Halloween Season Safety

Kids First Team Member
6 days ago
3 min read

We know… school just got started, and it’s just now finally starting to feel like fall. But Halloween is right around the corner. And while your kiddos may not have decided what they want to dress up as yet, they most certainly will as talk of the season change starts at school!

In preparation, we are sharing the following Halloween safety tips from healthychildren.org as spooky season approaches.

Costume safety tips

Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. A brightly colored treat bag or glow-in-the-dark elements can be a fun way to incorporate safety into a scary costume. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
Make sure that shoes fit well, and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, getting caught on objects, or coming into contact with firepits.
Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels. Wigs and accessories should also clearly indicate this.
Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over the eyes and blocking vision.
Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks. Test makeup ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or allergic reactions on the big day. Toxic ingredients have been found in cosmetics marketed to teens and tweens.
Avoid any sharp or long swords, canes, or sticks as a costume accessory. Your child can easily be hurt by these accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.
Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an eye care professional. While packaging for decorative lenses may claim "one size fits all," or "no need to see an eye specialist," wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous. It can cause serious eye problems that can lead to permanent vision loss.

Pumpkins & decorating safety

Never allow small children to carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Parents can do the cutting and then let little ones clean out the inside pulp and seeds. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand offers safe pumpkin carving tips.
Consider using a battery-operated flameless candle, flashlight, or glow stick instead of a candle to light your jack-o'-lantern. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is the safest option.
Do not place candlelit pumpkins on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by. They should never be left unattended.

Healthy Halloween tips

Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters. Halloween is one of the trickiest days of the year for children with food allergies. Even candies without allergen-causing ingredients could have come in contact with an allergen during manufacturing. Food Allergy Research & Education's Teal Pumpkin Project suggests items such as glow sticks, spider rings, vampire fangs, pencils, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, whistles, bookmarks, stickers, and stencils.
Wait until children are home to sort and check treats before eating them. Though tampering is rare, it can happen. Also, many cannabis edibles look like regular candy, which could get accidentally mixed up with Halloween treats. Closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items. Give your child a good meal before trick-or-treating to discourage sampling.
Keep an eye on what your child has in their mouth at all times while trick-or-treating. Keep in mind that babies and toddlers should not have hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies (jellybeans, etc.), gummy candy, pumpkin seeds, or anything with whole nuts. Candy wrappers, stickers, small toys, or temporary tattoos can be a choking hazard, too.
Try to ration treats for the days and weeks following Halloween. Keep candy rules realistic, consistent, and positive. Make a plan together so everyone knows what to expect. It's also a great opportunity to teach your kids about moderation, balance, and healthful indulging. Get tips for taming your child's sweet tooth here.