Halloween
can be such a fun holiday, but as you can imagine, as an advice nurse
we tend to hear about some of the misfortunes that can come along as
part of the festivities.
Pumpkins
Carving a pumpkin can be a very fun tradition.
Please make sure that your child's level of participation is consistent with their age and ability.
*Do
watch out for the sharp implements and make sure you assign your
younger child to the safer tasks. (young kids can draw on the pumpkin
rather than carving.)
*Clean
up the mess. Pumpkin flesh is slippery and can cause falls and injuries
when dropped on the floor. Layer newspaper or old cloths under your
carving workspace and clean up spills right away so no one slips or
trips.
*
Skip the candles, which may cause fires. A burning candle in a pumpkin
may become a blazing fire if left unattended. Instead, use a glow stick
(available in many colors) or flameless candle to safely illuminate your
jack-o'-lantern.
Choosing a costume
Want to hear a terrifying statistic?
Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
*Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
*Have
kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by
drivers. Is your dog going along with the trick or treaters? Have them
wear a glow in the dark collar!
*When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
*
Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes. Remind your child that they
need to pay very close attention to their surroundings and avoid walking
near any candles or flames...especially if they have loose flowy
costumes.
*If
a sword, cane, or stick is a part of the costume, make sure it is not
sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he
or she stumbles or trips.
*Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child's vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup as another option.
*Always
test the make up in a small area first. Always completely remove it
before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
*Make
sure that your child doesn't have any latex sensitivity because you do
too heavy of an exposure. Many masks are made of latex. We actually just
had a patient who had an allergic reaction to the hair tinsel.
You may want to do a test run of the costume and make up a couple of days ahead of time to rule out any allergies.
Trick or treat rules
*Children
under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult
supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision,
remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and
trick-or-treat in groups.
*Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during that time if you are out driving
*A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating may discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
*bring plenty of water along when you go trick or treating. Just trust me on this one.
*Make
sure that your children know that after trick or treating, the grown up
needs to pick through trick or treat bag and toss anything that looks
suspicious.
* Some candies are real choking hazards. If you have a younger child in the house, make sure they don't have access to the stash
*
If you have a child with nut allergies (I am sure this is NOT your
favorite holiday) make sure that they turn over ALL the candy so that
you can separate out anything that might cause trouble.
Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests?
*Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
*Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks.(Okay, fine...maybe you don't want to be that house, but I had to put it on the list)
*Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
*Keep
candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps,
walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them
out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them
unattended.
Now..what do we do with all this candy!!!
Make a plan about how much candy they can eat at one time.
It
is okay to be a little more liberal than usual for a day or two, but
come to an agreement about a reasonable candy intake over the next few
weeks.
Some dentists and orthodontists have buy back programs, where they will give your child a reward for turning in their candy.
Remember that candy freezes (and some of it is actually better that way...frozen snickers bars, yum)
My
daughter Lauren was about 6 when she caught on that mom and dad were
pilfering through her trick or trick bag and stealing all the good
stuff. After that she guarded her stash more carefully.
******
Haunted Teeth
Click below for some tips about keep your teeth healthy..especially on Halloween
Have a fun and safe holiday!