Baka Mabulunan! Watch Out For These Halloween Treats Unsuitable For Kids Under 5

It’s Halloween season once again. If you’re looking for your children’s costumes or planning Trick or Treat activities, here’s a quick public service announcement (PSA). Please be careful of giving some common or even popular candies to your young children as it can be potentially choking hazards to them.

What candies or sweets should parents watch out for?

Nemours Children’s Hospital pediatric hospitalist, Dr. Elizabeth Donner, told BabyCenter that, “Choking hazards are incredibly common when you start to look at Halloween candies. You basically want to avoid anything round, chewy, or gummy if your child is 3 or younger. Candies that fit this criteria are more likely to cause a choking incident in young kids and should be avoided entirely.”

Unsafe Halloween Treats:

• Button-shaped chocolates or candy
• Hard or chewy candies
• Gummy candies
• Jelly or gelatin-based sweets
• Marshmallows
• Lollipops or candies with plastic attachments
• Candies with stickers, bouncy balls, small toys, or temporary tattoos
• Candies with unmarked or questionable brands or manufacturers

In the US, choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in children under 5 years of age, with the most common cause being food. Here in the country, there have been several candy-related choking incidents among kids, including this Grade 2 student who died after choking on a chocolate candy, and this 3-year-old and 1-year-old who both died choking on jelly candy.

What can parents give to young kids instead?

Dr. Donner recommends larger treats can be given to young kids.

Safe Halloween Treats:

• Chocolate bars
• Cupcakes
• Brownies
• Cookies
• Crackers

What should parents do?

It’s crucial for parents to remain vigilant, especially when their children are younger than 4 years old, as they are more susceptible to choking incidents. Also, note that it’s recommended to avoid giving children under 2 years of age foods with added sugar, including candy or chocolates.

Dr. Donner reminds parents that they “should be aware of these choking hazards ahead of time so that they can be on the lookout for potential dangers and prevent accidents from occurring.”

She also explains what to look out for so that parents can know whether to intervene and get help.

“Gagging is when a child opens their mouth and pushes their tongue outward to prevent an object from ‘going down the wrong tube,’ so to speak,” explains Dr. Donner. “They may turn bright red and make sputtering or retching noises. Gagging is the body’s way of protecting the airway from choking. Let it happen naturally – there’s no need for intervention at this point.”

However, parents should act if and once the gagging or coughing noises stop, as this is a sign that the foreign object has become lodged in the child’s airway and he is actively choking. “In this scenario, they are no longer able to pass any air in or out of the lungs, so they will often appear very panicked and unable to breathe.”

Dr. Donner says, “If a child is actually choking, meaning that they are struggling to breathe and no longer making any gagging or coughing noises, it’s time to act.” She recommends that parents should call emergency health personnel or, “For those younger than 1 year, quickly give five back blows alternated with five chest thrusts, repeating until the choking is resolved or the victim goes unconscious. For children 12 months and older, use the Heimlich maneuver. If the victim loses consciousness, CPR should be performed until help arrives.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS CHOKING:

• A Choking Baby Is Often Silent. How to Tell the Signs and Keep Your Baby Safe
• 3 Vital Steps When You Do First Aid on Choking Preggos and Babies
• Choking is a Leading Cause of Injury and Death in Children, Here's How to Keep Your Baby Safe
• Baby First Aid: Choking, Falls, Burns + First Aid Kit

Before letting your kids enjoy their Halloween loot, make sure to check it first and keep the “unsafe” treats for yourself. Have a safe Trick or Treat, mamas!