It is a common tradition for children to go trick-or-treating on the evening of October 31. Some homeowners signal their willingness to give out treats by installing Halloween decorations on their doors, whereas others leave treats out for them to take freely on their porches. The earlier trick-or-treating time is, the younger the trick-or-treaters are likely to be. In most communities, trick-or-treating begins around sunset time, whose time might vary according to your time zone (but usually on Halloween, it begins around 5:30 or 6 pm).
Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom for children and adults in some countries. In the evening before All Saints' Day, children in costumes travel from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase "Trick or treat". Wikipedia
It's fine to take your baby trick-or-treating at "any age," adding that costumed infants are adorable when carried by their parents. Make sure your children change out of wet clothes as soon as possible. To keep them warm and comfortable, add one more layer to their clothing than an adult would wear. You'll probably need to add a base layer to your kids' costumes along with their outerwear on Halloween.
How do you celebrate Halloween with a baby?
- A zoo-time treat.
- It's time for some spooky stories.
- Put on your best Halloween clothes.
- Pick the perfect pumpkin.
- Pumpkin carving.
- Get your home spooky-decorated.
- Distribute candy/goodies to children.
- Take a walk/stroll around the neighborhood.
There is no age restriction on trick-or-treating, but in order to receive candy, you must wear a costume, no matter how ridiculous the outfit is. Even if it's one of those "funny" no-effort costumes where you just wear a fanny pack and call yourself a tourist or something. Children like to get out of the door early before older kids with spooky costumes start walking the streets in the evening. You can expect to see your first candy collectors anywhere between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. You may have your young kids start going door to door at the same time as well.
Safety checklist for Halloween:
- Keep walkways clear.
- You should avoid using candles.
- Make sure railings are secure.
- Pets should be contained.
- Make sure there are a lot of lights.
- Make space in the garage.
- Don't leave candy unattended.
- Keep your head up, put down any electronic devices, and walk across the street instead of running.
- Make sure children make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Use crosswalks and traffic signals when crossing streets.
- Walking on sidewalks or paths is always a good idea.
Don't allow children to accept anything that isn't commercially wrapped – or to eat anything that isn't. Check commercially packaged treats carefully for signs of tampering, such as unusual appearances or discolorations, tiny pinholes in the wrapper, or tears in the wrapper, and throw anything that looks suspicious away. Halloween treat bags should also be carefully inspected by an adult before the kids are allowed to take them. It is recommended that those with younger children remove choking hazards, such as hard candies and gum, from their bags. Keeping kids out of their candy haul until an adult can thoroughly inspect it at home is the best way to stay safe.
A simple five-minute check could potentially prevent some bad situations from occurring. It's not just about keeping an eye out for possible drug-laced candy, but also to make sure they haven't been tampered with by someone else.
"Trick or treat, smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. If you don't, I won't be sad. I'll just make you wish you had!"
Read these other related blogs for babies:
How To Keep Baby Safe From Climbing
Why Do Babies Need Toys To Play
Visit Ebaby's Marketplace for Halloween-related stuff!
