What to look for, what to avoid, and what to buy for SAFE costumes that LAST for years.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, playtime was a bit simpler for us (or our parents): toy safety was a distant worry, and for dress-up play we usually had a costume box full of old clothes from Grandma. If we were very fortunate, we also had some costume pieces left over from Halloween or dance recitals!
Some of those old costumes probably weren’t 100% safe… there were buttons small enough to choke on, drawstrings and sashes that could (and did) get tangled around us, and metallic bits (clasps, ornaments, or even chains) of unknown finish and composition… but we were blissfully unaware and we played… HARD.
Today we’re (for better or worse) much more aware of toy safety. As a result, most toys available today are MUCH safer than those we grew up with. All those safety guidelines, however, can be complicated to navigate and raised some questions for me at first:
- Who can I trust anyway?
- Are all toys sold in stores safe?
- Where can I buy reliable stuff?
- Do I need to read a million websites before I buy ANYTHING?
- Is anything truly safe???
Regulations like the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act help to protect us, but reading them can be a bit tricky, overwhelming… or even sleep inducingly BORING. Unfortunately, many of today’s safety regulations are responses to tragic and avoidable accidents, and none of us like reading about those. I’ve compiled some quick and pretty easy things to check for in new (or new-to-you) costumes.
PLEASE NOTE: I cannot offer legal advice (I’m just a seamstress and a parent, ya know?), there are some quick, easy things to look for when buying costumes. For a full rundown of regulations and tips, please DO consult the CSPIA legislation, search for trustworthy product reviews, and use good common sense.
General costume guidelines
There are a few criteria ALL costumes should meet, whether they were purchased, thrifted, received as gifts, scooped up for Halloween, or selected for everyday play. You know your child better than anyone, but safer is better than sorry– and some careful selection in advance can let you truly relax while the kiddos play.
The good news is that safe costumes are often durable as well. They can become fun almost-heirlooms to hand down to other children in the family! After all, the really GOOD costumes aren’t cheap–so they had BETTER last, right?
Here are what I consider most important when looking for safe, amazing costumes:
Age-appropriateness and general safety
Pay attention to those tags or packaging that list an age range. While we all know our own remarkable kids are SO advanced for their age… you’ll still want to keep in mind age-appropriate judgement and coordination skills. Very young children (especially under age 3) will put objects in their mouths and do easily get themselves stuck inside ordinary clothing. (Some of us never outgrow that adorable clumsiness… or so I tell myself when my coat pocket gets stuck on yet another door handle.)
Most commercially available costumes are marked with an age range to keep known hazards away from very young children. If items aren’t age-rated, keep an eye out for these:
Features to AVOID in kids’ costumes:
- small parts that can come loose with pulling, chewing, or other wear and tear; these can be swallowed or become a choking hazard
- features designed to encircle the neck (like scarves, capes, or necklaces) should be examined carefully. They should pull open with very little force (to avoid entrapment or strangulation).
- cords, sashes, or ties that can accidentally wrap around necks and strangle or otherwise entrap a child.
- sharp edges, or brittle/breakable features that can become sharp.
Keep in mind: some regulations (especially regarding strangulation and choking hazards) officially apply only to items designed for very young children. Older kids, however, can make poor choices and have accidents, too. Frankly, I’d personally prefer to avoid these features in costumes for children of any age, especially those with younger siblings who WILL get into everything. As you shop, keep the age and skill level of the child in mind.
For gifts, be a thoughtful giver and ask the parent first! I’m confident that tired and busy moms and dads will appreciate any gift that lets them relax and watch the kids play safely.
Covering the basics (but not the eyes)
Like a safe Halloween costume, costumes for everyday dress up must let a child… PLAY! (Kind of goes without saying, right?)
Children must be able to:
- breathe
- see
- walk
- sit down or stand up unaided
- put on or remove the costume with minimal help (for bathroom trips, independence, and parental sanity…!)
- do a funny dance (ok, just added that one for fun… but you get the idea!)
No matter how cute the costume, remember the living, wiggling kiddo that will go inside it… and he/she needs to move! (And to remain the favorite aunt, you’d better not give a costume that Mom or Dad will have to remove EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Just sayin’.)
Check for durability
There are a few clear signs that a costume will hold up to wear, tear, & enthusiastic play. That’s good– because durable costumes won’t create new hazards for playing kiddos as they age.
What should you see inside and outside the costume?
- Interior seams should be securely sewn– look for multiple rows of stitching. These seams should have wide fabric edges on the inside of the costume. This will help prevent fraying or shredding of fabric with use.
- Opt for sturdy fabrics that don’t fray or tear easily. Anything made from satin or sheer fabrics should be constructed with extra care at seams and edges.
- Check any decorative trims and ornaments with care: ideally they should be sewn on, not glued or heat-welded unless those connections appear to be strong and permanent.
If you can, splurge on slightly more expensive items that will wear for years, rather than items designed to be single- or limited-use.
Keep it simple
Choose somewhat generic and multi-purpose items that allow the child’s imagination to fill in the details. For example, a simple hat or vest can be paired with many different costume pieces to become different imaginary characters.
A smaller set of high quality, open-ended costumes can provide as much fun (and fewer tears!) than a large set of cheaply made character-specific costumes that keep falling apart. Children can and will dream up their own characters, and it’s GOOD for their brains! I’ve included a fun list of suggestions for these simple, multi-purpose costume pieces– scroll down to the end to get your very own copy.)
Fabric is nicer than plastic
Choose soft fabric versions rather than plastic, even for hats or crowns. Fabrics stay flexible with age, won’t break to form sharp edges, and can be stepped on or thrown during play without harm to the child (or the costume piece).
Better yet, if costume bits are left on the floor and YOU find them in the dark with your feet, fabric is a lot softer than plastic… (LEGO bricks, anyone?)
Besides, nobody wants to start the next morning with a broken costume!
Breathable costumes extend playtime
Breathable fabrics are great, especially if a costume encloses a large part of the body. Synthetic fabrics can be hot, especially if they’re thick like fleece. Polyester-cotton blends, however, are a great choice: they combine the durable breathability of natural fibers and the wrinkle-resistance of synthetics. Sweaty children everywhere will thank you… and you’ll have to launder the costumes less often.
A short story: My preschool daughter ADORED her handmade Blues Clues dog costume. Unfortunately, not only was it made of polyester fleece, but it also enclosed her FULL body. She always emerged hot, sweaty, and red-cheeked from that costume– it did not breathe at ALL! Her costume the next year (as a dog pilot, of course) was made from a lighter polyester-cotton knit blend, and was MUCH more comfortable!
Beware metallic, raised, or painted-on finishes
We all love a little sparkle, but shop carefully, since some metallic or shiny items are made with toxic heavy metals. This is especially true of vintage items, sadly. Avoid metallic items or fabrics with shiny metallic finishes, unless they are explicitly marked as meeting CPSC standards for child safety. The same goes for any type of decal, paint, or finish that can be scraped off and accidentally ingested: if you wouldn’t want a baby to chew on it, it may not be a great idea for an older child, either.
If you must have sparkle and bling, be sure to buy from a reliable source who can certify that all finishes meet or exceed CSPIA safety standards.
Look for some closure(s)
Choose simple, safe closures like hook and loop tape (often branded as VelcroTM). As a textile product, these tapes are free of toxic substances.
If possible, test for yourself whether they can be easily opened and closed by a child. When properly designed and securely attached, these closures are easy for kids to use, and will usually pop open with less than 5 pounds of force.
All ties, snaps, or zippers should be certified for child safety–especially if made of metal or plastic. Any items made with metal or plastic must be lab-tested for hazardous substances by the manufacturer BEFORE they are used in kids’ products.
Breakaway cords should pop easily without actually breaking
A little known toy-safety regulation applies to cords or ties used in toys or costumes (mostly for children under age 3). It’s part of the “ASTM F963” rules applied to toy manufacturers. This toy-safety standard demands that ties or cords long enough to be a strangulation hazard must NOT ONLY be able to break-away… BUT ALSO do that without destroying the toy itself.
Remember those thin, flimsy elastic bands found on inexpensive plastic masks or toy hats? Remember how, even as a kid, you KNEW that sooner or later someone would pull it too hard… and the elastic would break? Well, yes. Those really, REALLY don’t meet the spirit of the toy-safety standard! A better quality mask or hat with a chin-strap would include some sort of safe break-away feature like velcro–which when tugged will release, but can be reattached for the life of the costume piece. It’s also important that any breakaway clasp be made of safe materials and not be a potential small part (choking hazard). If you’ve ever puzzled over a toy with a teeny, tiny piece of Velcro on the strap… well, now you know!
But it’s all worth it, I promise!
Whew! That sounds like a lot to think about, right? Please note, again, that I am not a lawyer–just a helpful parent and seamstress, y’all. If you’re not sure about whether an item is safe for YOUR children, it’s probably best to keep it out of the costume box. To put your mind at ease, it’s ABSOLUTELY worth seeking out good quality costume pieces that will last, made by companies or craftspeople that certify their safety for children.
With all that said, however, pretend dramatic play with costumes is absolutely worth the extra time and care! It builds healthy brains and wonderful childhood memories. Costume play is great for trying out different roles and identities, excellent fuel for a growing imagination, a way to learn emotional resilience, sharing, problem-solving and other important life-skills…. and just plain fun!
Was this guide useful to you? Please do feel welcome to contact me with any questions. Pretend play is AWESOME FUN!!!!
xoxo,
Jane
Dress up play is fun, healthy, and builds wonderful childhood memories!
Want to build a great first costume set for YOUR favorite kiddo?
One with all the essentials, for creative, brain-building dramatic play?
Of course you do–and I’ve made a list to help you out:
Hi! I’m Jane, owner of The Rowdy Ladybug. I design and produce costumes and playthings for kids. Since I’m a parent like you, I know children’s products need to be FUN, washable, durable, safe, and comfortable. Everything I make is designed to exercise a child’s imagination while getting in their way as little as possible. To that purpose, I don’t use commercial characters or others’ copyrighted designs. I do what I can to keep my business as green and as local as possible.
I live in Washington, PA USA, with my husband and daughter. They tolerate my piles of fabric and occasional excited babbling when I create something new. We are supervised by two cats, who do a better job of holding down the furniture than keeping me out of trouble.
If you have questions about my shop, my blog, or my creative process, I’d love to hear from you!
