Most kids love Halloween, and the evening can be fun for parents, too. It's that special night when we say it's okay for our kids—and us—to indulge in candy. I always look forward to guessing the costumes and identities of the neighborhood children coming to our home and chatting with their parents.

Here are some tips to follow when purchasing or making a Halloween costume to ensure that it won't endanger your child and ruin what should be a happy time:

• Comfort and fit are key. Make sure the costume isn't too long—you don't want your child to trip on it and get hurt. Avoid footwear that comes with costumes, as they often don’t provide proper balance or fit. Also avoid sharp wires that stick out, or any sharp objects, like a knife or stick, that could cause injury to your child if he/she fell on it.

• Tie up loose ends. Since some houses your child visits will probably have candle-lit Jack-o-Lanterns in their doorways, you don’t want anything flowing from your child's arms or neck that may inadvertently catch on fire. Close-fitting costumes without ribbons, bows, or capes are best. Avoid costumes with long scarves or anything long around the neck that could get caught and strangle your child.

• Go green. Avoid costumes that leach dangerous chemicals onto your child. "Soft vinyl products usually contain phthalates, hormone disrupting chemicals that have been linked to reproductive abnormalities and liver cancer," according to The Green Guide from National Geographic. The vinyl can be found in costumes or in wigs and shiny leather-ish belts and boots.

• Bet on safe brands. Avoid costumes that come wrapped in PVC packaging (which can leave phthalate residues on package contents) and are accompanied by a PVC mask. Two safe brands that don't contain these products are Disney and California Costumes, both of which make costumes without masks and without the phthalates. Both brands are available at Toys 'R Us.

• Protect fragile skin. Make-up used for costumes often contains toxins. Read the labels and avoid anything that contains parabens (methyl-, propyl-, ethyl-, butyl-), widely-used as preservatives, [that] act like estrogens and may disrupt normal hormone functions. Also, avoid products containing BHA, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, and kohl (which has been found to have high lead levels). Some brands making safe make-up products are Burt's Bees, Real Purity, Logona, and Aveda, or check your local Whole Foods Beauty Department for additional options.

• Keep kids in plain sight on Fright Night. Brightly colored costumes can be more easily seen by people driving by and so are safer. This point is pretty important, since according to Pamela Pucci , a nurse educator at the University of Michigan Trauma and Burn Center, "children are four and a half times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other night during the year." Consider putting reflective tape on the front and back of your child's costume and on their shoes. Also, carrying a flashlight will help your child avoid tripping on steps and uneven terrain, and also enable cars to see him more easily. Avoid costumes that restrict your child's vision. If your child wants to wear a mask, perhaps you can make it yourself out of construction paper, with large and wide openings that don't cover the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

With these safety tips in mind, your child should enjoy the trick-or-treating, and you can be sure you haven’t inadvertently exposed him to avoidable dangers. Send us your family Halloween photos at photos@care.com!

For more tips on costume safety, check out:

Sesame Workshop

University of Michigan Medical School News

Have a safe and Happy Halloween this year with your family!

Cheers,
Sheila

I'm so pleased to announce that Care.com has now compiled a nationwide listing of day care centers to take the stress out of searching for different child care options. The Day Care Directory at Care.com provides a listing of day care resources at the local level, searchable by ZIP Code. Featured day cares, already providers with Care.com, provide additional information ranging from qualifications and certifications to current availability and rates.

Try a search today and see what your local area has to offer for day care!

Cheers,

Sheila

PS ~ Also, if you have elderly relatives in your care, please check out The Senior Care Directory at Care.com.

It's hard enough to get yourself ready in the morning and get out the door on time, never mind when there are kids involved. But the more you can get done the night before—and get your kids to do the night before—the easier your mornings will be.

Check out the following resources for more tips on simplifying and better structuring your weekly routines:

Top 10 Morning Madness Tips from About.com

The No-Yelling Morning Routine from Parents.com

Timesaving Tips for Busy Parents from Real Simple Magazine

Have a solution for school day sanity, or a favorite family time-saver? Share it with the Care.com community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila

As a parent, life balance means not only finding time for work and family, or your social life and family, but finding alone time with the person who helped you create that family: your husband or wife.

It's no secret that parents have a hard time finding time for romance, and as it turns out, it's just as important for your health as it is for your relationship!

So, without further ado, here are some articles to help you put the sparks back into your life today:

Keeping Romance Alive After Kids Arrive from Babycenter.com

Sex & Relationships Channel from Women's Health Magazine

Keeping Your Sex Life Alive Post-Kids from WebMD

And, don't forget that Care.com can help! Hiring a babysitter for even just an hour or two can be a true life—and relationship—saver.

Have a favorite tip or solution for putting the romance back into your relationship or making time for Date Night? Share it with the Care.com community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila