It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Nope, I’m not talking about Christmas. Around these parts, Halloween is the holiday du jour, and folks take October 31st really seriously. From the costume parade at Ayva’s school, to the the big party our church throws every year complete with hot dogs, face painting, and tons of candy, we don’t mess around! As much as Ayva wants to make sure her costume is just right, I want to make sure she and her friends have a safe Halloween.

When I was growing up in Philadelphia, I remember my mom checking all of my candy before letting me dig in after hours of trick-or-treating through our neighborhood. I could barely stand to wait for her to go through each piece one by one, but now that I’m a mom myself, I get it. We want our kids to have fun, but it’s still important that we keep them safe. 

Before you grab your plastic pumpkin and head out to fill it with all the sweets, here are a few simple tips to keep your children safe this Halloween.

Tips for a Sweet and Safe Halloween

1. Keep your eye on your kiddo. If you’re going out at night, it can be pretty tough to pick your ghoul out of a pack of goblins. Don’t get so comfortable that you forget to stay alert. It only takes a few seconds for a child to break away from a group and run into the street, or have an unpleasant encounter with a stranger. Make sure you are able to see your little one at all times. You might consider carrying a flashlight or adding reflective tape to costumes for increased safety.
2. Don’t let your child eat homemade treats. The gesture of making treats to give out to kids at Halloween is really nice, but since you can’t determine what ingredients were used to make the treat, it’s best to stay away from them.
3. Check the fit of costume pieces before you head out. I get that princesses wear long gowns that sweep the floor when they walk. Your princess, however, needs to be able to maneuver neighborhood streets in the dark. Make sure she can move around so she doesn’t get hurt.
4. Talk to your child before you go trick-or-treating to make sure they understand the rules. They should never go into anyone’s house, stay away from houses that don’t have porch lights on, and no running!
5. Once you get home, check all of the candy before you let the kids eat any. Make sure there are no missing wrappers, or packages that have been tampered with, and pull out any candy that might cause an allergic reaction in your child.
6. Allow your children to eat candy in moderation. Just because it’s in the house doesn’t mean you have to eat it every day! In fact, it might be even more helpful to pull out some of the candy to keep, and donate the rest. Don’t know where to donate? Stanford Children’s Health offers information on donating to Operation Gratitude.

For more Halloween safety tips, and information on how to donate your extra candy to Operation Gratitude, check out this post from Stanford Children’s Health.

Stanford Children’s Health is a pediatric healthcare network with over 60 Bay Area locations. As a family-centered care facility, they know that eating candy is going to happen, and it’s okay in moderation. If you have any concerns or questions about how to have a safe Halloween with your little one, check in with your physician at  Stanford Children’s Health in the Bay Area for support. Learn more about Stanford Children’s Health on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube, and find a practice in your East Bay neighborhood!

Happy Halloween!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stanford Children’s Health. The opinions and text are all mine.