Fall is around the corner and with fall comes Halloween! Halloween season is a fun and magical time for kids of all ages, filled with excitement, Halloween costumes, pumpkins, and, of course, candy! But as parents, we want to ensure our little ones have a fun and safe Halloween experience, which includes being mindful of the type of candies they consume. When it comes to toddlers, choosing the right candy and treats can seem stressful, especially for a first-time mom or new parent. The truth is, most candy for toddlers (young children under 4) is still unsafe and simply not suitable for their little bodies. So, let’s break down the best Halloween candy for toddlers and the worst regarding safety.
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What safety issues are there regarding the best Halloween candy for toddlers?
With toddlers or young children under 4 years old, the biggest safety concern with Halloween candy is choking hazards. So many candies are choking hazards for your toddler. You might also be concerned about sugar consumption but, Halloween is only one night, and on Halloween night, your toddler most likely won’t be interested in more than a piece or two. Then, you can limit candy and sugar consumption in the days after Halloween. As parents, we need to be extremely mindful of the size, shape, texture, and ingredients in the candy we give our toddlers to prevent choking hazards. Food allergies are also a concern for many parents, so it’s always a good idea to read the ingredients of any candy before giving it to your child.
Candy You Should Avoid Giving Your Toddler:
Small, round candies, hard candies, lollipops, chewy candies, and candy with whole nuts are not safe for toddlers (under 4 years old). These are all choking hazards.
Hard Candy:
Hard candies pose a serious choking hazard! Candy like lollipops and Jolly Ranchers are not suitable for toddlers or babies because they are a significant choking hazard due to their size, shape, and hard texture. Avoid hard candies because small pieces of lollipops and other hard candies can break off and get lodged in your child’s throat.
Sticky and Chewy Candy:
Caramels, taffy, and other sticky candies can be hard for your little one to chew and swallow, making them a choking hazard.
Gum, Gummies, and Fruit Snacks:
Avoid all gum, gummies, and fruit snacks because they all pose serious choking hazards for your toddler!
Candy with whole nuts:
Nuts are a choking hazard for toddlers because of their size and texture, so candy or chocolate with whole nuts or hard pieces of nuts should be avoided.
Small Halloween Candies:
Tiny candies or small candy pieces can easily be swallowed whole, leading to a serious choking hazard! Do not give small candies like M&Ms to your toddler or baby.
Worst Halloween Candy for Toddlers
- M&Ms – all varieties including peanut M&M’s
- Gummy Bears
- Fruit snacks
- Starburst
- Jolly Ranchers
- Milk Duds
- Tootsie Rolls
- Whoppers
- Blow Pops, Tootsie Pops, Dum Dums, and all other lollipops
- Sour Patch Kids
- Candy corn
- Nerds
- Hot Tamales
- Sweet Tarts
- Airheads
- Laffy Taffy
- Jawbreakers
- Popcorn balls and all popcorn
- Gum
- Caramels
- Hard Candies
- Snickers
- Swedish fish
- Now and Laters
- Almond Joy
- Caramel Apples
- Werther’s
- Peppermints (Hard)
- Lifesavers
- Jelly Beans
- Marshmallows
What Candy Can Toddlers Eat?
Safer Halloween candy options for toddlers are larger treats and treats that melt in the mouth such as chocolate candy and chocolate bars, cookies, and cupcakes.
If you have a one year old, or younger child under age 2, avoid candy altogether. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, foods and drinks with added sugars shouldn’t be given to children younger than 2. This is easier said than done especially if your toddler has older siblings. Babies under 12 months shouldn’t have any added sugars, but I think with babies over 12 months you the parent, have to use your best judgment as to what treats you want to let your baby try. Here are some candy alternative treats for one-year-olds.
Best Candy Alternative Treats for One Year Olds
Best Halloween Candy for Toddlers
Here is a list of the best Halloween candy for toddlers in terms of safety:
- Cotton Candy – allergy-friendly
- Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars – allergy-friendly
- Free2B Sunflower Butter Suncups – allergy friendly
- No Whey Foods PeaNot Cups and No Whey Foods Milk Less Chocolate Bars – allergy friendly
Some of these candies are not the typical candy you see trick or treating but you could consider buying some to have on hand for your toddler. Trade out some of their trick-or-treat goodies for the safe candy or sneakily switch out their bag with one you’ve already filled with safe treats. You can also offer sweet treats that are candy alternatives like cookies, animal crackers, and cupcakes.
Halloween Safety Tips for Toddlers
- Look out for other non-candy choking hazards in your child’s trick-or-treat bags: Some people give out small toys or objects as Halloween treats and these small toys or objects can be unsafe for young toddlers or babies because they can contain small parts or pieces that can detach or break off easily. These pose a choking hazard and should be avoided. Also, inspect any toys before giving them to your child. Things like coins, marbles, small bouncy balls, and mini yo-yos, should not be given to your baby or toddler because children this age often put non-food items in their mouth and can easily be choked on.
- Inspect Candy Before Allowing Your Toddler to Eat Any of It: Inspect candy for any signs of tampering or damage. Anything unwrapped should be avoided. Also, avoid homemade treats from strangers because you don’t know what’s in them.
- Supervise Eating: Always supervise young children while they eat their Halloween candy to ensure they are chewing properly and not trying to swallow large pieces or whole candies. Make sure children eat candy and treats in a seated position rather than when they are walking around trick or treating.
- Offer non-candy foods, toys, and activities to limit candy consumption: If you’re worried about your child eating too much candy on Halloween you can have other exciting, special items to distract them with. These can be things like, Halloween coloring pages, stickers, temporary tattoos, bubbles, plushies, Halloween books, and games. You can also prepare your toddler’s favorite dinner or snacks to fill their belly and distract them from candy. Think toddler foods like mini naan pizzas, mac and cheese, spaghetti with meat sauce, grilled cheese, and quesadillas with sides of fresh fruit.
Final Thoughts
Remember, Halloween is about creating fun memories with your entire family! By being informed about candy safety and with some planning, you can make smart candy choices to ensure your Halloween is not only magical but safe too. Choose the best Halloween candy for toddlers to create a fun, exciting, safe, and enjoyable experience for your little one. By choosing the right candy and being mindful of potential safety and choking hazards, you can focus on creating fun-filled memories that will last a lifetime.
Let me know your toddler-safe Halloween treat recommendations below!
