Keep Your Baby and Toddler Safe This Halloween

Fall is upon us.

The trees are beginning to shed their leaves and there is a distinct chill to the air.

Not long now and Halloween will be here.

Maybe this year you have your baby's halloween to consider as well as that of yourself or your older children. But this shouldn't be a problem.

Nowadays there is a large choice of really cute halloween costumes for babies and toddlers available on the internet.

This years favorites include:

- barbie or doll themes for girls

- sports themes for boys

- characters from Doctor Seuss

- Willie Wonka

- Alice in Wonderland

- a pumpkin

- a bumble bee

- a pea in a pod

For the more adventurous there are even little devil halloween costumes or little vampires. Not every parents choice I know but there is something for everyone online these days. Just type "baby halloween costume" into your favorite search engine for lots of ideas and resources.

However, no matter where you choose to buy the costume from or, even if, you're making one yourself always have the safety and comfort of your baby or toddler in mind.

A baby's halloween costume needs to be soft and flexible or your baby won't be happy and will waste no time in screaming loudly to let you know that.

Most fabrics aren't flame retardant so don't use real candles in jack-lanterns.

Make sure your toddler's halloween costume isn't so long that they are in danger of tripping over it.

Add strips of reflective tape to dark costumes so your toddler can be seen easily. Also, consider adding the tape to your pram or stroller and make sure your baby's well strapped in.

Control the amount of candy your toddlers eat. Keep it well out of their way at home so you can give them a little each day.

Remember, many treats can be choking hazards for babies and toddlers. Basically, anything you can't cut into small pieces should not be given to them. Avoid lollipops and hard candy etc.

Following these few tips will ensure that everyone is safe and happy so you can relax and enjoy halloween with your baby or toddler.

By Pauline Travers

Go to Halloween Costumes links >>