Halloween can be a scary time for parents of children with food allergies. Do you allow your child to trick-or-treat, or keep them safe at home? Your decision may depend on the severity of your child's allergies, their age, and your comfort level.
If you do decide to trick-or-treat, here are 6 tips for keeping your little princesses and ghouls safe on Halloween night:
Be prepared: Carry your child's epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen). Make sure your child has his or her medical alert bracelet on. Carry wet wipes in case a candy wrapper rips.
Check ingredients of face paint or makeup: Some face paints may contain common allergens such as soy or nut oils. Check ingredients before painting your child's skin.
Research trick-or-treat locations: Some malls, health organizations, or local libraries now host candy-free trick-or-treat nights.
Hand out allergy-safe treats: Kids are excited to get stickers, plastic bracelets, or other non-food items in their trick-or-treat bags. Parents love the lack of sugar. See our list of nine allergy-safe treats for ideas of inexpensive items for the trick-or-treat bowl.
Stock the pond: Provide neighbors with allergy-safe candies or non-food treats for your child, and only visit those neighbors. This is most effective if you know your neighbors and take the time to go door to door before Halloween and explain your child's allergies in person.
Have a candy buyback program: Purchase your child's candy at a set price per piece. For young children, get a roll of dimes or quarters so you can trade a coin for each piece of candy. (Beware! This strategy can quickly get expensive for parents!)
Trick-or-treat for charity: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a longstanding program, or try the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network's (FAAN) Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy. Sign up a few weeks before Halloween to receive a box for your child to carry on Halloween night.
