5 Top Safety Tips for Halloween Costumes
According to a recent National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, Americans are expected to spend $2.87 billion on Halloween costumes for adults, children, and pets this year. The NRF reported witches, vampires, pirates, Batman characters, and zombies will be the top Halloween costumes for adults, but I'm sure there will be no shortage of Presidential candidates, Olympians, and pop singers. Little trick or treaters are most likely to be dressed up as princesses, Batman, Spiderman, witches, and Disney princesses. Personally I'm a big fan of DIY costumes. Whether you're making a costume or buying one, keep the safety tips below in mind.
1. Read the label. Look for labels on the costume that say flame resistant. While this doesn't mean the costume won't catch on fire, it does mean that it won't ignite easily and if it does, it'll self-extinguish
Related: Popular Halloween Costumes for Kids
2. Check the material. Some fabrics are more flammable than others. Cotton, linen, jute, and acetate are most likely to catch on fire. Synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon tend to melt rather than ignite and self-extinguish quickly.
3. Beware of bling. Avoid lots of glitter and sparkle, unless it comes from sequins sewn onto the garment. In previous Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests, costumes with spray-on glitter were extremely flammable because of the glue used to make the glitter stick. Sequins will only melt if exposed to a flame.
Related: Eerily Easy Halloween Crafts
4. Ditch the capes. No dangling sleeves or large capes (sorry little Batmen!). Not only can they easily graze near a fire, they can be a tripping hazard.
5. Clip their wings. Accessories like wings, purses, or hoods should be short, handheld, or on the head. Scarves that drape over and around the neck can be a choking hazard.
What are your tricks for making sure your little one has a safe Halloween? Let me know in the comments!
-By Jamie Ueda
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