China continues to give parents reason to keep their children organic. Whether it’s celebrity moms like Jessica Alba or the mom-next-door, organic baby bedding and organic baby clothing provide a basis for a healthy lifestyle. And now with a major recall of Halloween costumes from China, parents have more cause for concern on this fun-filled holiday. Federal inspectors seized roughly 1,400 Chinese-made pirate costumes after high levels of lead were found in the buttons and the trim. And by high levels, they mean 11 times the legal limit of lead allowed. Unfortunately, the shipment was stopped and inspected because of previous violations. Had they slipped by federal inspectors, children touching and/or placing buttons or trims in their mouths would have been exposed to the toxic substance which could lead to vomiting, coma or convulsions
Pick your own materials and make your own Halloween costumes with these great ideas from Country Living!
Be A Building Block:
To create a Lego costume, all you need is a cardboard box and some eco-friendly paint.
- Cut off the bottom flaps the box with a utility knife and tape down the top flaps.
- Trace a dinner plate on the top of the box and saucers on each of the box’s sides to create head and arm holes. Cut out with a utility knife.
- Lay the box flat and glue small craft boxes (sans lids) in two vertical rows on the front making sure that the bottoms of the craft boxes face outward. (Country Living recommends wood glue for the best stick.)
- Let the glue dry and then spray paint the entire box a bright color!
Be Yummy:
Dress your little one as a scrumptious chocolate chip cookie!
- Use a five gallon bucket (or free-hand) to trace four circles on a sheet of tan felt.
- Cut out the circles and sew the two pairs together leaving a small space to stuff.
Stuff the two pieces with pillow stuffing (available at most craft and sewing stores) and then sew up the hole. - Next, cut out smaller pieces of dark brown felt for the chips (they don’t need to be perfect circles) and hand sew the chips on their “cookies” making sure to pull the thread all the way through to the other side to give it a puckered look.
- Cut strips of tan felt and sew on your cookies to fit over the shoulders of your little one.
- After Halloween is over, keep the costume to use as seat cushions!
Many of the costume ideas can be adapted for adult costumes as well so everyone can stay lead-free this Halloween. Add a little more “green” to the orange-and-black holiday by making your own eco-friendly Halloween decorations!
Happy Trick-or-Treating!
