Darth Vader, Dora the Explorer ... or Dioxins?

UPDATED OCTOBER 4, 2006

This year Captain Jack Sparrow, the X-Men, Harry Potter and Dora the Explorer are all popular costume options. But there's no need to make your child a toxic superhero by covering him in a vinyl mask, PVC costume or carcinogen-laden makeup. Send your kid out to scare the neighbors in style with these better choices and safety tips.

Safe Trick-Or-Treating

Make sure kids can both see and be seen. Avoid masks, hats and hoods that obscure vision, and forego the eye patch if your child wants to be a pirate. Small children should wear lighter colored clothing to increase visibility. If your older child is wearing a dark costume like the popular Darth Vader, be sure he or she also carries a bright flashlight (or a lightsaber). Also, avoid costumes that are too long. They might cause your child to trip or, worse, come in contact with a lit candle and burn (see "Costumes" below).

Glow Sticks and Light Wands

Fluorescent light sticks are popular accessories on Halloween. They provide visibility to kids walking in the dark and, when used correctly, don't pose a health risk to your children. However, if the exterior plastic is punctured, the materials inside glow sticks—a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, oxalic phthalate and fluorescent dye—can leak, causing skin irritation and severe eye pain if the chemical comes in contact with the eye . Furthermore, glow sticks are single-use, non-recyclable products that can easily be replaced by items with more longevity. Nite Ize LED Wands glow for 15 hours on two watch batteries, provide visibility for up to a mile and can be used year after year ($12.99; www.sportsauthority.com).

Flashlights

Another option is a reusable flashlight, but incandescent bulbs and disposable batteries can generate solid waste. You can, however, outfit your existing flashlight with rechargeable batteries, and some flashlights are suitable for LED bulb "upgrades." Try the mercury-free Pure Energy AAA rechargeable alkaline batteries ($7 for four; www.sundancesolar.com) in a durable flashlight like the Mini Maglite 2-cell AAA ($10.99; www.sportsauthority.com). (Flashlights require batteries with an output of at least 1.5 volts, and the only rechargeable batteries with that output are alkalines.) A few companies have also made Maglite-specific "LED upgrades," which allow you to replace the standard incandescent bulb with a cluster of longer-lasting LED bulbs; Nite Ize LED upgrade for Mini Maglites ($7.99; www.sportsauthority.com)