How to make sure your child's Halloween costume is safe

Safety concerns over children's Halloween costume have been raised in recent years. Credit: Reuters

With Halloween on Monday, this weekend will see many children dressing up in celebration of the feast of ghouls and ghosts.

But concerns have been raised over the safety of some children's Halloween costumes, with campaigners calling for a radical overhaul of the safety rules around kids' fancy dress outfits.

There have been several incidences in recent years involving shop bought costumes catching fire. In 2014, television presenter Claudia Winkleman's eight-year-old daughter suffered serious burns after her witch costume "went up like a birthday candle".

In January, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) launched a voluntary code of practice that set safer standards than those required by law.

The BRC are lobbying the Government to legislate this enhanced code of practice, but at the moment retailers are not legally obliged to follow them - although many do globally.

Fintan Hastings, Senior External Affairs Adviser at the British Retail Consortium said: "Both (tests) are voluntary and free to use by any company alongside whatever practices they already have in place.

"Ultimately, however, the Government needs to update the existing legal safety standard (EN-71-2) which doesn’t reflect the nature of today’s dress-up outfits."

The BRC testing was developed around how fast the fabric burns, but Mr Hastings stresses that, while costumes that have passed the more rigorous tests will have a slower burn rate, as clothing they are still flammable, so caution should be taken around naked flames.

To ensure your child's safety this Halloween, here are a few guidelines on what to look for when buying a fancy dress outfit.

What should you look out for when buying a Halloween costume?

  • Halloween costumes are classed as toys rather than clothing so check it has the CE safety marking

  • All costumes being sold on the UK market should meet the European EN 71 safety regulations that applies to all toys

  • To spot the logo is genuine look at the middle line of the E - it should be shorter than the other parts

  • Check the packaging and labels contain the manufacturer's name or registered trademark and that there are safety instructions

  • Always look for the 'flame-resistant' label

Children trick and treating Credit: PA Photos

What should you avoid when buying a costume?

  • Make sure you purchase items from a reputable shop

  • Beware of anything on it which could easily trail and catch alight such as tassels and capes

  • Buy costumes made of one type of material rather than layers

  • Costumes made of cotton and cotton/ polyester blends can be the most flammable

  • Polyester and nylon are flame-resistant materials - but they can still melt near fire

  • Wear clothes under the costume such as jeans and a woollen jumper to give some protection to the skin if a costume were to catch fire

Many people are now switching to battery-operated LED candles for added safety. Credit: PA Photos

Where should you buy it from?

  • Be extra careful if you are buying online and always read reviews

  • Before buying also check for any product recalls - the Trading Standards website is a good place to look

What candle safety tips should you follow?

Many people are now switching to battery-operated LED candles for added safety. But if you do use real candles you should:

  • Keep them away from any items which could catch fire

  • Place them on a heat resistant surface like a ceramic plate

  • Never leave a candle unattended

  • Always fully extinguish a candle before going to sleep or going out