These Are the Halloween Candies That Are Not Suitable for Kids Under 5

Steer clear of these candies for Halloween if you have little ones on your block.

Earlier this week, the  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of over 70 million units of sour-flavored rolling candies produced by two manufacturers due to a potential choking hazard. According to the agency, the small rolling ball inside the candy could break free from the plastic base while the candy was being consumed. But as Halloween — and the prospect of going trick-or-treating — gets closer by the day, several other organizations are warning parents that a number of common (and popular) candies could be hazardous if given to young children. 

Maverick’s Legacy, a nonprofit organization founded in memory of a five-month-old who died due to a choking accident, issued a release to remind the public that hard candies, round or smooth sweets, and chewing gum have a higher choking risk than other candies. It also said that it was “crucial” to keep bubble gum or chewing gum, any hard candy, and round lollipops out of the reach of children under the age of five.

Babycenter, an online resource for parents, listed over a dozen kinds of candy that are unsafe to give to the youngest trick-or-treaters, because of the potential that they could also become choking hazards. “Choking hazards are incredibly common when you start to look at Halloween candies,” Elizabeth Donner, M.D., a member of BabyCenter’s medical advisory board, told the outlet. 

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“You basically want to avoid anything round, chewy, or gummy if your child is three or younger. Candies that fit these criteria are more likely to cause a choking incident in young kids and should be avoided entirely.”

According to BabyCenter, the following candies should not be given to children under the age of four:

• Blow Pops

• Candy Corn

• Gummy Bears

• Hot Tamales

• Jawbreakers

• Jolly Ranchers

• M&Ms or Peanut M&Ms

• Milk Duds

• Reese’s Pieces

• Sour Patch Kids

• Skittles

• Tootsie Pops

• Twizzlers

• Whoppers

Unsurprisingly, those candies are all some combination of small, round, hard, or sticky — or they’re lollipops on sticks. When it comes to Halloween treats that are safe for young children, Dr. Donner recommended the kinds of candies and snacks that are larger or that partially dissolve in their mouths while they’re chewing. Some examples given by the website include animal crackers, cookies, cupcakes, Kit Kat, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or Twix.

Regardless of what your little trick-or-treater gets in their treat bag, always keep an eye on them while they’re chewing, and ensure that they’re safely seated before they start to eat. With some care and caution, the scariest thing you’ll have to deal with on Halloween night will be your child’s toothbrush, after they try to clean all of the Oreo pieces out of their mouth. 

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