- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- moms today articles
- moms today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Only Treats, No Tricks
Have a Happy Baby-safe Halloween
By Shannon McKelden
Halloween can be fun for the whole family. But it's important to keep things safe for the youngest family members. Here are some great stay-safe tips for Halloween with babies and toddlers.
So much of the fun of Halloween the first few years of your child's life involves dressing them up. While the photo ops are priceless, safety has to be taken into consideration.
Meri-K Appy, president of the Washington D.C.-based Home Safety Council, has these suggestions for costume safety:
- When purchasing costumes and accessories, buy only those marked "flame retardant" or "flame resistant."
- Avoid costumes made of long, flowing material and accessories that can move or blow over open flames [or become a tripping hazard].
- Choose costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible. Apply reflective tape to the front and back of costumes to help motorists see your child.
- Avoid costumes that block your child's vision and increase the risk of a fall.
- Be sure that costume accessories, such as knives and swords, are made of soft, flexible material.
- To keep vision clear, consider using face paint instead of a mask.
Decorating around the home is another Halloween tradition that can add to the fun of the holiday. But with babies and toddlers around, who love to explore and touch, parents must be diligent to make sure the decorations are safe.
"Keep small decorations out of reach of infants as they pose a choking hazard," says Moira Donahue of Safe Kids Worldwide. "If they are plastic decorations, keep away from children, as they can suffocate a child if they put the decoration on their mouth (i.e. those plastic sheet-style [door covers] that have pictures of witches or other Halloween figures on them)."
