Inside: Find practical tips to baby proof your Christmas tree to reduce the safety concerns that come with a baby or toddler.

With Christmas around the corner, I knew it was time to get serious about baby-proofing and toddler-proofing our Christmas tree.

Little ones are so curious about the world around them. A 6-7 foot tree dazzled in lights and shiny ornaments will only attract them even more. If I learned anything from the last two years with my first son, I knew it was time to put a plan in action to keep him and my youngest son safe from danger and keep our home Christmas-ready.

5 easy ways to baby-proof your Christmas tree:

1. Put the tree up in stages

In an excited rush to decorate immediately after Thanksgiving, you may decide to put up your tree and deck the halls completely. But it usually works to mommy’s advantage if you put things up in stages. For example, this year we set up the tree + lights one weekend but waited until the following weekend to add the ornaments.

RELATED: The Most Overlooked Child Safety Hazard in the Home

Breaking it up like this may help baby get used to the new addition and gives your toddler some time to understand each phase of the decorating process…so he can get comfortable with the tree and not see it as some interesting big toy to explore when mommy’s not looking.

2. Place kid-friendly ornaments at the bottom section

I definitely learned the hard way when we decorated the tree as we would every year – with ornaments of all sizes and material evenly spaced out throughout the tree. Let’s just say a few ornaments are no longer with us this year. Whether you have a crawler, new walker or runner, it’s important to remember that anything within baby’s reach will be meddled with. Try to place your fragile or glass ornaments at the very top of the tree and leave the bottom section open to those safe DIY kid ornaments they helped create.

3. Use a baby-gate around the tree

This is most helpful for mommies with mobile babies. Our littlest has been crawling all over the place for over a month now (thanks to learning from big brother), but that makes it all the more important to keep what’s not-safe out of reach. A gate can help form a barrier between your Christmas tree and little ones. We’ve owned several gates over the years and I found a couple of favorites for keeping kids out: this Munchkin gate is a top pick for doorway entrances because of its easy fit and durability. So if you’re looking to keep baby out of the entire area, it works nicely. Plus super-safe for babies. However, if your tree needs a gate that can wrap around the tree specifically, a freestanding gate like this playard makes more sense.

4. Stack tall heavy presents around the tree

If the thought of an unsightly gate around your tree isn’t something you want to do, why not get creative with all those gifts surrounding the tree? If you have big enough boxes you can wrap them up and arrange them in a way that closes off access to glass ornaments or wires.  This is just a brilliant idea that I never considered until I stumbled upon a useful post about toddler-proofing!

5. Conceal wires and plugs

With all the string of Christmas lights and extension cords weaved throughout the house, it’s important to keep them out of baby’s reach. Make sure you either invest in an outlet cover and wire case or tape down wires to prevent hazards. (And use simple outlet plugs to block those open areas!)

Enjoy sharing the excitement of the holidays with your children, but remember to always put their safety at the top of the list for the happiest of holidays!

Thank you to Huggies for sponsoring this post in my series for new moms! You can catch up on the posts you missed below.

• Post 1: Things to Do Before Baby Arrives
• Post 2: Reasons Babies Cry + Solutions
• Post 3: Tips for Grooming Baby
• Post 4: Taggie Toy Tutorial for Teething Babies
• Post 5: Traveling With Baby

Don’t forget to stock up on the newest line of Huggies Little Snugglers diapers this holiday — a gift new moms can always appreciate. These diapers are made with a GentleAbsorb Liner for an extra cushiony layer of protection with absorption to draw mess away from baby’s delicate skin. I love that these diapers have a flexible, pocketed waistband to keep mess in and a unique stretchy SnugFit waistband for a gentle secure fit.

Make sure you also grab Huggies Natural Care Wipes, made from the brand’s simplest formula ever for a gentle clean (something every momma wants). They are hypoallergenic, fragrance and alcohol-free, with a touch of aloe & Vitamin E.

And if you haven’t done it yet, remember to add Huggies diapers and wipes to your baby registry to share your registry dream with Huggies. They will do everything they can to help that wish come true! Register HERE.