"Halloween is truly a holiday that everyone can appreciate. I mean, who doesn’t love putting on costumes and eating candy? For many littles, this year could even mark their first time trick-or-treating. But before dressing up and going out, it’s important for parents to know Halloween safety tips for toddlers and kids to ensure everyone’s experience is a fun one.
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This Halloween season, I encourage you to sit down with your children and talk about any Halloween hazards and things to look out for while attending parties or trick-or-treating in your neighborhood. With this in mind, I interviewed parenting safety expert Cathy Pedrayes and she shared 10 of her best Halloween safety tips for toddlers and kids. Keep reading for everything parents should know about keeping LOs safe this October 31st.
Cathy Pedrayes, Author and Parenting Safety Expert
Cathy is a Greenlight ambassador, TikTok’s ‘Mom Friend’ with 2.6 million followers, and author of The Mom Friend Guide to Everyday Safety and Security.
How to Talk to Kids About Halloween Safety
Any parent knows that being concerned about your child’s safety comes from a place of caring and love. We all want our kids to have fun and feel assured that they will be safe on Halloween.
“The goal is to have a positive conversation where they’re engaged, and one way to do that is to get their opinions on real-life scenarios,” Pedrayes explained. For example, can they see well in a dark room? What helps them see better? A flashlight? Glow sticks? Now we can take this same scenario and apply it to walking at night trick-or-treating and what cars can and cannot see. Helping our toddlers and kids understand the why behind our safety concerns is a great way to stay in the conversation zone versus the lecture zone.
For a holiday like Halloween, it’s important to establish clear, tactical safety guidelines—the basic rules that will help keep them safe whether they’re trick-or-treating on their own or with an adult.
Pedrayes said that trust is the first thing that parents should establish to have a positive, open line of conversation, even outside of the Halloween season. “It starts when children are young, and it’s important even into adulthood. Children need to feel safe sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly without punishment.”
Choosing Safe Halloween Costumes for Toddlers and Kids
When selecting a Halloween costume for your toddler or kid, it’s important to keep a few safety tips in mind. Be sure to choose outfits that are made of flame-resistant material, buy the proper size for your child to avoid trips and falls, ensure the costume is visible in the dark (or, if not, add visibility with reflective tape, glow sticks, etc.), and pair the costume with comfortable shoes that fit your little.
“Try the costumes on beforehand to double-check that your child can see and hear in them,” Pedrayes noted. “Make sure that your children are careful with the wires from the decorations that can lead to trips and falls.”
Many Halloween masks can obstruct a toddler or child’s vision and breathing, so opting for face paint instead is generally a safer option. If you do use face paint, purchase a non-toxic and hypoallergenic kit and make sure to test the face paint before Halloween to ensure your kiddo doesn’t experience an allergic reaction. “Be mindful of allergies, not only with food but also with face paint and wigs. It might be worth spot-testing to check for any reactions, and opt for non-toxic formulas before committing to a whole night of wearing,” Pedrayes added.
Stay Visible: Using Reflective Gear and Flashlights
Pedrayes suggests if kids will be out after dark this Halloween season, to add reflective tape, glow sticks or light-up shoes to their costumes. Or have them (or an accompanying parent) carry a flashlight. “With daylight savings approaching, it’s getting darker earlier,” Pedrayes explained. “For younger children that might be walking to a house party or trick-or-treating in the dark, shoe lights make a perfect addition to any Halloween costume for extra safety.”
Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips
While trick-or-treating, stick to familiar and well-lit neighborhoods and set a time limit so everyone in your family knows how long you’ll be gathering candy and treats that night. “In addition, you should also align on a curfew and a route that you’re OK with your children going on,” Pedrayes said.
When going door-to-door, make sure children never to go inside anyone’s house, and make sure to stick with your group. While it’s an “unofficial” Halloween rule, it is considered best to only trick-or-treat at homes with the porch light on, or if the home has outdoor Halloween decor. These are usually the universal signs that the homeowner is ready to hand out treats, but remember to stay at the door. If you don’t want visitors on Halloween, the rule is lights out!
For parents and teens, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and realize that your phones can cause distractions. If you need to check your phone while trick-or-treating, stop at a safe spot and ensure you’re continuing to supervise toddlers and kids while doing so.
Safe Walking Practices During Halloween
With so many kids out and about attending Halloween parties or trick-or-treating during spooky season, don’t forget the general road safety rules, like staying on sidewalks and not crossing between parked cars. When crossing the street, also make sure to walk and not run and only cross using marked crosswalks. And, of course, make sure to hold hands with toddlers and little ones while on sidewalks and crossing the street.
Many children also dress up in the same costumes on Halloween—and many include masks that cover their entire face, so it’s easier than you think for kids to get mixed up or lost in bigger groups of friends. Have a plan for sticking together, make sure children have a “buddy,” or designate a checkpoint if you get lost. Consider adding something to your child’s costume that makes them easier to stand out for you, like a wand, a crown, or even a stuffed animal.
Plan for the Weather on Halloween Nights
While attending Halloween parties or going trick-or-treating with your toddlers and kids, keep weather safety in mind by dressing for the elements and have an indoor back-up plan if rain, snow or temperatures pose hazards. Keep in mind that the later it gets, the cooler it will get, especially as it gets dark sooner. Perhaps carry an extra layer of clothing or a full change of clothes for your child if they become too cold. If rain or snow is expected, be sure to waterproof your child’s costume and opt for them to wear rain or snow boots with traction to avoid slips.
Pedrayes suggested a few other extras you might need while trick-or-treating, including:
- Water bottles to stay hydrated
- A few non-candy snacks
- A mini first aid kit
- Any medications your child may need
- Bobby or safety pins to fix costumes
Avoiding Choking Hazards in Halloween Treats
Around this time of year, there’s a lot of fear regarding strangers tampering with Halloween candy, but if you look into these cases, for the most part, they are myths. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t review the candy we let our kids eat for allergens or choking hazards. Watch out for hard candies such as Skittles, M&Ms, or lollipops. Similarly, soft candies like bubblegum, taffy, and marshmallows also present a choking hazard for the little ones, especially toddlers. You also want to check candies for their overall condition, since we don’t know where they were stored or for how long. Some kids might collect non-candy Halloween treats like small toys, so be sure to also check these for choking hazards.
Emergency Contact Info and Kids’ Locations on Halloween
If your older kids aren’t going to be with you during Halloween parties or on Halloween night, you can always consider using location tracking on your child’s phone. This is a great way to stay on top of their location and know where they’re headed next.
For younger children who may not have a smartphone, Pedrayes said to consider a smart watch that allows location tracking, calling, and texting with selected family members. There are also other “hacks,” like putting a location tracker on your child (like an AirTag) but that doesn’t allow for two-way communication. Make sure all of your children know how to recite their full name and their parents’ names—and bonus points if they’ve memorized their home address and a parent’s cell phone number. For toddlers, it can be useful to securely attach an ID card right onto their costume as well.
Halloween Social Media Safety Tips for Parents and Teens
You can empower your children with a new life skill if you focus on helping them understand what is safe and dangerous to post on social media—and why. Here are some safety tips to consider when it comes to social media on Halloween:
- Never share a home address
- Instead of taking pictures in front of your house, maybe do so in front of trees in the backyard
- Avoid posting on social media where you are until after you’ve left that area
- Enable security settings such as two-factor authentication
Have Fun on Halloween While Learning Practical Life Skills
Halloween is a wonderful opportunity for children to have some plain old fun. Getting dressed up, hanging out with friends, and eating candy all night can create some wonderful, happy memories that will last a lifetime. However, safety always comes first. While it’s impossible to be 100 percent protected against every unsafe scenario, it is possible to be prepared for many of them. Pedrayes suggested using Halloween as an opportunity to help your children learn and practice life skills that will keep them safe not just this Halloween, but for the rest of their lives.
Caroline Chirichella, Contributing Writer
Caroline Chirichella is originally from NYC and now lives in Puglia, Italy with her Italian husband, daughter, son, and three rescue dogs. She is a full-time writer and public relations consultant who specializes in mompreneurs. She has written for The New York Times, The Lily by The Washington Post, Elle, Shape, Health, Romper, Parents, and more. She loves morning cuddles with her kids and lazy Sundays spent with her family.