Doctor-Approved Halloween Safety Tips for Kids (Costumes, Candy & More!)🎃

Halloween is one of the most magical (and sugary) nights of the year for kids! 🍬 Between creative costumes, trick-or-treating, and candy galore, there’s a lot to look forward to — but safety should always come first. As a doctor (and someone who loves a good costume!), I’ve rounded up my top Halloween safety tips for kids to keep your little ghosts and goblins happy and healthy. 👻✨

🧛‍♀️ Costume Safety: Look Cool and Stay Safe

Halloween costumes can be fun, creative, and a little spooky — but they should also be safe. Here’s how to keep kids visible, comfortable, and injury-free:

🌟 Go bright and reflective. Choose light-colored or bright costumes so kids are easy to spot at night. Add reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark elements to costumes, shoes, or treat bags to make them more visible to drivers.

👣 Avoid costumes that are too long. Long hems = tripping hazards. Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground so kids can walk and run safely.

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🔥 Pick flame-resistant fabrics. With candles, pumpkins, and decorative lanterns around, flame-resistant materials are a must. Look for the words “flame-resistant” on costume labels.

🎭 Ditch the full-face mask. Masks can obscure vision, making it hard for kids to see cars or obstacles. Instead, use non-toxic face paint or fun hats. If your child insists on wearing a mask, make sure it fits well and doesn’t block their vision.

👁️ Be careful with colored contact lenses. Colored or decorative contacts might seem like a fun costume accessory, but they can be dangerous without a prescription.👉 Since 2005, U.S. federal law has made it illegal to sell contact lenses without a prescription.👉 The FDA classifies all contact lenses — including costume ones — as medical devices. Contacts labeled “no prescription needed” or “one size fits all” are unsafe and can cause eye infections, corneal ulcers, or even permanent vision loss. If your teen wants to wear them, see an eye doctor first. (FDA, 2024)

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🎨 Test makeup before Halloween night. Do a small patch test 24–48 hours ahead of time to make sure there’s no allergic reaction. Also, double-check that your face paint uses FDA-approved color additives and is intended for skin use.

🍭 Candy Safety: Keep Trick-or-Treat Sweets Safe!

Let’s be honest — the candy haul is what kids wait for all year! 🍫 But before diving in, here are a few Halloween candy safety tips every parent should know:

🔍 Inspect all candy before eating. Make sure the candy is commercially wrapped and sealed. Toss anything unwrapped, homemade (unless from someone you know well), or that looks suspicious.

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🪥 Sticky, chewy, hard & sour candies = CAVITY CITY. According to Dr. Brigitte White, CEO of Bright Whites Oral Care, chewy or gummy candies stick to teeth longer 😬 and can increase the risk of cavities. Hard candies 🍬 dissolve slowly (keeping sugar in the mouth longer) and can crack teeth if bitten, and sour candies are highly acidic, which weakens enamel and makes teeth 🦷more vulnerable to decay. Remember, healthy treats are options as well, and always encourage your kids to rinse or brush 🪥 after indulging.

🚫 Avoid choking hazards for little ones. Parents of babies and toddlers should remove any small or hard items from Halloween bags. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies and toddlers SHOULD NOT HAVE 🚫:

• Hard candies 🍬

• Caramel apples 🍎

• Popcorn 🍿

• Gum

• Gummy candy or jellybeans

• Pumpkin seeds

• Candy with whole nuts

• Small toys, stickers, or temporary tattoos (they can be choking hazards, too!)

🧺 Ration candy after Halloween. Finally, instead of letting kids eat everything in one night (tempting, I know 😅), set limits. Let them enjoy a few pieces each day and spread it out over a few weeks. This helps prevent sugar overload and teaches moderation.

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🕸️ Final Spooky Safety Thoughts

Halloween should be fun, creative, and safe for everyone! With a few simple steps — like choosing bright, flame-resistant costumes and checking candy before eating — your family can enjoy a night full of treats (and no tricks). So grab your costume, test that makeup early, and keep your candy stash under control. Here’s to a safe, sweet, and spooky Halloween! 🎃💛 -Dr. Jen

Dr. Jen Caudle is a board-certified Family Physician, Associate Professor at Rowan University, TV health expert, and video creator who loves pizza and tacos (in moderation, of course). Follow her on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Also, sign up to receive her free weekly health newsletter at drjencaudle.com.

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