How do I protect my new furniture from my toddler?

If the furniture is slick, then give her dry erase markers and the marks should wipe right off.

Invest in Magic Erasers. These things are awesomeand will take alot off. I have even had it work on Sharpie Markers if it's on the right surface.

The best thing to do is just be diligent about keeping them put away. Teach her to write on paper only and have a consequence that will get her attention if she if does write on the walls or furniture. Sadly, it's going to be inevitable that she'll write on something in her lifetime (I am sure you have experienced that.)

When my 8 yod was 1.5 we moved into a brand new house. While spending 5 minutes dealing with an issue with her 5 yod sister, she maganed to find a Sharpie and leave lines all over my brand new cabinets and appliances in the kitchen. She moved her way into the living room and marked up the fireplace brick, and cabinet armoure that held the TV, my couch, and the coffee table. Then she made her way into the laundry room and drew pretty pictures on the wall. We managed to get it all off except on the brick. I learned on that day to hold all things loosely. Children are much more precious than things. yes, we should work to keep our possessions nice and teach our children to do so, but in the end our relationship with our children is much more important. Just remember to be patience in your discipline if she does mark on things. it's hard to do but so necessary. (take it from a mom whose damage a few feelings in my pursuit to keep my things nice. Once I finally let go, we all started having more fun in life. And it seems that less things are being written on these days.)

BTW, that little 1.5 yod is now 8, mentioned above, and she is m budding art. She draws so well. I didn't even think about that until I answered this post. :)

Having a spot for all pens, pencils, crayons, paints...up high in a cabinet is a good idea. Thats were I kept all of ours. at 1.5 both my kdis were still in highchairs and thats where they were allowed to color...when they were trapped(: We had one of those seats you strap onto a kitchen chair that had a buckle. its nice if they can color or do crafts at the table..gives them more room. When they were done...are you done coloring..yes. Ok, i put everythign away before I took them out(: so i didn't forget.

If somethign happens...the Magic Eraser works well. we did have a few marks on walls and my dresser(: hubby left a pen on it. I took my dd to the dresser...who did this...did you do this? where do we color....ONLY ON PAPER...ok, please dont' do "this again. if you find a pen please tell mommy. You can use it on paper if you would like but not on a dresser. I would sit with them while they used a pen..at young ages.

You can get most marks off most wood surfaces. My kitchen table has had many majic marker marks...oopsies! They come out..and so does paint with a scrubby sponge..not the best for the varnish but it did come out. Don't invest in a good kitchen table. so glad hubby didn't agree to buy the expensive table I really wanted. He was right onthat one.

The Magic Eraser works really well!!!!

Oddly enough, tonight I saw my 4 year old had wrote her name on our oak kitchen cabinet in black marker... I tried to wipe it off thinking it was written in washable marker. (It wasnt!) It took a little scrubbing, but I got it off. I clean the cabinets every few months with Murpheys oil soap... Im thinking it may have coated it just enough that I was able to clean the marker off without damaging the oak. Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but I will continue to clean with it since it doesnt damage the wood and the marker cleaned off! Good luck!

mr clean magic erasers it took permanent marker off my walls it works great! its taken crayon also off i have a 2 yr old and she hides pens to use when no one is around shes sneaky but every time she does it i use mr clean and it really does work at getting it off