one. That might mean tucking your priceless vase or even prettiest holiday statue on an out-of-reach surface or removing it from a room you know they’ll be toddler-cruising in. Great idea to ask the parents how mobile their little one is to determine what objects might be safe (and which ones won’t be) while they visit.

Next detoxify your environment. We honestly never consider the things in our homes that might be toxic. “Unless you have a dog that will eat just about anything, chances are you’ve got at least a few potentially dangerous items out in the open (and possibly even on the floor) that a tiny guest could get into,” says Runkle. “We’re talking about cleaning supplies, rodent traps, and even some of your houseplants.”

Houseplants? Yup. Tons of houseplants are toxic to humans, but we as adults generally aren’t too worried about this because we aren’t placing fallen leaves and petals into our mouths. Runkle advises to do a bit of research on the safety of the houseplants (and any other potential toxins) you have lying around your home, or consider moving them to higher spaces just to be safe.

Sharp-edged furniture is another hazard, especially with glass tops. And pieces that can tip over onto a child is another concern. “Toddlers love to climb, and unstable furniture can easily tip over, causing injury,” says California-based designer and real estate agent Joy Aumann. “Secure heavy furniture to the wall using furniture anchors.”

Got pets? Some pets do just fine with kids. Others? Not so much. If your pets haven’t ever spent time around young children, they might find the experience even more daunting than you do, Runkle points out. Consider having someone you trust look after them and communicate this with their parents ahead of time so they know what to expect. At the least, find a place to corral your pets away from spaces where kids might be.

The kitchen is a hub during any holiday, but can also be one of the most dangerous for young children. Never, ever leave the stove unattended when there’s something cooking and there are children around, advises Runkle. And keep sharp utensils far out of reach while leaving no open bottles unattended. Use back burners as much as possible, making sure pot handles are turned inward so a child can’t reach up and grab them.

And lastly, baby-proofing everything might not be feasible. Whether it’s your home office, a home gym, or just a really tall staircase, block it off. Kids are natural explorers and will take whatever opportunity comes their way to satisfy their curiosity. Baby gates are easily installed and are a go-to for stopping kids going near stairs. Close doors and, if necessary, keep them locked. Ditto for adding cabinet locks on easy-to-reach storage areas housing dangerous items. It’s a great idea to talk to the parents about setting up just one or two safe spaces for the kiddos—and restricting them to those areas unless under supervision.

Realtor, TBWS

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