The spookiest night of the year is finally upon us, Halloween!
We can't wait to think up little tricks and see what creative costumes everyone comes up with. You may be a little worried that the night of scary costumes, scary decorations and graveyard noises might not go down too well with your little ones. After all, you don't want to scare or upset them. Don't worry, a few tricks will help make the day fun for all of you.
The 10 best tips for Halloween with a baby and a small child.
1. Prepare your child for Halloween
There are plenty of books about the spooky night. If your child is already of reading age, start reading fun, child friendly books about Halloween with them a few weeks beforehand. That way they know what it's all about and that jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, pumpkins, skeletons and trick or treaters jumping out of a bush yelling "boo" are all in fun and the scary stuff is just pretend.
2. Involve your children in the planning
Decorate your home or door step in autumnal leaves, spider webs, carved pumpkin or skeletons with your toddlers during light out hours. That way they know these things are not real.
3. Tone down the creepy factor
Yes, it's fun to wear gory makeup, but your children may see it differently and become frightened. It's best to dress up in such a way that your baby can still be sure to recognize you, their parents. Scary masks are ok, but use them in playfully such as "peek-a-boo".
4. Choose the right costume for your baby
You don't have to choose a scary costume for your little one on Halloween. Princesses and superheroes are also allowed. When it comes to costumes for babies and toddlers, make sure they fit comfortably and you don't have to remove them completely to get to their nappies. For children who are just getting dry, they should also be quick to take off so that nothing goes wrong.
Mobility is also important. Your child should be able to stand, sit, play and lie in the costume. Otherwise they may become uncomfortable and take the costume off. Placing a wig, glasses or a hat on your babies can be cute, but your little one may not find them funny and remove them after a short time. The important thing is that your little one likes it, is cosy and can therefore have fun in the costume all evening. You can even dress your baby up using a baby carrier. We have seen pirates, octopuses, pumpkins and more!
If you do use your baby carrier to dress your little one up for Halloween don’t forget to tag us on social media.
5. Do a dress rehearsal
Are you planning to use a small amount of make-up? Do you want your child to wear a wig or a hat? Are you planning to outward face your baby in a baby carrier for the first time in their costume? Whatever your child's costume is, test it out before Halloween. After all, you want the costume to work, the fabric not to scratch and the face paint not to cause skin irritation.
6. Don't go trick-or-treating too late
Going from house to house, ringing on your neighbours' doorbells and shouting "trick or treat" is fun even for young children, especially when they receive sweets in return. Setting off at dusk allows enough time to visit all your neighbours and them return in good time to wind down before starting the bedtime routine.
Hopefully, by this time, the excitement and the stimulating effect of the sugar will have worn off a little and your child will be better able to rest. If you can't go trick or treating until after 6pm, eat dinner beforehand. This way, your child's appetite for sweets will not be as strong and they will not overdo it.
7. Let there be light
It can be quite scary in the dark even without Halloween. Make sure your trick-or-treaters have enough light so they are seen during their night time adventure. You can be really creative and use bright costumes, small torches, glow sticks, fairy lights or flashing hair bands. If you are baby wearing, our Omni Breeze carrier has reflective panels in the front of the carrier to help be seen in the dark.
8. Take the whole family on your adventure
Kids in costumes are cute. But babies in costumes reach a whole new dimension of cute. To be flexible when walking with older children and your little one, it's best to use a baby carrier. Remember that your baby's costume must also work with your thick jacket, fleece suit and the baby carrier. It's best to take this into account when planning your costume.
9. Don't visit the whole neighbourhood in one evening.
Are you wondering when to stop your trick-or-treating evening? If you have very young children, a few doorbell stops are probably enough. Young children don't have the stamina to spend hours knocking on every door in the neighbourhood. They have little legs and a short attention span. And we all know what happens when young children get too tired or overstimulated. You know your child best, so be vigilant and listen to your parental gut feeling. With children over four, you'll probably have to play spoilsport at some point and stop the hunt for sweets before they get overtired and the drama begins.
10. Dress for breast/chest feeding
For all breast/chest feeding mamas, remember that your costume should allow you to give your baby your breast/chest without having to leave the party. If this is the case when you are out and about, a baby carrier is also a suitable option for breast/chest feeding and still not spoiling the fun for you or your older child. Our Omni baby carriers come with a privacy hood if you would like extra privacy to feed your little one.
