Have a spooky — and safe — Halloween

Victoria Clayton • E-mail

Halloween is a kid’s dream come true. Crazy clothes, the complete run of the neighborhood and mountains of candy — who wouldn’t love this holiday?

Well, increasingly, moms and dads, says Dr. Garry Gardner, a pediatrician in Darien, Ill., and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Parents these days are more protective of their kids,” says Gardner. “With everything we hear about, there’s just a lot more fear in general.”

It’s no wonder, he says, that many parents are leery about letting their children venture out into the dark of the night to collect candy from strangers. Yet, Gardner says, kids needn’t be banned from participating in Halloween festivities or even relegated to mall trick-or-treating. A traditional Halloween can be a safe, sane and fun holiday if you follow a few safety guidelines, most of which are common sense.

Great pumpkin hazards
Fire hazards are a major issue around Halloween because of the use of candles. In fact, the U.S Fire Administration says that over a three-day period around Halloween, open flame fires increase by 50 percent.

“You really need to keep pumpkins with candles in a safe place far away from children or, better yet, use the safe [battery-operated] lights that go inside the pumpkin instead,” says Gardner.

Also, remember to keep lighted candles away from pets. Cats are notorious for jumping on tables and counters; a dog’s wagging tail can easily clear a coffee table.

Cuts from carving pumpkins are also a problem. Children should never be allowed to wield a knife. It’s difficult for an adult, let alone a kid, to cut eyes, noses and mouths into a tough pumpkin.

Instead, have your child draw the face on the gourd and then have an adult do the surgery. If nobody wants to risk it, buy a decorating kit or make your own facial features out of food or household items as you would a snowman or Mr. Potato Head, recommends Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Austin, Texas, and author of "Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for your Baby’s First Year."

The candy conundrum Face it, Halloween means your kids will end up hoarding several pounds of gooey, sugary edibles with little to no nutritional virtue. You may think it’s junk but they’ll treat it like gold. Here's some strategic advice: — Sort and ration candy. Of course, you’re going to take a look at the candy and make sure it appears to be safe and in its original wrapper. After that, think about using the loot to educate. “”I turn it into a math experience with my kids,” says Dr. Ari Brown, an Austin, Texas pediatrician. Brown has her children count their booty and then divide it into categories (e.g. “favorite candy,”  “OK,” and “don’t like it”). From the “favorite” stash, the children are allowed to have one piece each day until Thanksgiving. By the time turkey day rolls around, the candy is old and the kids are tired of it so she throws it out. — Feed the kids first. Make sure they aren’t hungry when they go trick-or-treating. For early birds, give them a healthy snack before they head out and have dinner as soon as they get back. If you’re trick-or-treating later, serve a healthy, filling dinner beforehand. — Consider giving candy alternatives. Halloween is made for candy but there are some alternatives that pass muster. Kids will generally go for stickers, pencils or coloring books.

Wardrobe malfunctions
Costumes are an integral part of the holiday and they can be a great opportunity for self-expression and creativity (especially if you make your own) but the wrong costume can also be a danger.

Masks, for example, often make it difficult for children to see and breathe comfortably. "Consider using face paint instead,” says Gardner.

Floppy shoes and Cinderella heels make walking difficult and tripping easy. Ditto for baggy costumes. Swords, pitchforks and the like should, of course, be plastic and flexible. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Halloween is a much more dangerous time for child pedestrians than any other time of the year. One study found that the number of child pedestrian deaths increased four-fold on Halloween evenings.

Part of the reason is that children are easily excited and distracted on Halloween and they are more likely to break traffic rules. For example, children are much more likely to cross in the middle of the block and run across streets without looking for cars. For this reason, Gardner advises going trick-or-treating as early as possible (with daylight savings time and parents working, though, going out before dusk may not be feasible). If you trick-or-treat later, make sure drivers can see your children.

“Costumes should be reflective or you should have reflective tape somewhere. You really do have to worry about visibility,” notes Gardner. Glow-in-the-dark necklaces and wristbands are also good ideas, as are flashlights for older children.

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