We were one of those parents with a baby (13 month old) last year. We "took" candy because our neighbor had given our DD a cute hand-felted Halloween bag and she was fascinated by everyone walking around at night and excited to be carrying around her special bag. Didn't realize anyone begrudged her sleep-deprived parents the 10 pieces of candy we got from our friends on our block!

I'd LOVE to see infants/toddlers in costumes - more than I'd like to see older kids in half-assed ones. Who cares who's actually eating the candy?

My neighborhood ONLY has infants and toddlers. My neighbors were happy to finally have candy to hand out. We've had several people already ask if the kids were organizing to come around again.

I'm just glad I don't live in OPs neighborhood.

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!

Such a grump and stingy too! Keep your candy and turn your lights out.

Oooh! Now I'm definitely taking my 9 month old twins out for Halloween! I already got their costumes. A lion and a tiger. Can't wait for everyone to coo over them!

And I'm keeping the candy. Hahahahaha!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for those of you chastising the OP, how would you feel about a parent (with small children in costume) carrying a bag of her own requesting candy for “the baby at home?”

We get this scenario every year.

I don't have a problem with that. I often get a group coming to the door, with a kid carrying a bag explaining that another kid is sick or unavailable for some reason. Who cares? I mean the whole point is, you are giving away candy. Period. Is giving away MORE candy a problem?

Totally agree. I'm not interested in using Halloween as an opportunity to judge who is worth of candy and who isn't.

Excellent post. OP: Don't think so hard about candy. I generally do pig out on chocolate that night. Fortunately I live in a neighborhood where everyone offers to everyone. Since my house is tucked away and I would otherwise be a "member of the chocolate 47%," I buy a few pounds of chocolate and hand it out to the people in the neighborhood whose doors I know will get more than their fair share of guests.

Anonymous wrote:who cares if you got smiles out of everyone.

I'm the OP; your post is honestly the best way to view it, thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP - the kids love the process. Dont' be so sure people actually feed the kids all the candy and who cares if you got smiles out of everyone.

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!

I'm with OP. This is stupid to do - what, do you take your toddler to the elementary school he'll go to someday on the first day of school? Jesus, people, it's not grumpy when what you're doing is inappropriate. Not like child beauty pageant inappropriate, but still wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about the mini van that pulls up on the cul-de-sac? Out pops a dozen "devils" and like Taz, they sweep all the houses, pile into the mini van and move on to the next street.

Um... that's what you get for living on a cul-de-sac.

??

Living on a cul-de-sac means you should get vanloads of kids who don't even live near your neighborhood?

I give fistfuls of candy to anyone who comes to the door. I don't care it is baby/teen/adult. I just love it. Once my candy is gone I turn off the light.

I do dig seeing little babies in costumes. I think they are adorable. I will give them candy even if the baby doesn't have any teeth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for those of you chastising the OP, how would you feel about a parent (with small children in costume) carrying a bag of her own requesting candy for “the baby at home?”

We get this scenario every year.

I don't have a problem with that. I often get a group coming to the door, with a kid carrying a bag explaining that another kid is sick or unavailable for some reason. Who cares? I mean the whole point is, you are giving away candy. Period. Is giving away MORE candy a problem?

Totally agree. I'm not interested in using Halloween as an opportunity to judge who is worth of candy and who isn't.

Anonymous wrote:So for those of you chastising the OP, how would you feel about a parent (with small children in costume) carrying a bag of her own requesting candy for “the baby at home?”

We get this scenario every year.

I don't have a problem with that. I often get a group coming to the door, with a kid carrying a bag explaining that another kid is sick or unavailable for some reason. Who cares? I mean the whole point is, you are giving away candy. Period. Is giving away MORE candy a problem?

So for those of you chastising the OP, how would you feel about a parent (with small children in costume) carrying a bag of her own requesting candy for “the baby at home?”

We get this scenario every year.

Anonymous wrote:What about the mini van that pulls up on the cul-de-sac? Out pops a dozen "devils" and like Taz, they sweep all the houses, pile into the mini van and move on to the next street.

Um... that's what you get for living on a cul-de-sac.