Going Trick or Treating with your Baby

Rosa-Maria - posted on 11/07/2011

With my oldest, her birthday was October 18th and she was 7 weeks premature. It wasn't even an option I considered. But at a year old, we did the family trick or treating. We went to friends and family who knew us and were expecting us, and that was our Halloween. But her 2nd Halloween we had her 3 week old sister and you can be sure I dressed her up and took her along for the ride through the neighborhood while her big sister did her thing. Were it just her, or had her sister not been a premie, I'd have stuck with family and friends. But with an older sibling they need to know their younger and newest addition is going to be involved regardless the event. This year I had a 1 year old and a 3 year old and my youngest was disregarded by some for not being old enough, but really, is there anyone too young for cheesies and aero bars?

Toni - posted on 11/03/2011

Thats not necessarily true Ashley my just over 12 month old ate all but the boiled sweets last year, just the same as this year (just over two). It took him a couple of months but he had them all himself! The trick or treating was for him not us!

Ashley - posted on 11/02/2011

I didn't take my 19 month old trick or treating... and I definitely wouldn't have taken her last year when she was only seven months old. Trick or treating is for candy, whether you like to admit it or not, you're getting the candy for yourself because your >12 month old wont be able to eat most (if any) of the candy you're getting.



That said, I wouldn't refuse candy to those trick or treaters. I would probably just ask the parents what type of candy they'd prefer since they're going to be the ones eating it anyway. lol



I would have taken my daughter if her older cousin would've been allowed to go... but my BF's BiL is a turd and the only holiday he likes to celebrate is his birthday. :(

April - posted on 11/02/2011

babies are cute! i don't care if the parents just want to show off their kid. :) i dressed up for halloween this year and i'm amazed at how willing people were to give me candy just for me! that wasn't my intention, but it was interesting to see how people really appreciate costumes. i was a conversation heart! i loved dressing up for the sake of dressing up!

Faye - posted on 11/02/2011

Our daughter was 3.5 months old her first Halloween. All we did was go to grandparent's houses. Her second year, again we went to grandparent's houses. My son was born when daughter was 3.5 yo and was 10 months old. He was a large baby so others thought that he was older. We hung back with him in the stroller (we had moved towns so we visited neighbors only), some offered candy to him others did not.

Teens - depends with me. If they are respectful and wait so the little ones can be first, I don't have an issue. Our town does not have an age limit on ToT, so most of our teens join in on the fun.

Angela - posted on 11/02/2011

My only rule on age is that you must be in a costume! I have had them come with out a costume...they get nothing! Unless very young... but that is never the case it is always older kids.

Mommy - posted on 11/02/2011

Oh who cares, we buy the candy to give away. If you are willing to trek all around town in the cold then more power to you, lol. You deserve the free chocolate :)

And I brought my daughter out for her first halloween, she was 6 months. She went with her cousins, and I wheeled her in her stoller while the other kids went to the door. Sometimes they would see the baby dressed up and give her cousin candy for her, and other times not. It was more about being excited for her first big holiday as a family, and seeing her in her adorable costume. The free treats for mommy and papi were an added bonus.

Teresa - posted on 11/02/2011

My 10 month olds were enjoying themselves and did get some candy. ;) Don't shoot me... that was 9 years ago. lol

I don't, personally, agree w/ scary costumes, but that just means my family won't have them. I shield the kids when they are at the freak out age and I would be PISSED if you scared my kid on purpose. When the girls were little they started screaming at some boy in a creepy mask (we were inside a friend's house). I've never seen a kid rip off a mask so fast and start apologizing to me (and I hadn't reacted cuz it was a total accident on his part). Scaring little kids on PURPOSE is so not cool. :(

Angela - posted on 11/01/2011

Does not bother me, Candy is cheap and hardly a peeve if parents show off their adorable little ones and eat the candy.

Rebecca - posted on 11/01/2011

@Becky -- we normally leave the bowl outside if we are done for the night. That way kids can help themselves. We've never had knockers with an empty bowl on the front porch. The kids aren't going to waste their time knocking when they know you are out. ;-)

Good Day! - posted on 11/01/2011

Yeah, the 40's or 50's sounds about right.

I don't mind the scary, because it's Halloween. Halloween is about being scared. If I think my kid is going to be scared of a certain house (based on decorations), we avoid that house. If I see a scary costume, I'll distract her.

What bothers me most is sexy costumes on young teenage girls. Or teenagers with no costume on at all.

Janice - posted on 11/01/2011

LOL Rebecca, I watched a show on the history of Halloween and bribing kids to not play tricks is how trick or treating started beck in the 40's (don't quote me on the decade). I dont mind those who come in costume or early.

Becky - posted on 11/01/2011

We didn`t have any last night, but other friends of mine were saying they had kids keep coming after they`d turned off the lights because they`d run out of candy and put their kids to bed. That would bug me if it happened to us.

Speaking of scary costumes, the boys were helping me hand out candy last night and these 3 older boys - not teens, I think probably around 10 - came to the door and one had a Freddy Krueger mask on. Zach was all ready to give him some candy, and then he saw his mask and refused! It was kind of funny. :)
I agree about overly scary stuff. It's not fun for everyone if the little ones are terrified. That's no fun. :(

Rebecca - posted on 11/01/2011

I don't really care if older kids are trick or treating. Even older teenagers. They still enjoy the holiday and have fun. Plus, it's always a plus to be on the good side of the neighborhood teenagers. I consider candy a little bribe for good behavior during the rest of the year. Our neighborhood teenagers know that if they arrive at our house around closing time (around 8 pm), they get to clean out our candy bowl. ;-)

Janice - posted on 11/01/2011

My daughter's B -day is 10/30 so we took her out to like 4 houses last year when she had just turned 1. It was just for fun. I definitely don't mind older babies but its often cold here in NY so I think I would be annoyed if a parent with only a small infant came to my door just because it seems unnecessary.

My only pet peeve is the semi costumed teenagers who ring the bell after 9. Thats just rude!

Jennifer - posted on 11/01/2011

I think that parents should be able to take their babies trick or treating. Lets not kid ourselves, even when the kids are older... we all know we are going to raid their candy stash. Who cares if it's just a ploy for the parents to get candy- it's FUN! Halloween is suppose to be fun for the parents and the kids. (We even used to dress up when taking our daughter)

This is my first year where my daughter didn't go out and it was sad. I miss the treats and I missed being able to see all the other little kids in their creative outfits. We don't hand out candy because we live in an apartment so if we don't go out, we don't really get to celebrate. It was a sad year. I need to borrow a kid next year.

Stifler's - posted on 11/01/2011

Trick or treaters in general are a pet peeve. Australians dont'know the halloween rules like only going trick or treating on halloween they come friday, satruday and sunday and monday nights if it's on a monday.

Stifler's - posted on 11/01/2011

HAHa isn't trick or treating about getting free candy anyway

Sherri - posted on 11/01/2011

I guess I am evil because I actually think it is a bit funny. Now remember I have older and younger and I keep them cute and cuddly till middle school then they can pick what ever they want. If it is scary so be it, it is halloween and is supposed to be fun for all and I am sorry if some of the kids don't like it. No different than picking a clown and having kids terrified of clowns.

Jenni - posted on 11/01/2011

Haha! I went until I was 17. ;) I'm 5'2 so it was easy to pull off being 13. *naughty naughty*

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/01/2011

Not offensive, just annoying. We don't get ToT kids at our apt anyways so no big deal. I just think its not nice to scare little kids so big kids dressed super scary is a bit insensitive

Sherri - posted on 11/01/2011

Oh I disagree Cynthia my oldest is almost 15 and still dresses up and trick or treats. My middle is 13. I would be sad if we had a limit on age. I feel until they are out of high school they should be able to trick or treat. As long as they are respectful and dress up I think they should be able too.



Sorry Laurelai mine would be offensive to you my oldest only wear gory scary costumes at 14 & 13.

Laura Zoey - posted on 11/01/2011

I think they just want to share a 'first' with their baby!
They want to show off a cute baby in a cute costume

No harm IMO.

Pet peeve is costumes that are gory gross slutty or horror themed.

Cynthia - posted on 11/01/2011

i don't think babies need to go but thats not what bugs me. last night when we were out we saw 2 adults with no kids trick or treating. i could not believe these 2 were not embarrassed. it also bugs me to se teens with out little kids. i think there is a cut off for trick or treating. it should be at about 12 or 13.

Toni - posted on 11/01/2011

Ethan was only two weeks old for his first Halloween so we took him to a party at my SIL but not ToT as it was too cold, we have took him the last two years he loves it, this year he actually asked people 'treat, treat' he's not fully got the grasp of trick or treat yet lol. Poppy came with us last night all dressed up but I refused the candy as she's only 5 months old and just starting solids :-).

I wouldn't mind littlies coming round even if they were too young for the treats...teenagers however, with a crap or no costume get nothing from me, and ToT'ers who come on any day other than Halloween get nothing!

Lady Heather - posted on 11/01/2011

I don't have a problem with the baby thing. We took our little one last night (sans treat bag). I don't even have a big problem with giving candy to the parents of the baby. I always have extra. But dude...I had these women that came together with their babies and bags for every person. I gave them some candy and then they held out two more bags and said "these are for the babies". Dude, it will be on mega sale at Walmart tomorrow.

Becky - posted on 11/01/2011

It doesn't bother me at all. I like seeing the babies dressed up too. If their parents held out bags for them, I'd give them candy. Sure, I know it's for the parents, but I bought it to give out, after all. If it doesn't get given out, I'm going to eat it, and goodness knows, I don't need to!

I didn't take either of mine out for the first Halloween though. With Cole, we were out of town, so it would've been weird. With Zach, he was only 7 weeks old by Halloween and Cole was only 19 months, so I didn't want to tote both of them. So Z stayed home with daddy. I did get them both costumes and took lots of pictures though!
Last year even, Z was in the stroller and didn't get much candy because he stayed down at the bottom of the stairs. He was just over a year, so I didn't want him having much and Cole got enough for the both of them! This year though, he was right into it, moreso than his older brother even!
A friend of mine said that she had a mom come to her door, by herself, not dressed up, and said she was trick-or-treating for her kids because they were sick. I thought that was odd - so did my friend - but I guess it wouldn't bother me that much.

Rebecca - posted on 11/01/2011

I took my six month old twins trick or treating last night while walking around with my 3 YO twins. But, I didn't take any candy for them -- to me that's just weird. Halloween is for kids who can actually eat the candy. I understand wanting to dress your kids up and show them off, but that doesn't mean you need to take candy for "them".

Sherri - posted on 11/01/2011

Well since I did with all three of my kids I don't see a problem with it. My first was only 7mo's old his first Halloween, my 2nd only 1mo old, and my third only 5mo's old.

Teresa - posted on 11/01/2011

I'm totally fine w/ it. The girls were just over 10 months on their first Halloween. We weren't planning on going out to raid people's candy. Just show off our cuties and get a bit. We went to 3 houses from our church and they were well received and adored. Went to one unknown house and got a rude, snide comment.... and went home. :(

I have no trick or treat pet peeves.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 11/01/2011

I think it is fun for everyone involved. I love seeing babies in their little costumes. What pisses me off is when you see teenagers without any costumes and they are going door to door. 2 kids last night had their skateboards in hand, and pillow cases in another knocking on doors.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 11/01/2011

I love dressing my kids up for Halloween. I have a 5 year old and my daughter is 18 months. If I take one, i have to take the other. I took my daughter out when she was under a year, and she dressed up as a lady bug. We did not ask people for candy for her.....they actually would walk from the door to give it to us. This year, she got the hang of it on her own by the second door.

Jenni - posted on 11/01/2011

I didn't even get many treats for my 18 month old this year. Hubby and I kinda hung back with her in the stroller. The odd house would notice her and hand my older two a bag of chips, smarties or a granola bar to bring back to her. But I really don't want her having much candy at her age. Figured I'd just give her the odd thing from my son's basket since he got a ton of treats.

I didn't think she'd notice too much until as soon as we walked in the front door she started chanting "peasss! peass!" and went straight for their baskets. She knew what was up. Shame on me for thinking I'd sneak that one past her. lol

Jessica - posted on 11/01/2011

For my daughter first Halloween she was 5 months and I took her in my snugglie while I took my neice and nefew Trick or Treating, and I surprised that my 5 month old seemed to get more candy then my neice and nefew! I wasn't expecting much of anything because she was so little. Instead I got comments like " Awe such a good mommy taking babe out for her first halloween, have some extra candy for you and Dad." I was totally suprised! This year I took her out and she could go door to door holding my hand, she had fun! My 2 month old son stayed home with Daddy.

Denikka - posted on 11/01/2011

I didn't ToT with my oldest on his first Halloween. We went last year, when he could run up and knock on the door for himself (1.5yrs old at the time).
I agree that taking an infant ToT is tacky. They don't get any enjoyment in being dragged around to see a bunch of strangers, some in pretty scary costumes. It's an overstimulating nightmare XP
This year we had my 2.5yr old and my 9mo old, but the 9mo old stayed in the stroller and did not get any candy, even though a few people offered, I declined.

I don't even mind the teenagers coming for candy :P I went ToT until I was 16. I just figure it's a fun holiday for the kids, and kids are under 18 :P As long as you have a costume and you can enjoy the candy (aka not under a year), then why not. :P

Krista - posted on 11/01/2011

@Sarah: Yes, if it's to STRANGERS' houses, then yeah, it's a little odd. I was thinking more about if a friend or relative brings their baby by in their costume. If some random person who I didn't know brought their infant by, dressed in a Halloween costume, then yes, I would think that they're just trying to get candy. But if my husband's cousin came by with her baby, then I would be delighted to see them.

Good Day! - posted on 11/01/2011

The 12 year old dressed as a Hooters girl bothered me more. We took Eliza to visit relatives on her first Halloween. She probably ate some cookies or something. This Halloween, Jacie tagged along because we brought Eliza who is now 3. A few people gave her treats like shortbread cookies. It was nice.

Starfish - posted on 11/01/2011

I'm a little bothered by it, truthfully. I think it's tacky. It's using the baby as an excuse to mooch off your neighbors. If you want to show your baby off so much, get pictures done, and share those. Throw a party, and invite people that actually care. But I don't. I have no interest in a stranger's baby, and I have even less interest in parents looking to get freebies. Go buy your own candy.

That said, when they show up at my door, I still smile and give them candy like everyone else. I might not like it, but I'm not a jerk about it.

Krista - posted on 11/01/2011

It doesn't bother me -- I love seeing the cute little babies in their costumes. I know the parents are going out more just to visit people and to show off how cute the baby looks, and I'm more than happy to see them. Besides, 9 times out of 10, the parents wind up declining the candy, it seems.

Caitlin - posted on 11/01/2011

I think parents are just excited to celebrate with their little one, and that's great! I don't mind giving them treats at all, even if they eat them all. Heck, I get all of the treats for my 3 still, but that doesn't stop me from going out (my oldest is almost 3 and has food allergies so can't eat any treats, my second is 21 months and old enough for a tiny bit of chocolate, but doesn't like it, and the baby.. well, he's 3 weeks.. he slept in the stroller...

I dislike the teenagers more, that's my pet peeve!