Halloween & Bonfire Night Safety for Babies and Toddlers

Halloween and Bonfire Night safety for babies and toddlers comes down to three things: keep costumes away from flames, keep sparklers away from under-fives altogether, and know how to treat a burn fast. The law says sparklers should not be given to children under five, and the NHS advises cooling any burn under running water for 20 minutes. This guide covers what to check before you buy a costume, how to plan a firework evening with little ones, and the first aid to have in your head before you need it.

Halloween costumes for babies and toddlers: what to check

Children's costumes are treated as toys under UK law, so they have to meet toy safety standards, including flammability. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) tested 128 Halloween costumes aimed at under-sevens in 2024 and reported that around 80% failed basic safety tests. Of the 74 tested for cords, 61 failed on strangulation hazards, and 98 of the 128 failed on labelling (GOV.UK, OPSS). The OPSS noted that the testing targeted low-priced items with poor reviews on online marketplaces, so it does not represent every costume on sale, but its advice is clear: buy from trusted sources.

A quick checklist before you buy or wear a costume:

• Buy from a retailer you trust. The OPSS advises buying costumes from trusted sources, rather than the cheapest marketplace listing.
• Look for the safety marking and the label. Check the age guidance, the warnings and the instructions are all present. Our guide to toy safety standards, UKCA and CE marks explains what the markings mean.
• Check for cords and drawstrings. The OPSS tells parents to look for long cords or drawstrings around the head and neck that could strangle or entrap a child.
• Keep little ones close to home in it. Check the age guidance on the label matches your child.

Easy swaps for the youngest babies

For a baby who is not yet walking, a plain sleepsuit in orange, black or white is an easy way to join in, with no costume cords or small parts at all. If you want a themed outfit, choose one that is a normal baby garment (for example a pumpkin-print sleepsuit) rather than a fancy-dress item with ties, masks or detachable pieces.

Keep costumes and flames apart

The OPSS advice for costumes is to take particular care when children are near open flames. In practical terms that means keeping lit candles and lanterns out of reach. If you light a pumpkin, consider an LED tea light instead. If you do use real candles, place them well away from where children will be moving about, never at floor level in a hallway where a toddler in a costume might brush past. Do not let a child in costume carry a candle or sparkler.

Sparklers: the rule for under-fives

This is the one to remember. NHS England states that sparklers are classed as fireworks, so it is illegal to sell them to anyone under 18, and that the law says sparklers should not be given to children under the age of five (NHS England). That covers every baby and toddler, so the safe plan is simple: no sparklers for them, and never hold a baby while you or anyone else is holding one.

If older siblings are using sparklers, NHS England advises that children and young people are supervised at all times. Local NHS and fire service guidance also suggests gloves for older children and a bucket of water ready for used sparklers. Keep your baby or toddler well back from the group rather than watching from the middle of it.

Planning a firework evening with a baby or toddler

NHS England's advice is to attend organised displays where proper safety arrangements are in place, to buy fireworks only from licensed sellers, to follow the manufacturer's instructions, and to supervise children and young people at all times (NHS England). With under-fives, a few practical decisions make the evening easier:

• Choose a public display over a garden one. Organised displays have trained people running them, so you are only responsible for your own child.
• Stay at the back. A wide margin from the launch area and the bonfire gives you room to leave quickly if your little one is unsettled.
• Pack for the cold. Layers, hats, a blanket and a baby carrier or pushchair with a rain cover make a long evening easier. See our guide to baby winter coats and car seat safety if you are travelling there by car.
• Have a plan to leave. Agree beforehand who will take the baby home if the noise or the crowd is too much, so nobody feels pressured to stay.
• Keep well back from the bonfire. Stay clear of the fire and any launch area, with your pushchair or carrier facing away from the heat.

At home in the garden

If you are lighting fireworks at home, only adults should set them up and light them, and only from a licensed seller, following the instructions on each firework. Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby. Keep your baby or toddler indoors or well away with another adult, rather than watching from the patio door where they can wander out. Our room-by-room baby-proofing guide is a good reminder that gardens and back doors need a plan too.

Burns first aid: Cool, call, cover

Most firework and bonfire injuries are burns, so it is worth knowing the steps. The NHS advises that you hold the burn or scald under cool running water for 20 minutes, as soon as possible and within three hours of it happening. Remove nearby clothing or jewellery (but not anything stuck to the burn), then lay cling film loosely over it if you can, without wrapping it around the area (NHS, burns and scalds). NHS England adds that you should not use iced water, creams or greases such as butter.

The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if a burn is very large or deep, is on the face, genitals or bottom, or was caused by acid, chemicals or electricity. For a child under five, the NHS advises calling 111 if you need advice, and to ask someone else to drive or call 999 rather than driving yourself. If you are not sure what to do, call 111 for advice. It helps to keep cling film and the basics in a kit. Our guide to building a baby first aid kit lists what to include.

Trick-or-treating with under-fives

For a baby, trick-or-treating is mostly a pushchair walk with a few knocks on doors. Go early, while it is still light, stick to houses you know with decorations clearly out, and keep your toddler within arm's reach near roads. Our toy safety guide covers choking hazards and small parts if your toddler is collecting treats and toys.

Quick checklist

• Costume bought from a trusted retailer, with labels intact and no long cords around the neck.
• No candles or sparklers near a child in a costume.
• No sparklers for any child under five, and never hold a baby while holding one.
• Organised display chosen, with an exit plan agreed.
• Bucket of water, gloves for older children, cling film at home.
• Know the steps: cool for 20 minutes, call 111 for a child under five, cover loosely.

This article is general information drawn from the NHS, NHS England and the OPSS, and is not medical advice. If your child is hurt, follow the NHS guidance above and seek help straight away.