Halloween is a fun time for babies and toddlers. After all, they get to dress up like their favorite ghouls and get tons of stuff they love (read, candy!). However, it is important that while they have fun, they also stay safe.
Here are some safety tips for a fun, creepy Halloween.
Halloween Costume Safety
Keep toddlers and preschoolers from tripping and falling by ensuring that the hems don’t trail and that the costume ends around the ankles. Make sure that they wear comfortable shoes and where possible, stick reflector tape on the costume and booty bag to increase visibility when on the road. Also, ensure that the fabric of the costume is flame-resistant, soft and that the costume itself is free of any choking or strangulation hazards.
Avoid masks since they may interfere with vision. Instead, use non-toxic face paint and pair it up with a scary hat. If your toddler insists on wearing a mask, cut out big eyeholes to make it easy for them to see through it.
Also, since babies and toddlers are sensitive to temperature, keep the weather outside in mind when buying or creating a Halloween costume and choose the fabric accordingly. The size of the costume should also be comfortable and easy for your toddler to walk around in.
Staying Safe While Trick or Treating
Accompany toddlers and preschoolers as they go trick or treating and carry a flashlight to light up dark passages. Preschoolers can also carry glow sticks or wear glow stick bracelets to be clearly visible to motorists. US Glow Laboratories sells a pack of 100 8” bracelets for under $9 on Amazon. Avoid going to unfamiliar areas. Trick of treating is more exciting in a familiar surrounding. New areas and unknown faces may make a toddler anxious. In addition, it is safer to visit homes of people who are known to you and your baby.
If you’re accompanying a group of toddlers, ensure that none of them runs when on the street. Also, only walk on the sidewalk and cross the street at crosswalks.
Having a Healthy Halloween
Halloween shouldn’t turn into a candy fest. The sugar highs can cause some real lows. So, fill up your preschoolers with some healthy snacks before heading out for trick or treating. Carry a bottle of water to sip from as you walk around the block. This will prevent them for gorging on the candy as soon as they get it. Also, go over all the candy collected to check for unsealed or expired packages, and sort the remainder to be eaten over a period of time.
A healthy and safe Halloween will be a happy one for both you and your preschooler. Do use these simple safety tips to buy or sew a comfortable, fun costume and keep kids healthy and safe while out trick or treating.
Photo Credit: abbybatchelder
