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Kylie Kelce is sharing some of her biggest tips and tricks for kids Halloween costumes.
The 33-year-old mom of four took to her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast on Oct. 16 to share her opinions on the chaos that comes with spooky season as her family prepares for another night of trick-or-treating.
And fans learned a lot about what she likes — and doesn’t like — about the annual tradition.
For example, we learned that she once loved the idea behind family Halloween costumes — where the whole family takes part in the same theme — but that all changed when her daughter ruined it.
Kelce recalled a time when she wanted to dress the family up in “The Little Mermaid” themed costumes.
“In the last — I’m talking the very last minute — before we leave the house, Wyatt decides she doesn’t want to be Ariel,” she said — adding that Wyatt ended up dressing up as a witch instead.
“To the people who get their entire family to dress up in the same theme and your kids are older than, let’s say, four or five…” she said. “How you do that?”
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Kelce also loved the idea of DIY Halloween costumes, but that concept only lasted one year in her house.
One year she dressed one of her daughters up in a DIY corn on the cob costume and the other in a pea pod costume — a similar costume that Kelce and her sister wore when they were younger.
“And it was adorable and it was made of felt,” she said. “And it was a one-and-done because I’m pretty sure I had to stitch it onto Wyatt.”
She went on to argue that a DIY Halloween costume “builds character” as people try to guess what it is — but was noncommittal about doing it again in the future.
“Maybe I’ll do it next year,” she pondered. “No, I shouldn’t. I didn’t enjoy myself. But they looked so cute.”
At one point in her podcast episode, Kelce detailed some of the “tiny human costume tips” that she has gathered after six years of getting her kids dressed up for the holiday.
So, let’s break them down one-by-one.
1. Don’t choose anything that will elicit the response: “I’m itchy!”
According to Mount Sinai, the Halloween season is often “associated with unpleasant reactions, such as contact dermatitis or urticaria (hives),” but there’s a lot parents can do to avoid such occurrences.
When choosing a costume for your child, opt for those made of 100% cotton fabric.
Costumes made of wool or polyester can irritate the skin, so prioritize costumes that are loose-fitting and made of natural, breathable fabric. In the event of a reaction, remove the costume immediately.
“Maybe even put a layer of clothing under the costume,” Kelce added on her podcast.
2. Don’t purchase a costume that will scare the s**t out of the other siblings.
According to Kelce, her children are not allowed to dress up as spiders or dinosaurs.
“Anything that’s too realistic or has eyes that are too realistic, we’re out. We’re not doing it,” she said.
The podcaster, who shares four daughters — Wyatt, 6, Elliotte, 4, Bennett, 2, and Finnley, six months — with husband Jason Kelce, went on to recall a time when she bought a dinosaur costume for Elliotte.
“I think it had to get donated within 48 hours. She was like, ‘It’s in the house. I can feel its presence,” Kelce explained.
3. Do pick a kid costume that comes with a tail. There’s nothing more adorable.
Kelce alluded to the Flounder costume she bought for her Elliotte one year when her family (or, at least most of them) decided to do a theme for “The Little Mermaid.”
Flounder, of course, is Ariel's best friend and a loyal, albeit cowardly, tropical fish.
“It was like a bubble costume, so the bottom was sort of a little bit wider and then it had Flounder’s little tail. Are you kidding me?” she said of the costume.
According to PennState Health, parents should be careful with costumes that kids can trip over.
“When kids wear outfits that are too big or baggy, they can easily trip and fall, especially on steps and uneven sidewalks in the dark,” it warns of costumes with capes, tails or anything dragging on the ground.
4. Do limit glitter like your life depends on it.
Kelce had one word to say about glitter: “Horrific.”
Glitter is a staple for many kids’ Halloween costumes, such as Elsa or Anna from “Frozen,” Tinker Bell from “Peter Pan,” Twilight Sparkle from “My Little Pony” or any other princess, fairy or unicorn.
Kelce’s not the only one against the use of glitter for Halloween costumes.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the plastic particles and dyes in cosmetic glitter — and metal or glass particles in craft glitter — can migrate onto the eye surface if applied near the eyelids.
“I’ve had patients present with allergic reactions, corneal scratches and eyelid infections after using false eyelashes and glitter-based costume makeup,” optometrist Corinne Casey, O.D. said, per Johns Hopkins.
“The eyelids and eye surface are more susceptible to irritation than skin elsewhere on the body,” she added.
5. Do seek out costumes with convenient diaper access.
This tip (or in this case, trick) is specifically aimed at parents with children who wear diapers.
“You know exactly what’s going to happen. You’re going to get them dressed head to toe and then their face is going to start to turn red and you’re going to hear a faint, ‘Ehh,’” Kelce said on the podcast.
“You know what that means? They got a surprise in store for you. Trick or treat, you know what I’m saying?” she joked.
Costumes that work best are those that treat the diaper change like the non-negotiable event it is — such as capes and ponchos that don't require any removal at all.
Two-piece sets where a tunic or shirt sits over separate pants or a skirt are also lifesavers.
Costumes with elastic waistbands that pull down easily, or better yet, those with snap closures at the crotch (just like regular baby clothes), mean you're dealing with seconds instead of minutes.
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No matter what your kids decide to dress up as this Halloween, we hope you and your family have a safe, fun and spooky holiday season!
