Halloween Costume Safety Tips

Seeing different creatures or beings from another world walk by and knock on doors in your neighborhood are not surprising, come October 31. It is that time of the year when superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and other members of the Justice League, Casper the always friendly ghost, Captain Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean, down to a walking plump red tomato come together to knock on everybody's door and ask the all important question, "Trick or Treat?"

However, before you allow your kids to go off and have fun, here are some safety reminders to help you in choosing a Halloween costume for an accident free holiday.

Go for flame resistant materials. Check the labels; opt for flameproof materials so the kids will not accidentally catch fire during their trick or treating. Most houses have jack-o-lanterns that decorate their front porches or candles lighting pathways so always be careful of them.

Make sure that the costumes are visible in the dark. Choose those that have light reflectors or those that glow in the dark. There is going to be a lot of traveling, walking from house to house, crossing roads, all during nighttime so it is important that you can spot your cute little ghoul immediately. This would also help drivers and other motorists who might not be able to see the kids right away while on the road. If you have difficulty finding one or you and your kid cannot agree on it, you can tape reflective strips on the costume and it will work just as well. It is also good if you can persuade your kid to bring along a flashlight so they will not run into problems while walking in the dark.

Have the costumes fit your child as comfortable as possible and make sure that any accessories the costume comes along with are age appropriate. You do not want your little one lugging around a sword or a staff twice his or her size all over the neighborhood. Make sure the length of the costume is just right to avoid tripping over the hem or have other kids accidentally stepping on the excess length.

Check to see if the costume has good ventilation. Your kid may feel dizzy or lightheaded for being in a hot and uncomfortable costume for a long time. If the costume has a mask, make sure the eyeholes are big enough for your kids to see through properly. Nobody wants to see Batman fall flat on his face. Well, maybe except for the Joker. Look for any choking hazards that come with the costume. Younger children like to put things in their mouths out of curiosity so if there are any that are not really needed, skip those small parts if you can.

Aside from all these, the best way of keeping your children safe is to have them travel in a group with other kids and some trustworthy adults to supervise them. If your kid does not mind, tag along yourself. You can also help the kids in carrying all their loot for the night. This way, all of you will have a nice, spooky, but worry-free Halloween.

Article Resource: Elena Bautista