I'm A Doctor, These Are The Best (And Worst) Sweets To Give Trick-Or-Treaters

Halloween is nearly here – meaning dozens of kids are headed to a front door near you very soon.If you live in an area where trick-or-treating is a pretty big deal, you’ll probably want to buy in some sweet treats to hand out to tiny ghouls and monsters – unless you opt to turn off your lights and pretend nobody’s home (in which case: no judgement, save yourself some cash).If you are planning to hand out treats however, a doctor has issued a word of warning. Paediatrician Dr Arindam Das spoke to Totalkare about some specific Halloween dangers that can lead to an increase in “blue light” callouts during spooky season.One of them is pumpkin carving, he said, due to the obvious risk of cutting themselves. “Young children are also at risk of choking on hard sweets,” he added.So what are the safest sweets to give then?The main takeaway is that hard or boiled sweets should be avoided at all costs for kids under the age of five (so it’s probably a wise move to forego them completely).Whole nuts, popcorn kernels, chewing gum and small jelly sweets “all are high choking risks”, he added. Nuts are also problematic for those with allergies.Popcorn might be a surprising one to some parents. However, they are problematic for a few reasons: the kernels are so lightweight they can be sucked up back into a child’s oesophagus, where children can either breathe them in, called aspiration, or they can choke – which is where the airway is blocked.Dr Das said older children (over-fives) can “usually manage chewy or gummy sweets, but parents should still be cautious with very hard or sticky items”.The safest alternatives, he noted, are “soft, melt-in-the-mouth treats”, like chocolate buttons, mini muffins or soft jelly.Little boxes of raisins or dried fruit snacks (like BEAR Paws) can be a decent option for younger children, too – and are free of common allergens like gluten, dairy and nuts. I’m also a big fan of Soreen lunchbox loaves as children with an egg and/or milk allergy can have them.And if your little one does get to enjoy a treat (or three) this Halloween, the paediatrician added that having water or milk alongside these sweets can help “reduce dental risk”.Noted.Related...The Real Origins Of Halloween Are Wilder Than You'd ThinkYour Teen Wants To Wear A 'Sexy' Halloween Costume – What Do You Do?Witch, Please! These 5 Halloween Crafts Might Just Save Your Sanity This Half-Term

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