I can’t wait to entertain in our new home! But I want to do it safely so I decided to research holiday safety tips for when you’re entertaining. I love hosting guests, especially now that I have the space to host them in. I love baking and filling the house with delicious smells. (And I love when others host me too!) However there are some holiday safety tips to make sure your days stay merry and bright (in a good way).

Christmas morning 2017!

[In Atlanta for the holidays? Check out the best family-friendly holiday activities.]

I know thinking about safety can seem to take some of the fun out of the holiday spirit, however a trip to the ER will take even more fun out of your holidays! With that in mind, here are three easy holiday safety tips to keep in mind this festive season.

3 Holiday Safety Tips for Entertaining at Home

1. Be wary of buying secondhand gifts.

I’m all about saving money on gifts and I have nothing against consignment stores or neighborhood swap sites. I get some of my best deals that way. However, you should be careful about who you are buying from and what you are buying. Make sure you know the person you are meeting and that it is in a public place. Also make sure the product you are buying isn’t on a recall list. Be especially careful of baby items.

2. Babyproof your home. Even if you don’t have babies. 

If you are hosting friends or family this holiday season, don’t forget to put anything kids five and under could get into. This includes cleaning products, batteries, small tools like screws ad nails, and liquid laundry packets. These things should be kept out of reach of small children or behind a locked door. This is especially important if your visitors have small children. A recent study found that 81% of parents thought their children couldn’t reach the laundry packets, but they could! Don’t underestimate the determination of little ones in your house!

3. Bake safely.

While bringing kids into the kitchen to help whip up a cake, decorate some cookies or create one of your delicious holiday traditions is fantastic, be sure to supervise them fastidiously. Don’t leave the kitchen while they are in there. For safe holiday entertaining, avoid letting little ones handle hot pans or remove hot things from the oven or microwave. And when you are finished be sure to double check all the appliances are turned off. Gas stoves and burners are especially important to focus on.

What is involved in your holiday entertaining this year? We love surprising family and friends who live in other states. One year my family flew to Arizona to join in the rowdy and unbelievably fun Christmas with my family. (Twelve kids in one house is the most fun thing ever!) This year, we plan to have a more low-key Christmas here in Atlanta. But before then I have several Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and a plethora of holiday activities. What a fun time of year! With these holiday safety tips, I pray it will be a safe one too!