Halloween costume safety tips for small children

Keep it short

Long, flowing costumes and dangling accessories are dramatic but can cause injuries due to falls. Keep Halloween costumes at a length just below the knees or shorter to avoid this safety issue. Trick or treat bags shouldn't touch the ground. Costume accessories like chains should be secured to the costume and above the knee to prevent kids from tripping over them.

Nix the sharp edged objects

Halloween costumes, masks and accessories should have a smooth surface for safety. Avoid hard plastic masks with sharp edges. Opt for make up instead. If a mask is an intricate part of the trick or treat costume, use a soft rubber mask. Never use real or realistic looking knives or other weapons as part of a Halloween costume. Not only is this hazardous, there is a risk of someone mistaking your child as a threat.

Make it simple

The more elaborate a costume is, the more potential safety risks it carries. Active kids can easily become entangled in the parts and pieces of a complicated Halloween costume. Try to keep the costume down to one or two pieces if possible. Take the time to think about any possible safety concerns. Correct them before trick or treating starts.

Avoid constricting or binding Halloween costumes.

Be sure elastic is not too tight. If it is, and can't be helped, use scissors to cut the underside of the elastic for safety and comfort. Keep strings tied securely but not overly tight. Watch for dangling strings that could get caught up in something and cause choking or injury. If possible, avoid costumes that utilize strings altogether.

Go allergy free

Wearing Halloween make up for trick or treating is normally a good alternative to wearing a mask. Unfortunately some kids are allergic to costume make up. Test make up by applying a small patch a couple days prior to trick or treating. Keep make up away from the eyes and mouth. Use caution with rubber masks too. Some kids are allergic to latex.

Increase visibility

Halloween safety includes seeing and being seen clearly. Choose masks with unobstructed vision. Better yet, use make up, a half mask or even nothing at all on the face. Halloween costumes tend to lean towards black, which is hard to see in the dark. Make sure kids wear reflective or glow in the dark clothing and carry a light stick or flashlight while trick or treating.