21 Oct Food Allergy Halloween Safety Tips
Keeping kids with food allergies safe during Halloween trick-or-treating requires careful planning. We offer tips to be prepared and enjoy the fun with peace of mind.
- Educate Your Child: Teach them to politely refuse any candy they know may contain allergens, like peanuts or dairy. Ensure they know not to eat anything before you have a chance to check it.
- Bring Your Own Treats: To avoid disappointment, bring safe allergy-friendly treats with you to swap for any unsafe items they receive.
- Check Labels: Always check the ingredient labels when your child gets home. Be cautious with mini versions of popular candies, as they can sometimes be made in different facilities with different allergen cross-contamination risks.
- Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project: Look for houses participating in this project, which offers non-food treats like small toys or stickers. You can also put out a teal pumpkin to signal your home is a safe space for kids with allergies.
- Allergy-Friendly Events: Some communities host special allergy-safe events, so check for these in your area.
- Carry Epinephrine: If your child has a severe allergy, make sure to have their emergency medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector, on hand.
Non-Food Treat Ideas
- Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
- Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
- Bubbles
- Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
- Mini Slinkies
- Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
- Bouncy balls
- Finger puppets or novelty toys
- Coins
- Spider rings
- Vampire fangs
- Mini notepads
- Playing cards
- Bookmarks
- Stickers
- Stencils
Teal Pumpkin Project Map
Add Your House to the Teal Pumpkin Project Map! Let your neighbors know that you have non-food treats available on Halloween. Get started and learn more.
Do you have questions? Our board-certified allergists and well-trained staff are here to answer and address your concerns. Get started today!
