Newswise — When it comes to Halloween, our doctors have seen it all — from allergic reactions to candy to traffic accidents. Most are preventable! Experts at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital share their best tips for keeping your children healthy and safe while trick or treating and more:

Safety While Trick or TreatingSergey Kunkov, MD, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department, shares his three top tips:

• Don’t let your children wear masks; they obscure vision. Try face paint instead. • Make sure your children cross the street at corners and designated crosswalks. Kids crossing the street mid-block can be obscured by parked cars, making it difficult for drivers to see them. Also keep in mind that there is low visibility at dusk — that magic trick or treat time — so consider reflective strips or light-colored costumes.• Always check the candy before letting your kids eat it. While tampering is rare, to be safe, throw out anything that is not sealed or a recognized brand.

Costume ChecksJill Creighton, MD, Pediatric Primary Care, suggests:

• Test face make-up on arms two to three days before Halloween to be sure it will not irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.• As cool as they may look, do not allow your child to wear decorative contact lenses. They can impair vision or cause an infection. Worse, they may irritate the eye, which can then lead to an abrasion of the cornea.

Other Costume Tips:• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.• If a sword, cane or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

If Your Child Has Food Allergies….Halloween can be a tricky time for children with food allergies. Susan Schuval, MD, Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, has thoughts on how to keep fun front and center, but allergic reactions at bay.

• Provide parental supervision at all times (while trick or treating and sorting the candy afterwards).• Consider giving out non-food treats such as crayons, coloring books, pencils and stickers.• Sign up for trick or treating for charity (UNICEF –UNICEF.USA.ORG) as an alternative.• Carry emergency medications at all times (antihistamine/epinephrine auto-injector).• Carry wet wipes to wipe your child’s hands while trick or treating.• Check all ingredients. (Note: Ingredients may differ on treat-sized candy. Also, this candy may be made on different machinery.) • Sort through and then swap candy you may be allergic to afterwards. • Consider other activities besides trick or treating (for example, haunted houses or a movie). • Check ingredients in face paint and makeup. • Supply your own allergen-free home-baked goods or candy for parties.

If Your Child’s Weight Is a Concern

Rosa Cataldo, DO, Director of the Children’s Healthy Weight and Wellness Center, has some good news for kids who are obese or overweight. “Let them enjoy the day,” she says. She suggests allowing them to eat as much of their candy (a reasonable amount - not the whole bag!) as they wish the day of Halloween, then throw out or donate the rest of the candy the next day. It’s a win-win solution. The child doesn’t feel deprived but neither do they develop a daily candy habit in the days following Halloween.

Other Tips: • A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats. • Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

And Finally, Managing That Sweet Tooth

Halloween is a dentist’s nightmare, but pediatric dentist Fred Ferguson, DDS, has some strategies that might even please parent and child:• Don’t allow your child to eat the candy slowly over time — this can lead to tooth decay. Instead, give your child four days to eat all the candy.• Allot candy over these four days ONLY during the 15 to 20 minutes when they get home from school.• Afterwards, have your children brush their teeth and gums. (If your child hasn’t reached first grade yet, give them assistance.)

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