Halloween is a fun occasion to dress up and indulge in sweet treats. But this holiday can have some hidden dangers for young children. There are plenty of precautions that you as a parent can take to prevent accidents. Fear not – these safety measures won’t make Halloween any less fun or spooky.

Costumes

Skip the masks and opt for non-toxic face paint instead. Masks can hinder sight and even lead to breathing problems.

Keep fire safety top of mind. Look for flame-resistant labels when shopping for costumes or props. Steer clear of pumpkins that have real candles inside.

Trick-or-treating

This may seem obvious, but it’s an important one – never let your toddler go trick-or-treating without adult supervision. You, your spouse, or another trusted adult should accompany kids at all times. Stay in a neighborhood that you know is safe and that you’re already familiar with. Avoid going to houses that look like uninviting or where no one appears to be home.

If your child is trick-or-treating with a large group of friends, make sure there is more than one adult who comes along in case one child wants to go home early.

Bring along a flashlight if you’ll be trick-or-treating after dark. It might come in handy to avoid tripping hazards on dimly lit driveways.

Candy

The only way to keep your kid truly safe is to eat all of their candy. Kidding!

According to one study, the average child consumes 3 cups of sugar on Halloween – yikes! This is nearly 16X more than the recommended daily amount by the American Heart Association. Avoid a sugar overdose by limiting consumption to just a few pieces of candy on Halloween night then saving the rest for later.

One great tip – serve a healthy, protein-rich meal before festivities begin. Your child will likely eat less sweets if they’re already full.

Make sure to check all of the trick-or-treating candy thoroughly for tampering. Get rid of anything that looks like it could have been opened. Better to be safe than sorry. Set aside anything that could be a choking hazard (gum, hard candy, taffy).

If your child has allergies or special dietary restrictions, purchase (or make) treats that are safe for them to eat ahead of time. Then have them ‘trade in’ their trick-or-treating haul. Consider participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project to raise awareness of food allergies and inclusion. They also provide a map of homes that will be offering non-food treats.

Image via FARE

Lastly, make sure your kids brush and floss their teeth before bedtime to prevent cavities!

Do you have any additional safety tips to add? Leave a comment to share them with our community.