Helpful Halloween Baby Tips for New Parents

With all of your baby’s first comes many new exciting memories and concerns. It is hard not to be a little worried about some of the potential risks that come with Halloween. The good news is that with preparation and a few safety tips you can work to have a fun and safe first Halloween for you and your baby.

What About Pumpkin Carving?

Why not skip the actual carving? A baby and sharp objects do not mix. So if you wish for your little one to experience carving a pumpkin, it is best for you or your partner to do the cutting at a safe distance from your baby. Let your little one scoop out the guts and get a little dirty instead! Just supervise their exploration as pumpkin seeds could be a choking hazard, especially depending on how far along your little one’s food journey is at the moment.

Decorate your pumpkin carefully. Remember that your little one is still very curious. It is best to avoid lighting a candle inside of your pumpkin. If you do want your pumpkin to light up why not try a small LED candle or glow stick. Try to also avoid decorations that could fall off and become choking hazards.

Is it Safe to Trick or Treat?

Yes, Halloween is safe and you can take your baby out trick or treating as long as you follow some basic safety tips and guidelines along the way. There are things that you need to keep your eye out for as you prepare to go out, during, and after trick or treating. When it comes to the candy, your infant will probably not be eating very much of it if it is there first Halloween. However, it is important to still sort through it all before you give them any once you are home.

Halloween Safety Tips for Baby

When it comes to costume planning and trick-or-treating here are a few tips to help have the safest Halloween possible:

• Prepare for the weather. Before going out on Halloween check the weather forecast. Don’t forget an umbrella or a sweater if it is going to be colder outside. You don’t want to get stuck in the rain or cold if the weather drops.
• Dress for safety. While choosing the perfect costume for your baby is important, you should also consider safety. Since your baby may be barely walking or still in a carrier/stroller you will want to consider how they will be moving around. If they are already walking, it is likely they will still not be very great at it. Try and pick a costume that is not heavy, loose, bulky, or too long to help make their walking experience a little easier. Babies love to put everything in their mouth, so make sure that their costume does not have small parts that could easily come off and become a choking hazard.
• Think about the props. If your baby’s costume has any props or toys to go with it, try not to over do it. Your baby will probably get tired of carrying something for a long period of time. The prop will also likely end up as a baby chew toy so make sure that it is safe and not a choking hazard. It should be soft and flexible to also avoid possible eye injuries along the journey. If the costume has a mask, make sure that your little one can see out of it easily. Try face paint instead if you are concerned about their visibility.
• Think of visibility. Costumes in bright colors are more noticeable to cars passing by. Try dressing your little one as a bright red lobster or a bright green superhero to make sure that cars can see them once it gets darker outside. You could even stick some reflective tape on their costumes if you are worried that it isn’t bright enough.
• Write down your contact information. While you will be by your baby’s side the entire time, it is always a safe plan to write down your phone number and address and attach it to their costume. It is best to be over prepared just in case something goes wrong.
• Bring a flashlight. Don’t forget a flashlight to help light the way as your little one walks with you from house to house.

Check the Candy

Wait until you get home before letting your little one have any candy. Make sure to first inspect what they have gotten and look for any choking hazards. You will want to remove things such as hard candy, nuts, taffy, gum, or candy corn depending on what they are used to eating. Try and look for the fruit snacks, marshmallows, or soft candies to help reduce choking risks. You may even notice some small candies or toys in their basket, make sure to remove all non-edible treats to prevent choking. If you find any homemade cooked treats from people that you don’t know, it is best to throw those away just to be safe.

Have a happy, fun, and safe Halloween!