No one wants to take the fun out of Halloween so being aware of potential hazards is a must.
Consumer Reports warns there might be a real-life scare inside of your car — bulky or puffy costumes that might cause your child’s car seat harness to not fit correctly, which means it might not offer optimal protection in a crash.
“Philip has this nice puffy costume with fake muscles,” described Consumer Reports Car Seat Expert Emily Thomas. “We don’t want to wear puffy costumes underneath our car seat harness because doing that can add additional room to the harness in the event of a crash. And that additional room in the harness will now make it so there is more room for the child to move during the crash and potentially move outside the protection of their car seat.”
Thomas’ advice: Have your little ghoul or goblin change into their costumes after they get to the party.
When it comes to trick-or-treating, make sure your child can see and be seen! Consumer Reports warns children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year!
- For safety, Consumer Reports recommends you avoid face masks that block vision. Instead, consider face painting.
- A hand-me-down costume is a great money-saver, but if it’s too big, your child could trip, so adjust it for a proper fit.
- Don’t forget about reflective tape. Add it to costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks so they can more easily be seen.
And, if you’re driving on Halloween, always watch for children as you enter and exit driveways and alleys.