Christmas is a time for celebration and enjoyment; however, the Holiday Celebrations can be full of hidden dangers for small children, pets, and the home in general.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your little ones safe during the Christmas Season:

It’s not a good idea to  hang candy canes, popcorn chains, or any other edible ornament on your Christmas tree if you have small children because, they may think the other ornaments are also edible.

Make sure to hang all breakable tree ornaments, and the ones with small detachable parts on the higher branches of your tree, and way of reach of your toddlers, and pets.

Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.

Read the instructions very carefully before buying a toy for your child or allowing him/her to play with one that was received as a gift.

To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.

Be extremely careful about giving small children toys with small removable parts. Toddlers put everything in their mouth, and children under the age of three can easily choke on small parts contained in toys or games. In fact, government regulations specify that toys for children under three years old cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.

Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on un-inflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.

Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

When buying toys for children with allergies, you have to be very careful.

Avoid stuff animals with real fur since fur is more prone to dust and mold. Stuffed animals with polyester filling and cover are much easier to wash and dry.

Avoid toys with latex, this includes balloons. Latex allergic reactions can be extremely severe.