Safety
If you are getting a costume for your child, there are certain safety concerns that you need to take into account.
Capes should not be tied around the neck. Capes can be pinned to the shoulders. The neck area of a costume should not be covered by anything that could cause strangulation.
If you allow your child to carry mock weapons, make sure that they are made of soft material that cannot hurt. You might choose to not even allow your child to take weapons.
Masks are often the most dangerous part of a costume: they can cause suffocation if they cover the mouth and nose, and they can cause serious accidents and injuries if they cover the eyes. The best way to be safe is to use facepaint instead of a mask. If you must use a mask, use one that only covers part of the face, and be sure that the eye hole are large enough for moderate peripheral vision.
Be aware of the color of the costumes. For instance, Batman is a creature of the night who lurks in shadows and springs out on criminals. His costumes are always very dark. This is not always the safest, so consider using the light-grey Adam West Batman costume.
Have your children carry flashlights if they are going to be out after dark. You can also make part of their costume reflective.
Be sure that your child wears appropriate clothing underneath the costume. You don’t want your child to catch a cold, or to faint from heat exhaustion. You also want your child to be able to remove the costume if it gets uncomfortable.
Capes and tails need to be shorter that ankle length to prevent your child from accidentally slipping or falling. This goes for other aspects of the costume as well.
Costumes need to allow your child to move freely, and your child has to be comfortable. Having a safe costume will make dressing up even more fun for all involved!
