By Laura Romano, D.O., hospitalist at Cook Children's Medical Center- Fort Worth

 The season of the Great Pumpkin, falling leaves, and fun Halloween costumes has officially arrived! My kids are so excited to show off their Halloween costumes this year. If you see a Fairy Princess and Thomas the Tank Engine wandering around your neighborhood, make sure you say hi!

 As kids get ready for trick-or-treating, there are some important things parents can do to keep them as safe as possible! Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about Trick or Treating!

 Prepare your little ones for Halloween

• Trick or treating can be fun, but slightly intimidating for little ones. Practice trick-or-treating with your kids. Have them come to your door and say “trick or treat!” and practice saying please and thank you!
• Practice handing out candy. Handing out candy is my daughter’s personal favorite. You MUST take candy from her before you are allowed to leave our yard. She will follow you.
• Talk about what they might see on Halloween and walk around the neighborhood beforehand.

For older kids

• Sending a responsible adult is always a good idea.
• Older kids who can go trick-or-treating by themselves should only visit houses they know and follow routes that are pre-approved by parents.
• They should avoid going by themselves or with just one other friend, and instead go in large groups.
• Arrange specific check-in times throughout the evening.
• If your teen is driving to a party, make sure they are driving slowly and know to watch out for little kids.

Trick or Treat: Give me something good to eat

• For little kids: Avoid candies or treats that are small and might be a choking hazard.
• Check the candy: Practice going through the candy haul with your kids before allowing them to eat any.
  • You want to look for candy that may have been tampered with or look-alike food items that might contain illicit substances like THC or CBD.
• Giving out candy: I always try to make sure we have a peanut-free option for kids! We keep a separate bowl with non-peanut candies like Skittles or Smarties.
• Allergies: Regardless of your child’s allergy status, inspect all candy before they eat any. You want to look out for food allergens like peanuts or candies that are made in nut-containing facilities.

Too much candy?

As a Reese’s lover, my answer is that there is never too much candy. However, as a mom, I try to remember that the combination of sugar, chocolate, and the excitement of Halloween can lead to an upset stomach. Try to limit the intake to just a few pieces on Halloween night.

Keep It Reel: Staying Safe in Costume

• If possible, avoid all black costumes, particularly if your kids are trick-or-treating later in the evening. Dark costumes can be hard to see in the evening.
• If your child is wearing a dark costume, make sure that your child is bringing a flashlight to help them be visible or wear glow sticks.

"Parents may think buying costumes that are too big allow children to wear the costumes for several years, but outfits that are too big can cause falls," said Dana Walraven, manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children's and coordinator of the Safe Kids Tarrant County Coaltion.

Use these tips as your kids are preparing for Halloween:

1. Select costumes that fit well.
2. Trick-or-treat with your children.
3. To help drivers see kids in the dark, put reflective tape at the top and bottom of costumes. This lets drivers better see your kids' height and movement.
4. Use face paint instead of masks so trick-or-treaters' vision isn't blocked.
5. Plan a familiar trick-or-treating route on safe, well-lit streets, use sidewalks and cross the street at intersections.
6. When crossing the street, use the crosswalk and make eye contact with the drivers so you know they see you and your group.
7. Use a flashlight or glow stick to light the way.

For more safety information

Being a parent is tough. We want you to know that you are not alone. We've compiled tips, resources and practical advice on a variety of safety and prevention topics designed to help you raise a safe and healthy family.

Poisoned candy?

We’ve heard these scary tales since we were little kids. Parents make sure you check your kids’ candy before they begin munching on their treats, but know that many of the stories you’ve heard are meant to scare your little brother.

Are there some particular dangers you should be aware of for the last day in October? Yes! Here are a couple of other Halloween treat issues you should know:

Food allergies

Children with food allergies can have a particularly challenging time during all holidays, including Halloween. Their desire to feel included in the rite of passage that is trick-or-treating doesn’t always mesh well with the risk of getting food that could harm them.

Many of the most common food allergies are frequent ingredients in Halloween treats (nuts, milk, egg, soy and wheat).

Over the past few years, there has been a movement towards providing non-food options for trick-or-treaters. You can designate your house a food-allergy friendly house by painting a pumpkin teal or for those of you are aren’t as crafty (or are just too lazy or don’t have enough time), you can print out this flyer and tape it to your door.

Listeria in caramel apples

Besides being a risk for ripping my front teeth out, caramel apples can harbor Listeria. Remember Listeria, you guys? It’s why I haven’t had Blue Bell in months. According to a recent study from the American Society for Microbiology, it seems that when the apple is punctured by the popsicle stick, the small amount of juice that comes out can become infected with Listeria.

Listeria is a particular concern for pregnant moms, the elderly and newborns so please don’t let your newborn munch on a caramel apple.

Some stores are pulling caramel apples off the shelves in response to this study.

Halloween can be a great time of fun for all kids.

For more information, check out our Halloween safety page.