Holiday Safety for Decorations and Toys: Trees, Lights, Candles and Small Parts
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How we wrote this: A plain-English summary of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Holiday Safety page, checked October 29, 2026.
Decorations
The CPSC's tips for decorations:
- Water live Christmas trees. A dry tree can catch fire fast. CPSC's own demonstration video shows how quickly.
- For artificial trees, look for the "fire resistant" label.
- Never leave candles unattended. Keep them in sight and away from anything flammable, put them out before leaving the room, and use flameless candles when you can.
- Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and never overload outlets.
Keep trees and decorations clear of heat sources, too. The U.S. Fire Administration's 3-foot rule applies (see home heating fire safety). Plug-in strips are covered in our surge protector guide.
Gifts and toys
- Follow the age guidance and safety information on the package, and match toys to each child's abilities.
- Keep balls and toys with small parts away from children under 3, and deflated balloons away from children under 8.
- Look for choking-hazard warnings on the package or the company's website.
- Give helmets and safety gear with scooters and other riding toys.
- Throw away plastic wrap and packaging right after gifts are opened.
Shop smart
CPSC urges buying from stores and online retailers you know and trust, and being wary of deals that seem too good to be true, since they may be hazardous or counterfeit. For secondhand items, check recalls at CPSC.gov/recalls first.
Also see our holiday online shopping safety and gift card scams guides.