How to have a safe Halloween

Halloween is an exciting time for young children – but it’s also a time when they are at risk of accidents. Trick-or-treating means they might be walking in unfamiliar areas after dark, carving a pumpkin can put them at risk of cuts, and long flowing costumes can be a tripping hazard. Here are gurgle’s tips for keeping your child safe at Halloween…

Choosing Halloween costumes carefully

Letting your child pick out her own costume is all part of the Halloween fun and if you aren’t making it for her your local shops will have a big selection, ranging from ghosts, pumpkins and fairy princesses to power heroes.

Before you buy, check the labels to make sure the costume and any accessories that go with it, such as masks and fake hair, are flame resistant. If there is a mask or any kind of headgear, make sure it doesn’t restrict your child’s vision in any way. You also need to check that she can safely walk in it without tripping over any long, flowing fabric. If the costume includes prop ‘weapons’ or a prop witch’s broomstick, ensure that they have no hard edges and are made of material that bends if your child should fall on it, instead of shattering and putting your child at risk of abrasions form sharp edges.

Carving your pumpkin safely

It’s great to involve your children in creating your pumpkin but don’t let her carve it herself. Not only do carving kits have sharp, serrated edges, but the hard outer skin of a pumpkin is slippery and even is she was careful the cutters could slip and hurt her. Include her by letting her use a pen to draw on eyes, a nose and a mouth for you to cut out. She can also help to scoop out the seeds and pulpy flesh with a spoon.

Decorate with care

Make sure that any interior Halloween decorations are hung well out of reach of curious toddlers. If possible, avoid using a naked flame tealight to light up your pumpkin, especially indoors – consider using a small flashlight instead. If you are using a tealight be sure to place the pumpkin out of reach of your child and well away from any hanging drapes and other potentially flammable objects. Never leave the pumpkin lit while it is unattended or while you are out of the house.

Safe trick or treating

Under no circumstances should you allow your toddler or preschooler to go trick or treating with another older child. Go with her, or make sure that she will have adult supervision if she is going trick or treating with friends.

If at all possible, trick or treat when it is still light. If you can’t time it right for this, then stick to routes that are well-lit and not heavy traffic routes. Take steps to make sure that you can be seen by any vehicles that might be passing along the roads you are using. Cross roads at proper crossings, and don’t cross them between parked cars.

If your costume and your child’s are not light reflective, add reflective tape to them, and to your child’s trick or treat bag for increased visibility. Carry a flashlight to light your way and help you avoid trips on uneven ground and over garden features and toys that might be scattered in people’s yards.

Give your child, and any other children who will be trick or treating with you, whistles that they can blow if they should become separated from you. Only call at homes that are well-lit.

Welcome trick or treaters safely

You’ll probably be getting lots of visitors at your home on Halloween and there also are simple steps you can take to ensure they are able to call without having minor accidents.

If you have a dog, keep it restrained and well out of the way – even if it’s friendly and used to children, the children calling at your home might not be accustomed to being around pets. Clear your driveway of any strewn about gardening implements, such as a hose, or toys that young trick or treaters could potentially trip over. Sweep up wet leaves too, as these can be very slippery. If you have external lights switch them on, particularly if you have Halloween decorations that make sounds that might frighten young children in the dark.

Halloween sweets

Apart from wanting to avoid a sugar high that will mean you sit up all night while your child bounces off the walls, you also need to keep it forefront of your mind that sugary treats and your child’s teeth aren’t an ideal match! Make sure she eats before you go out trick or treating so she isn’t satisfying any hunger pangs by dipping into her supply of sweets as you walk. Once home, carefully inspect the sweets and discard any items that are hard or chewy, and any whose wrappers appear to have been tampered with. Do not allow your child to eat treats that appear to have been homemade. In the days following Halloween, let her eat a few sweets at a time and ensure her teeth are thoroughly brushed afterwards.

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.

Last Modified: 09/10/2009

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