It’s a child’s favorite holiday: Halloween! In addition to the parties, pumpkin carving and spooky movies, children love getting dressed up in costumes to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood with friends. While the holiday is a joyous occasion, there are a few things that can make the night a little less than pleasant. In order to make it a fun and safe experience for everyone, our pediatric clinic in Phoenix recommends these trick-or-treating safety tips:

1. Plan a Route

When trick-or-treating, playing it by ear and maneuvering throughout a neighborhood can take you far away from home and even cause you to become lost.  Plan out a route in advance that you are familiar with and make sure it is a suitable walking distance for your child.

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes

Children should wear comfortable shoes that fit well, such as tennis shoes.  Make sure the laces are double knotted to avoid dealing with the hazard of untied shoelaces.

3. Be Visible

You are going to be wandering around in the dark, so make sure you carry a flashlight to light a pathway for you and your child. This will help you to avoid incidences, such as tripping over an unseen raised sidewalk, and will make you visible to other trick-or-treaters and drivers.

4. Wear Fitted Costumes

Make sure that costumes fit well to avoid frustration with clothing that is too tight or constantly slipping and falling down. Also make sure to hem any costumes that are dragging on the ground as these can cause tripping.

5. Avoid Accessories

Props with sharp points, such as wands or swords, should be avoided as they can injure your child or another child.

6. Candy Check

After you return to your house from trick-or-treating, dump out your child’s candy on a table or counter and throw out anything that is unwrapped or not in its original wrapper.

Following the above tips will ensure that you and your child stay safe while trick-or-treating this Halloween. At Pediatrix, an established pediatric office in Phoenix, we promote healthy habits for every child in our care. With a huge variety of candy freely available after trick-or-treating, your child’s eyes may be larger than their stomach. To avoid a sugar rush, our pediatric office in Phoenix recommends limiting your child to a couple pieces of candy per day. If you would like to put your child on the track to a healthy future, call a representative at our pediatric office in Phoenix at (602) 866-0550 or contact us online today to speak with a qualified representative. We wish you a safe and spooktacular Halloween!

 

Sincerely,

 

Subir K. Mitra, MD, FAAP