Halloween Masks for Toddlers: OPSS Alien Mask Warning

A Halloween mask that covers a child's whole face can restrict their breathing if it isn't properly ventilated. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has just listed a soft plastic alien mask sold via Amazon as a serious asphyxiation risk, and the import was rejected at the border. Here is what the report says, what to check on any mask before a toddler wears it, and some safer ways to get the look.

What the OPSS report says about the alien mask

According to OPSS product safety report 2610-0040, the product is a soft plastic alien mask intended to enclose the head of the user, packaged in a zip-lock plastic bag with two different stickers. OPSS rated the risk as serious because the mask does not have enough ventilation to meet the toy safety standard BS EN 71-1, and so could restrict airflow.

• Ventilation: the mask has a combined ventilation area of 879 mm². OPSS says the minimum for fully enclosed masks made from impermeable material is 1,300 mm².
• Documentation: some of the required documentation and labelling was missing.
• Legal status: OPSS says the product does not meet the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.
• Action taken: the import was rejected at the border, and the report was notified by Local Authority Trading Standards.

The report says that if a child puts the mask over their head, the inadequate ventilation could restrict their airflow and lead to asphyxiation. Because the import was stopped at the border, this is a warning about the type of product rather than a recall of items already in homes, but similar masks can turn up on online marketplaces.

Why fully enclosed masks are a particular worry for little ones

The OPSS finding is about air getting in and out. A mask that seals around the whole head, made from material air can't pass through, relies entirely on its vent holes. If those are too small, it fails the standard, as this one did. A toddler is also less likely than an older child to tell you something feels wrong or to pull the mask off, so we'd treat any head-enclosing mask as not suitable for under-threes (this last point is our own common-sense suggestion, not an OPSS finding).

It is also part of a wider pattern. In its children's Halloween costume warning, OPSS reported that it tested 128 costumes aimed at under-sevens and that more than 80% failed basic safety tests, including 61 of 74 items failing the head and neck cord standard (BS EN 14682:2014) and 28 of 128 failing the flammability standard. The products were deliberately chosen for low price and poor reviews, so the results are not a national estimate, but OPSS's advice is simple: always buy costumes from trusted sources.

A quick check before your toddler wears any mask

Check	What to look for
Does it enclose the head?	Fully enclosed, soft plastic masks are the type OPSS flagged. Where you can, choose a design that leaves the face open.
Ventilation and labelling	A legitimate toy should carry a supplier name and address, age information and warnings. Missing labelling was noted in this report and failed in 98 of the 128 costumes OPSS tested.
Cords and ties	OPSS says head and neck drawstrings can strangle or trap children, so remove or avoid long cords. Our toddler ghost costume report covers a recent example.
Packaging	Bin zip-lock bags and other plastic wrapping straight away and keep them away from babies and toddlers.
Source	Buy from a retailer you recognise, and search the OPSS recalls and alerts list for the product name before you buy.

The ventilation, labelling, cord and sourcing points come from the OPSS material above. The "face open" preference is our own suggestion.

Safer ways to get the look without a mask

• Face paint instead of a mask: but only products labelled for children, patch-tested on a small area of skin first, and not for babies.
• A hat or hood: a simple hat with felt ears or a hood in costume colours keeps the face fully clear.
• A themed outfit: a plain top and trousers with a homemade badge or cape-free accessory works for very small children.

Our Halloween and Bonfire Night safety guide covers the rest of the costume checklist, including fire safety and burns first aid.

What to do if you've already bought a mask

1. Don't put it on your child until you have checked it against the table above.
2. If it fully covers the head, is made of soft plastic and has no clear labelling, don't use it and ask the seller for a refund.
3. Look up the product on the GOV.UK product safety alerts, reports and recalls list.
4. If you think a product is unsafe, you can report it to your local Trading Standards service.