It’s almost Halloween again. Before sending your little ones out in search of candy, consider the following to ensure he or she has a trick-free Halloween:
• Don’t buy a costume unless it’s labeled “flame-retardant.”
• Make sure that wigs and “beards” don’t cover your child’s eyes, nose or mouths.
• Encourage your child to choose a costume without a mask. Masks can make it difficult for your child to breathe. Use face paint instead.
• Suggest a light-colored costume for your child, or add glow-in-the dark tape on the front and back of a dark costume.
• Avoid oversized or high-heeled shoes that can cause your child to trip and fall.
• Make sure accessories, such as swords or wands are flexible.
• Put a name tag with your phone number on or inside your child’s costume.
If your child will be trick or treating:
• Accompany them, but make sure they know your home phone and cell phone number, and how to call 911 in case they get lost.
• If your older child is trick-or-treating, make sure he or she knows to stay with a group of friends and to never go to houses that don’t have the porch lights on and to never go inside anyone’s house and to cross the street at crosswalks, but never assume vehicles will stop.
• Kids should carry flashlights with fresh batteries.
• Limit trick-or-treating to your neighborhood or to homes of people you or your children know.
• Check your community for safe Halloween parties, rather than sending your child out trick-or-treating.
• When your child returns from trick-or-treating, check all treats to make sure that they’re sealed and there are no signs of tampering. Throw away any candy that is not in a sealed package.
• Don’t allow young children to have hard candy, gum or other items they could choke on.
• Provide a filling meal before your children go out to trick-or-treat so they won’t eat as many treats.
Make sure children who trick-or-treat at your house will be safe also. Remove anything that might obstruct your walkway, provide a well lit outside entrance to your home and put pets away.
Consider purchasing Halloween items other than candy, such as erasers, stickers, crayons, pencils, or sugar-free gum, dried fruits.
If you carve a pumpkin, try using a glow stick instead of a candle.
Sally Robinson is a professor of pediatrics at UTMB Children’s Hospital, and Keith Bly is a hospitalist and assistant professor of pediatrics. This column is not intended to replace the advice of a physician. For information, contact your pediatrician. Or, contact Robinson and Bly at utmb.kids(at)utmb.edu. To view past articles, visit the UTMB Web site at www.utmb.edu/Childrens/RobinsonBly/HealthyKids.asp.
