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Only Treats, No Tricks
Have a Happy Baby-safe Halloween
By Shannon McKelden
Another common Halloween decoration that can be dangerous is dry ice. "Let your children know that touching or swallowing dry ice can be dangerous," Donahue says. "If exposure occurs call the Poison [Control] Center [1-800-222-1222]."
Whether gathered from houses in the neighborhood or from a party, Halloween is definitely the holiday for candy. However, candy can pose a hazard for babies and toddlers, so precautions need to be taken over and above the normal precautions taken for all children.
"A parent should always inspect the goodie bags before anything is eaten, and remove any hard candies or small items and toys in order to prevent choking," says Margie Leathers, manager of the Injury Prevention Program at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Also, inspect the treats for any signs of tampering and remove anything that isn't sealed or doesn't look quite right."
Candy should also be thrown away if wrappers are old and faded or if they're not in their original wrappers. Never allow kids to eat homemade Halloween treats unless they come from someone you know and trust. Small children should also be instructed to sit to eat candy, as running around can increase the chances of choking.
Safety while gathering that candy is a must also. "Visibility while walking is a big issue on Halloween," Donahue says. "Statistically Halloween is the most dangerous day of the year for children to walk. In fact, children are four times as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other night of the year." Parents of toddlers and babies, who don't understand pedestrian safety, must take extra care.
Donahue says parents should be sure to do the following:
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