10 trick-or-treat safety tips

There’s nothing quite like the magic of Halloween night. Costumes come to life, pumpkins glow on porches and kids head out with buckets in hand in search of a sweet adventure. For many families, trick-or-treating is a treasured tradition that they remember for years to come.

The Children's Health℠ Injury Prevention team helps families enjoy Halloween – by providing practical tips on how to balance the thrill of the evening with the need to keep kids safe.

Related podcast
Learn more about Halloween safety on the Children’s Health Checkup podcast.

Trick-or-treat safety tips

Here are 10 tips to help make sure your child has a safe, fun Halloween.

Tip #1: Make your kids as visible as possible

By doing what you can to make kids as visible as possible, you’ll help drivers be sure to see them. You can do this by having your kids:

• Carry a flashlight

• Wear glow-in-the-dark bracelets or necklaces

• Put some reflective tape on the front and back of their costume

• Paint their face with glow-in-the dark face paint

• Choose a lighter-colored costume rather than a darker one

Tip #2: Keep your child’s eyes clear

To maximize their safety, kids should be able to see everything around them. To help do that, ensure:

• The eye holes in their masks are wide enough to see well out of. If they’re not, try making the holes bigger.

• Any hats or head coverings are not so big that they cover a child’s eyes.

Tip #3: Keep costumes short and snug

Avoid costumes with long skirts, capes or baggy sleeves. These can be tripping hazards and may even catch fire if they brush against an open flame, like a candle in a jack-o’-lantern. Choose costumes that fit well and allow your child to walk, run and climb stairs safely.

Tip #4: Wear good-fitting footwear

Costumes aren’t complete without the right shoes – but make sure they fit well. Shoes that are too big, loose or floppy can cause kids to trip, stumble or tire out quickly while walking from house to house. Encourage children to wear comfortable, supportive footwear they’re used to, like sneakers, instead of dress-up shoes that may look fun but aren’t safe for a night of walking.

Tip #5: Check props for safety

Props like swords or wands should be flexible and made of plastic or rubber. Rigid or pointy items can become dangerous if a child trips or falls while carrying them.

Tip #6: Stick together

Younger kids should always trick-or-treat in groups with plenty of adult supervision – ideally one adult for every two to three children. Older kids (13 and up) should go with friends and avoid trick-or-treating alone.

Tip #7: Use extra caution when walking, driving or crossing streets

To help avoid accidents involving cars:

• Teach your kids to look left, right and left again before crossing at street corners.

• Don't let your kids cross a street between parked cars.

• Tell younger kids to walk, not run between houses.

• Encourage kids to use the sidewalk when possible.

• Encourage younger kids to hold your hand when crossing the street.

• If you’re driving, be sure to look twice, slow down and be mindful of small children who can be harder to see.

Tip #8: Inspect your child’s candy

Do your best to have your kids avoid eating candy until you've had the chance to inspect it at home. That way you can ensure their Halloween candy has not been tampered with and does not contain anything dangerous.

Tip #9: Take extra care if your child has food allergies

If your child has a food allergy and plans to go trick-or-treating, it’s a good idea to:

• Read ingredient lists on candy carefully, or look up ingredients online

• Toss any candy if you’re unsure about its ingredients

• Look for teal pumpkin houses that offer candy alternatives

• Carry your child's auto-injectable epinephrine in case of an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Tip #10: Teach kids to never enter homes

Be sure to teach your kids that they should never enter a stranger's home while they are out trick-or-treating and that any treats should always be brought out to them. The rules of "stranger danger" apply just as much on Halloween night as they do every day.

Learn more

Our team of Injury Prevention experts study the most common causes of injuries in children. The team also helps educate the wider community about how to keep kids safe from dangers like car crashes, drowning and gun injuries.