Holiday decoration, apparel and gift safety
Holidays can be busy and joyous times, but holiday decorations and new toys can bring risks. Stay safe by knowing how to manage the health or safety hazards of holiday items you bring into your home.
On this page:
- Holiday trees
- Holiday lights
- Decorations and candles
- Light-up holiday clothing and jewellery
- Holiday gifts
Holiday trees
Buying a real tree:
- Make sure it's fresh (you can tell if the needles are hard to pull off).
- Water the tree daily once you bring it indoors for decorating.
Set up:
- Make sure holiday trees are well-secured in a sturdy stand.
- Place trees away from high traffic areas, doorways, heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles.
Disposal of real trees:
- Remove it as soon as the holidays are over, or as soon as the needles start to fall, as dry trees can pose a fire hazard.
- Dispose according to local regulations - most municipalities have tree recycling programs.
Holiday lights
Choose the right lights for the job:
- Buy lights that have a Canadian certification mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL.
- Read the package instructions and do not exceed the recommended wattage.
- Check the recalls and safety alerts database before buying or using lights to find out about the latest recalls.
- Light strings and other decorations are rated for indoor or outdoor use. Make sure that indoor lights and decorations are only used inside.
Always do a safety check:
- Check all light bulbs before you put them up. Replace broken or burned-out bulbs with those recommended by the manufacturer.
- Check the light strings and extension cords you use. Discard any that are frayed or have exposed wires, loose connections or broken light sockets.
Safe set-up:
- Turn off all holiday lights before you go to bed or leave your home.
- Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets when plugging in outdoors.
- Avoid plugging too many lights and decorations into an outlet. Overloaded circuits can overheat and start a fire.
- Never run electrical cords and extension cords through or across doorways where they may be pinched or trip someone, or under carpets where they can be damaged or overheat.
Decorations and candles
Choose kid-friendly decorations:
- Keep metal, sharp or breakable tree ornaments with small removable parts away from young children and pets.
- Avoid using decorative oil lamps with liquid fuel if you have children under the age of five in your household.
- Keep burning candles out of reach of children and pets and away from materials that can catch fire (like curtains and holiday trees).
- Choose tinsel, artificial icicles and other trimmings made of plastic or non-leaded metals. Don't let children put decorations in their mouths, as some may be harmful to their health.
- Avoid having water beads in your household if you have children under the age of five. While decorative vases filled with water beads may seem appealing, the beads can be very harmful if swallowed.
- Be aware of items operated by button batteries, like flameless candles. These batteries can be very harmful if swallowed. Look for products where the battery is secured in a compartment that children can't access.
Light-up holiday clothing and jewellery
Flashing or light-up clothes and jewellery may seem like a good way to bring holiday cheer. Be cautious as they often use button batteries. Young children frequently mouth objects. If these tiny batteries are swallowed, it can lead to serious harm. It's best to look for light-up clothing and jewellery with secure, screw-shut compartments that children can't easily open. Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. This is especially important for cleaning and maintenance. Remember not to wash battery-operated clothes in the washing machine.
Holiday gifts
Cosmetics:
Be cautious when buying cosmetics for children. Harmful chemicals impact them more since they're more vulnerable than adults. If you're gifted a cosmetic, don't forget to check for ingredients that you may be sensitive to. Learn more about buying cosmetics online.
Children's toys with small parts, small, powerful magnets and button batteries:
New toys and gifts are holiday highlights for many children. Buy sturdy, well-made toys for your child. Pick ones that are right for their age. Toys for older kids can be hazardous for young children. They may contain small parts, small, powerful magnets or button batteries. Swallowing magnets can lead to serious injury or even death. It is especially dangerous if a child swallows more than one magnet over a short period of time. Button batteries are tiny batteries that can be very harmful if swallowed. Look for product pictures showing the battery is in a secure compartment that children can't access. Learn more about small parts in toys.
Toys can be recalled for health or safety reasons. Check the recalls and safety alerts database for more information about the latest recalls.
Holiday battery-operated cards:
Holiday cards that play music or sound effects likely contain button batteries. These cards should be kept out of children's reach as these batteries can be very harmful if swallowed. Learn more about button battery safety.