How can I decorate a beautiful Christmas tree with this growing belly?

The pinnacle of the holidays is the holiday tree. Many families put up a holiday tree soon after Thanksgiving and trim the tree as a family. If you are already showing, you may find it hard to trim the holiday tree without your growing belly knocking off ornaments left and right. This year, take a new approach to holiday tree trimming with these tips.

Skip the tree trimming and make ornaments instead

If you are simply too pregnant to hang ornaments without causing a huge mess, leave the hanging to other family members and craft new ornaments for the tree this year. Crafting ornaments may not be the same as hanging ornaments, but you gain the satisfaction of seeing your works of art hanging on your holiday tree for all to enjoy. 

Employ your other children 

Skip the fancy glass ornaments this year and change things up so your children can take your place trimming the holiday tree while pregnant. Children love to hand ornaments and with a little guidance, they do a fantastic job. If your little ones cannot reach the top of the tree, ask your spouse or other family members to take part in the tree trimming. For Hanukkah, having your children decorate their own dreidels is a fun and creative way to involve them in the decorating process. 

Invite friends and family over for a holiday decorating  party

Instead of wallowing in the fact that you can’t trim the tree this holiday invite friends and family members over for a holiday tree-trimming party. Ask everyone to bring a box of ornaments to create a truly unique holiday tree. If you're celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, feel free to invite guests over to decorate your home in items of respective colors. Think table runners, streamers, holiday lights in blue for Hanukkah and red, green, and black for Kwanzaa. 

Leave the house for a relaxing weekend and come home to a trimmed tree

Take advantage of being pregnant to get a little rest and relaxation while other family members trim the holiday tree. You can leave for as little as one night and come home to a beautifully decorated tree. Ask family members to leave the lights off and the star or other ornaments off the top of the tree until you arrive home so you can enjoy the first look together as a family.

Beyond the tree

Christmas isn't the only holiday that requires decorating! While holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa don't necessarily call for something as large as a tree, there is still stressful decorating to be done for each. Characteristic to both of these holidays are a series of candles. For Hanukkah, that is the menorah, while for Kwanzaa, this refers to the Mishumaa Saba. If you're in need of assistance while decorating for these holidays, it's best to ask an adult, like your partner or a friend, to handle the candles and their delicate holders. 

Take your time and turn that belly to the side

If your belly is just starting to show, turn to the side when hanging holiday ornaments. You may not be able to reach the upper branches of the holiday tree, but you will be able to take part in the tree trimming.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday tree trimming experience while pregnant. All you have to do is take a different look at tree trimming. Don't forget to have a few pics taken of you and your partner near the tree. In years to come, you'll be able to show your child how you decorated the Christmas tree while they were still in your belly.