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Children's Hospital at Montefiore Physician Offers Halloween Advice for Parents and Trick-or-Treaters
Halloween is a frightfully fun time for kids, especially when their parents know how to keep it safe. The rules we learned in childhood - discard any unwrapped candy, never trick-or-treat alone, etc - are as reliable today as they ever were.
There are more tips for parents to consider, such as choking hazards to avoid and how to steer clear of "candy gluttony", that will help keep kids safe and healthy while they're trick or treating and afterwards as they enjoy their goodies.
Young-Jin Sue, MD, a pediatric emergency room physician at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, offers the following practical advice that will allow parents to relish the holiday as much as their kids.
Small candies can be choking hazards
Small and hard candies will likely land in most children's bags this Halloween, and parents should be aware that they may pose either of two types of choking hazards: asphyxiation and aspiration.
Asphyxiation hazards are small, roundish, firm objects which can completely block a child's airway, leading to immediate, life-threatening effects. "These include non-food items such as small toys and edible items including sourballs, gumballs, nuts, and even some firm foods like apples," says Dr. Sue.
Aspiration hazards are small, firm objects such as jelly beans, gummy bears, Skittles, Smarties, Spree, gum, or licorice pieces that are smaller than the airway diameter. These candies may be too small to become lodged at the larynx, but can pass into the trachea, with serious consequences. "An aspiration hazard can lead to persistent discomfort ranging from difficulty breathing to pneumonia from aspiration onto the bronchi," explains Dr. Sue.
Safer choices include any treats that crumble readily and/or melt easily, including most cookies, most chocolates (except for peanut and almond M&Ms), peppermint patties, and peanut butter cups.
When it comes to lollipops, a perennial Halloween favorite, Dr. Sue advises parents to consider their child's developmental abilities, health and temperament. "Some children suck patiently on their pops while others bite them off the stick; some sit quietly as they enjoy their confections while others run around at breakneck speed or engage in wrestling," she says. "In general, kids should always eat while sitting still, not running around or wrestling with siblings or friends."
Different types of pops pose varying levels of choking hazards. Flat ones are generally safer, but blow-pops might pose problems. "It's not difficult to imagine that a blow-pop bitten off the stick could lead to choking, never mind the bubble gum at its center," says Dr. Sue.
Examine your kids' goodies
If parents want to be sure the candy in their kids' Halloween bags is safe, they should consider trick-or-treating only at houses of friends. Once at home, parents should carefully examine every piece of candy before allowing their kids to indulge.
"Have your kids empty out their bags for examination before allowing them to eat anything," says Dr. Sue. Always throw away any unwrapped candies or fruit. If a child has allergies, parents should be on the lookout for items with nuts or peanuts.
Once the candy has received their parents' seal of approval, kids should be reminded to take their time savoring sweets. "Remember the ill effects of unchecked gorging on sweets, which can lead to tummy aches and nausea. Encourage children to chew single pieces of candy carefully, and not stuff their mouth to overflowing," Dr. Sue recommends.
To help their children avoid overindulging on sweets, parents can also encourage them to donate their least favorite candies to various causes (such as local senior or soup kitchens). Parents can also offer to exchange some or all of their child's haul for other rewards like money or small toys. For older kids, parents can take possession of their Halloween candy and allow them to" earn" it back with household chores or homework well done.
So how can Halloween be enjoyable for the entire family? The key, says Dr. Sue, is for parents to exercise good judgment in light of their children's individual temperaments, developmental levels, allergies and general health.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
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