OP, unclench. So what?

There's always a few neighbors/posters who get angry about teens without costumes...or their pet peeve is babies who can't technically eat the candy...or they hate seeing a kid wearing just face makeup with no 'real' costume...or a kid wearing just pajamas instead of a costume. If you're giving out carrot sticks you may have invested a bit too much space in your head into Halloween costume judgements I will continue to pass out candy to whomever wants to celebrate the holiday, that's just me.

Anonymous wrote:We give carrot sticks to the teenagers who show up without costumes.

OMG, I would be afraid to do this. I would get a cuss-out and may end up with spray paint on my house on windows busted. Yes, I live in DC and not the "good" part.

When we took our baby out trick or treating and people offered us candy, we would take it just to be nice and friendly. I can and do buy bags of candy for household consumption, so it's not like we're in it for the candy. If someone smiles and offers you an item worth a few cents, is it really so wrong to accept?

(I love babies in costume and sulky teens in costume!)

Anonymous wrote:OP I dont think the parents are going out to get "free candy." I think they probably enjoy holding out the candy bucket for their little one to see the candy being dropped in and to get the Halloween experience.

You sound like a grump!

Seriously!

OP I think you forget how exciting these holidays are for brand new parents. Sometimes they just can't wait to get the ball rolling on these traditions. You are thinking about it too much, I'm pretty sure there is no way that it's just a giant scheme by fat parents to get free candy.

My infant didn't have any interest in eating the candy but she loved sitting on the floor and taking the wrapped pieces of candy out of the pumpkin bucket and putting them back in again. It was a great game.

GET OFF MY PORCH, BABIES!

Wow. Why don't you just offer them your dried, shrunken, hag teat. Trick or Teat?

We give carrot sticks to the teenagers who show up without costumes.

OP I dont think the parents are going out to get "free candy." I think they probably enjoy holding out the candy bucket for their little one to see the candy being dropped in and to get the Halloween experience.

You sound like a grump!

If an adult wants to knock on my door on halloween I'll happily give them candy. Cause isn't that what it's about - free candy? I don't care how old you are - just be nice, come only one time, and try to dress up!

Anonymous wrote:Then if you don't like it turn off your lights and don't answer the door. We don't take candy but happily give it away.

OP here. I already said I love Halloween. I would not dream of not handing out candy! I just think it's odd that parents would be collecting candy with babies, but I would always still drop a piece in the bucket if they were holding it out.

Then if you don't like it turn off your lights and don't answer the door. We don't take candy but happily give it away.

We've had lots of babies come by in their adorable costumes and we put candy in their buckets. It never occurred to me to care who ends up eating the candy; I assume its the parents, but maybe they donate to Treats for Troops. It would be strange to skip the candy; it's part of the routine. People knocking on the door to show off the babies' costumes and then walking away without candy would be bizarre to me unless they are with older kids who are getting candy.

We are taking our 19 month old for the first time. Just to a few houses on the block. Are we tacky? And yes, we will probably not give her the candy, maybe a little. It's just more for the fun of going up to the house saying trick or treat and getting something in your bag

I
love
Halloween

but I'm always stunned when parents take candy for their INFANT whom they bring around for Halloween -- when our kids were very little we just took them to the door and said HI but "No, thank you" to candy. Because come on the kid isn't going to (SHOULD NOT BE!) eating it and how tacky is it for parents to get free candy for themselves?

I've heard on the boards here that some parents take candy anyway even when they're with kids old enough to get it. What's that about?

And what's with the teenager who show up in regular clothes??

Sorry, I sound like Seinfeld and Louis Black rolled into one. I really love Halloween but I shake my head at this stuff. Please comment on these if you wish or leave your own Halloween "WTF"s!