We just got done with my neighborhoods trick or treating, and it made me think, how young is too young?
Both my H and I think that if the child can not walk, and has to be carried the entire time (or ride in the stroller) then that is too young. But what does everyone else think?
Re: How young is too young to trick or treat?
I agree with this. This was our first real year ToT'ing. Our four year old is extremely shy and was not ready to go to strangers houses until this year. Our 2 year old had the best time! He loves to meet new people. Anna (1yr) went with us, but did not collect candy.
I think a child is too young to trick or treat if he or she isn't able to say "thank you."
Edit: clarity
I just had a ~6 month old come to my door in a stroller.
If you want to dress your baby up in a costume for the day, that's great. I was at Target this afternoon and saw lots of babies in costumes. Very cute. It's also fine to go to your family and friends homes because they would enjoy seeing the LO in costume. But trick or treating to random houses? No. Unless there's an older sibling along, it's just a candy grab for the parents.
I think the child should at least be able to walk and carry their own bucket.
I disagree with this. DS has a speech delay and can't say that because of that reason. I think talking has little to do with it. He can eat the candy (most of it) and walks up to the door with his bucket. He even helps by ringing the doorbell if we lift him up. We help him with the trick or treat and thank you, but I think he is old enough. We had lots of kids to our door tonight in the same boat.
I agree that if the child is too young to eat the candy, they are too young to be TorTing.
I don't mind if there is an older sibling, and the baby is just along for the ride. I'm fine to give "the baby" a piece of candy as well - knowing mom and dad will be eating it.
But to TorT with just a baby is pretty lame. Save the money from the costume and buy some candy if you need it that badly.
I obviously meant in terms of age. I'm not going to deny a disabled child candy because he cannot say the words "thank you." I'm using general speech ability as a guideline. A babbling twelve month old is too young, IMO.
Plus, I think it's another great opportunity to teach kids to say thank you.
Our 18 month old had a fabulous time tonight, so obviously I don't think he was too young. He was just having fun watching the whole process and hanging with the big kids. We went to houses we knew so everyone could see him in his costume.
And just so you know, it wasn't about the candy. It was about him having fun. It was also a lot of fun for my husband and I.
You all might change your minds once your little ones are here...
Precisely. And I have to agree with another poster...it's about the kids having fun. They just love it! And that's what's important. I can assure you that most parents aren't in it for the candy. They can buy a bag of their own for $5 and probably did for their own house, KWIM?
(m/c 1.17.07, m/c 5.15.07)
DS - 03.15.08
DD2 - 12.03.09
DD3 - 3.28.11
I know what you're getting at...I'm just saying that speech has a HUGE range. My friend has an 11-month-old who does say please and thank you and walks. We're obviously on the opposite end, and have a slight delay. Speech in toddlers really varies, so I think it's not really appropriate to determine trick or treating appropriateness that way. I suppose my example was a bad example, but what I was trying to get at is that speech is not a good indicator of readiness.
It is the 6 month olds (and younger in a couple of cases) that have no clue what is going on that irritated me. I get taking your child because they have fun with it, or if there is an older child along. But to take an infant trick or treating for the sake of trick or treating, with no older child in tow is ridiculous to me. That infant is not having fun, that infant has no clue what is going on.
I agree. DS can't say trick or treat or thank you. We went with our little neighbor girl, and he had a great time. We took them in a wagon, but had them walk up to the doors.
I think when it comes to toddlers, it's definitely an individual thing - if your child is old enough to walk around on her/his own, carry a bucket, and have the basics of the whole process down, then more power to you. But I can't STAND people expecting me to give candy to babies in strollers. Unless you're feeding your 8 month old that Butterfinger (which is a whole different issue), I'm not about to hand out candy to an adult who's carrying an infant. If it's really all about fun, dress the baby up, allow him/her to greet trick or treaters at the door, or take her/him to a few close neighbors.
To clarify - I work in retail and they do trick or treating in the mall - we CONSTANTLY have parents collecting candy for babies in strollers and it drives me CRAZY.
I don't think her child is "disabled". He's slightly delayed.
I agree that if they're too young to walk to the door, carry the bag or bucket, and actually eat the candy, they're too young for Trick or Treating. I'd still dress them up because that's cute as heck, but I would be embarrassed to take my 6 month old door to door for candy.
Thank you for noticing this as well I was going to comment on that, too, but decided not to, so I'm glad you caught that!
I agree. Going out with older kids or even just to visit family & friends is a different story though. Those people WANT to see your baby in costume. :-)
I'm happy to see friends' babies dressed up, but it does seem pointless at stroller age or younger for total strangers. Unless, of course, they're with older kids.
Speaking of thank yous, we had a *lot* of little girls tonight who were just too shy to say it when prompted. Ditto trick or treat. They just sort of mumbled and bit their lips. Age 3-5. But it was cute. I was uberbashful then too.
This is what DH were discussing tonight. He thinks just around the block since our LO will only be 8 months by next Halloween.
this, We will probably take DS out next year just to a couple houses because it is excited for us as first time parents to dress him up and let him enjoy the experience.
Siggy check.
This. We took DS around last year when he was 4 months old. He had no idea what was going on, but DH and I had so much fun dressing him up and showing him off to our neighbors. We took him to the mall too. I wanted everyone to see my adorable little froggy.
This!!! A group came and one of the boys said, "Can I have a piece for the baby?" Sure enough, a few feet away was a super tiny baby in a stroller! The woman even said, "There really is a baby here!"
Uh... who is going to eat that candy? I wish I had crap candy to give to that "baby"
We didn't take my daughter around this year b/c she isn't going to eat the candy. If we had candy sitting around, I would be eating it and I don't want to!
Leah - 6.28.09
Lorelei - 4.23.11
Books Read:
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This too! I wanted to ask, "who are you?"
Leah - 6.28.09
Lorelei - 4.23.11
Books Read:
2013 - 4
2012 - 50 2011 - 47 2010 - 57
2009 - 71 2008 - 108 2007 - 33