Safety Tips for Baby's First Halloween

It is your first baby, your precious bundle of joy. Pregnancy and delivery were scary enough, not to mention the first days home. Now, baby's first Halloween is right around the corner and you are probably worried about taking your baby out. I mean let's face it, we're not in the old days anymore and there are a lot of weirdos out there so who can blame you? However, you still want to start the same Halloween traditions you had with your baby. Well maybe a few pointers from a mother of four will help ease that tension and not only make your baby's first Halloween a safe one, but a memorable one as well. These tips are good for eleven month old babies all the way down to newborn but most can be used for everyone really. Remember to take your camera and take plenty of pictures.

1. First, let's start with the costume. Babies don't like masks so avoid them. Opt for a hat. Now regardless how most people will tell you to bundle up your little one, the fact is, babies get hot too. So, if you live in a warm climate and Halloween's low temperature is in the 70s, don't dress them up in one of those thick or blanket type costumes unless you want to have a cranky baby. If you're hot, chances are the baby is hot too and vice versa. Make sure that you purchase a costumes that has soft texture. A baby's skin is delicate. Also, check for any loose buttons or strings so that the costume doesn't turn into a strangling choker.

2. Make sure that cars can see you. The suggestion is to wear light colored clothing, however not many people want to be a white bat and not everyone wants to be Casper the Friendly Ghost. The answer is reflective tape and shoes if possible. They even have light up shoes. You can even make reflective bracelets out the tape by measuring the wrist with a thin cardboard strip and placing the tape over it, leaving an inch gap to overlap and seal. Do this for both wrists.

3. Take a flashlight. This will allow you to see in darker areas and be an added bonus that a car will most definitely see you.

4. Babies are less likely to eat candies when they are 6 months and younger. One we don't want to introduce them to candies too young because they might not want that jar baby food anymore. Two, allergies. At this age we are just now introducing things slowly and one at a time. And three, most candies can be a choking hazard for babies. Tootsie Rolls and Sweet Tarts are okay for babies 6 months and older who have already been introduced to solids and have the concept of chewing and swallowing down. If you're baby is younger than six months and/or hasn't been introduced to solids yet, I recommend that you just eat the candy yourself or toss it. Let your baby enjoy the motion of trick or treating, but skip the part where they devour the treats.

5. When we were kids, we'd try to go to every single house we possibly could, but times have changed and unfortunately, so have people. Stick with going to homes of people you know. This gives you a great opportunity to show off your cute little pumpkin to your family and friends.

6. If you are taking your baby in a stroller, remember to put reflective tape on the stroller's wheels and bumpers too, if it didn't already come with that feature. Then don't remove them as it will be useful for as long as your baby uses that stroller. It will be good for any future siblings too.

7. Usually, trick or treating is done after dark, but some start at 5:00 in the afternoon. Remember that your baby will be cranky if they miss their nap or are not in bed by a certain time. Go trick or treating in between baby's last nap and bedtime, so that it will be less likely that you will have a cranky little pumpkin.

8. If your area has mosquitoes and other biting insects, make sure to protect your baby. Off now has a little clip on thing that repels insects that you could clip around your belt or stroller. Keep it away from baby's reach. It would not be a good thing if it ended up in your baby's mouth.

9. If you see a bunch of kids or adults at a home who are wearing scary costumes, stand back and wait til they leave or go to another house and return to that one later. Most babies scream and cry at the sight of a scary mask, even if it's someone they know who is wearing it and they put it on in front of them. Don't ask me how I know that.

10. Most importantly, always look both ways before crossing a street. Even though this has now become common sense, there are still people who get hit crossing the street on Halloween. Maybe it's the excitement of getting from house to house for more candies that seems to block this little safety tip. Who knows?

If you follow these simple tips, you should have a safe and memorable first Halloween for you and your baby.