To feel confused about flammability of Halloween costumes

[Brienne]

This has probably been done before but I have bought DS a skeleton costume from Sains for a party and the label says "warning keep away from fire"
As far as I understand it, this must comply with the EN71 toy safety legislation. And given that it has a warning on the label presumably burns at a rate of 10-30mm per sec.


DH and I are concerned mainly because it's Halloween and there may be candles etc (the party is not at our house so it's out of our control although his pumpkin will have an LED nightlight.)

I was debating making a similar costume out of black clothing, but have read that clothing (apart from nightwear) is untested and has no regulation whatsoever, so I now feel like I have got the risk out of proportion and I should just stick with the original costume and be vigilant. It's not got a cape or floaty bits which as far as I can tell increase the risk.

Anyone in the industry able to clarify?
It's really confusing and there has been the usual scaremongering in the media....
Thanks.

[BertieBotts]

It's the other way around. Clothing is required to be flame resistant (not proof) but costumes are classed as toys and so have no such requirement.

It got picked up in the media last year because of a viral Facebook post but it's been this way for a long time. Clothing will still say keep away from fire because of course you can't make fibres totally fireproof.

I don't think people normally have naked candles around in their gardens on Halloween, and candles inside pumpkins ought not to be a problem. I would not worry about it, just don't let him wear the Cape near any bonfires or open grates.

[ShowOfHands]

www.buzzfeed.com/kimberleydadds/halloween-claudia-winkleman-interview

[Eemamc]

metro.co.uk/2017/10/18/claudia-winkleman-still-haunted-by-her-daughters-screams-when-halloween-costume-caught-fire-7008123/

[teaortequila23]

I had the same concern this morning when shopping for dd costume. Some people will have pumpkins with real candles in so all you can do is be very careful. I can’t find one that’s fire resistant so I’m just going to get her one and watch her like a hawk when we go trick o treating

[Brienne]

www.joke.co.uk/content/blog/2015/flammable-fancy-dress-costumes-the-bigger-story/

This was what confused me....

[unicornface]

I have completely avoided kids costumes since hearing about Claudia Winkelman's daughter a couple of Haloweens ago, it was utterly horrific.

I sew a fair amount, you can buy black cotton that will not be fire retardant as such but will be no more flammable than your every day clothes. I would make your own if you can...do a flame test with a scrap of fabric if you are worried.

[Brienne]

If you read the link above, polyester will burn quickly and self extinguish. Cotton will burn slowly.
Polyester more likely to cause superficial burns, cotton on fire more likely to be fatal....
I think the worrying point is that there doesn't seem to be any safety legislation covering children's day clothing (only nightwear and even then cotton nightwear is unlikely to be compliant) but costumes are covered by some legislation..... albeit toy legislation....

[Kursk]

Do your own tests, that will help. It’s not something I have even thaught of and we have a wood burning stove, kerosene heaters and hurricane lamps running most the winter!

[unicornface]

From my experience cotton burns very slowly. My apron caught fire in the kitchen, slightly alarming because of course it was tied on, it certainly didn't go up in seconds and only a small amount was burnt. It also only caught because I was leaning right over the gas hob and it caught on the front pocket.