Halloween treats pose a choking hazard for babies

First Halloween celebrations can be super fun, but keep in mind that there are many treat dangers to be aware of. Babies and young children can't have most typical Halloween treats, due to choking hazards. Following are some tips about what types of Halloween treats you should avoid giving to your baby. Don't force the issue: Just because it's a holiday, you shouldn't speed up solid foods. Breast milk or formula is best for young babies. If your baby isn't ready for solids, Halloween is not an excuse to get him ready. If your baby has just started solids, skip the treats and try some homemade pumpkin baby food. Prep treats correctly: If your baby is eating solids, be sure to prep any treat you give him safely and correctly. Learn how to prepare finger foods for your baby. Treats to avoid: Babies cannot have Halloween treats that are sticky, gooey, tiny or hard. To play it safe, avoid the following treats...

• Hard candy, lollies, candy corn or other small candies.
• Popcorn.
• Sticky candy such as taffy candy or chewy candy.
• Gummy candy like gummy worms or bears.
• Chocolates or cookies filled with nuts, peanut butter or honey.
• Pumpkin seeds.
• Whole caramel or candy apples.

All of the above treats pose a choking risk, as do many of the treat wrappers. If you have older kids who trick-or-treat, make sure they keep their bounty up and away from your baby. Know how to handle an emergency: Mistakes happen. If your baby gets his little hands on an off-limits treat, and ends up choking, you need to know what to do. Learn how to help a choking baby. Image via sxc.