Halloween Foot Tips for Your Trick or Treaters

Trick or treat, smell my feet! This fun schoolyard singsong may hit close to home for many parents, who brave Halloween night with their little ghouls for hours of walking, resulting in sore, smelly feet. We want you to remember your foot health this season. Check out our blog from last year about how you as parents can stay pain-free while trick or treating! For those shopping for the best Halloween costume on the block for their kids, it’s important not to forget one of the most important aspects of the outfit – footwear. Halloween can pose real hazards for your little goblins’ feet. Running over leaf-covered surfaces and up and down porch steps, tripping over costumes, or slipping in flimsy costume shoes are all very real and scary risks that can cause injuries that could send your child to the ER. To make sure that your little ones experience more fun than fright, we’ve put together these tips to keep their feet safe this Halloween.

Make sure their costume doesn’t hang too low.

Your little princess may love her long, flowing dress, but a too-long costume can put her at risk for tripping and injuring herself this Halloween. Likewise, your wrapped up mummy may trip and fall on a loose band of cloth. If your child’s costume falls below the ankle, it’s best to hem or pin up the costume so that it falls just to the ankle  in order to prevent a nasty fall.

Wear sneakers.

Costume footwear is often made with cheap materials and provides little support. While wearing sneakers may not match your child’s costume, they are the ideal footwear to support their feet for hours of walking. Flimsy costume shoes could cause damage or injury to their feet. Sandals or flip-flops are not good alternatives, since they leave kids’ feet exposed to the brisk air and at risk for cuts or scrapes. Sneakers are best. If your child is set on matching shoes, try either purchasing or making matching shoe covers. Their shoes should have a thick sole that can withstand stepping on sharp objects like broken glass or fallen tree branches without injuring their feet.

Make sure your children have flashlights.

If you are trick or treating during the day, you may not need flashlights, but if you begin in the daytime and the sun sets, they are definitely needed! Your kids need to be able to see where they are walking. They will be walking in yards with potential dips, holes, fallen branches and slippery leaves, and a flashlight is an important costume accessory. Be sure you have fresh batteries!

Use reflective tape.
The best place to put reflective tape is on the back and side of your child’s shoes. Cars will see the motion of the tape as your child walks. This is especially important in more rural areas where neighborhoods may not be well lit.

Keep feet dry and warm.
Look out for puddles or standing water while trick or treating. It’s always a great idea to pack an extra pair of shoes and socks in case your child’s feet become wet or sweaty. Wet feet become cold in cooler temperatures, which can lead to numb toes and in severe cold, frostbite. Sweaty feet can also result in your child’s feet sliding in their shoes, leading to painful blisters. Synthetic materials that wick moisture away from the feet are the best type of socks to wear. If it’s an particularly cold night this Halloween, warm wool socks with a moisture-wicking polypropylene layer underneath are ideal.

Watch those laces!
Nothing spells disaster like untied shoelaces and excited children! Be sure to keep an eye on your child’s shoelaces and make sure they are tied. If they repeatedly come undone, try double knotting the laces to ensure they stay put.

Talk about safety before the big night.
In order to prevent trips and falls, talk to your kids prior to the commencement of trick or treating. Set ground rules like no pushing or shoving and no running. In addition, warn them about tripping hazards like steps, pumpkins and other decorations, and if running through front lawns, remind them about unseen dips or holes in the ground.

If your child complains of foot pain at the end of the night, don’t panic! At home remedies usually help with sore feet after long bouts of walking. However, if after a day or two there is still persistent pain, they may have suffered an injury and a trip to the podiatrist is in order. Look for any swelling, bruising, blisters or other indications of injury.

We hope you have a fun and safe Halloween! To request an appointment with any of our podiatric specialists, click here.

Disclaimer: The information and other content provided in our blogs, videos, or in any other content or linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. For a full disclaimer, please click here.