10 tips for a safe Halloween

Young children love Halloween – especially when it comes to costumes and trick or treating! Whether it’s collecting a massive haul of candy or carving a jack-o-lantern, here are gurgle’s tips for ensuring your toddler or preschooler has a fun, safe Halloween celebration…

1. When it comes carving the jack-o-lantern, involve your child by letting her help scoop out the flesh and seeds and draw on the features – but carve it yourself and keep carving tools and knives well out of her reach.

2. Light your jack-o-lantern with a mini flashlight instead of a tealight or votive candle, especially if it’s indoors or positioned outside but close to your house (never leave a jack-o-lantern lit up when you’re not there).

3. Don’t allow your child to go trick or treating alone – either go with her yourself or make sure there will be adults supervising if she is going with a group of local children.

4. If possible, plan your trick or treating route so that you only walk along well-lit streets with sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk, let your child walk just ahead of you, facing the oncoming traffic.

5. Check the label before you buy a costume for your child to make sure it is flame resistant.

6. If you’re going out in the dark to do some trick or treating, make sure your child’s costume has reflective panels, or stick reflective tape or attach a glow stick to it so that she can be seen by drivers.

7. Avoid masks or large hats that might limit your child’s field of vision, as well as prop broomsticks, scythes, tridents, swords, daggers or lightsabers that might trip her or other children or injure her if she falls.

8. If it’s dark, take a flashlight to help light your way when you’re trick or treating, and make sure it has fresh batteries in it before you leave.

9. Give your child a whistle that she can blow if you and she should become separated and it’s too dark to see where she is.

10. Tell your child not to eat any of her candy until you’ve had the chance to check it. Discard any treats that are too hard for her, that are home-made, or that have torn wrapping or appear to have been tampered with (be vigilant and check for pinholes).

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.