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- Why is Halloween So Deadly For Kids?
TOP OF MIND
The scariest thing this Halloween? Vehicles.
We don't want to ruin Halloween for you, but we do want to make sure you're as safe as possible while enjoying the festivities!
According to a 2012 State Farm analysis of more than 4 million deaths between 1990 and 2010, children are twice as likely to die on Halloween than any other day of the year.
And that's mostly due to traffic accidents. Children are more than twice as likely to be killed by a car while trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
The important bits
Halloween can be a lethal combination of pedestrians dressed in dark clothing and drivers under the influence.
NHTSA statistics show that during a four-year period, 14% of all pedestrian deaths on Halloween involved drunken drivers. Overall, the agency says Halloween drunk-driving fatalities are on the rise, with 44% of all people killed in car crashes on Halloween night involving a drunk driver.
The good news is there are simple ways to protect against this. Make sure your kid's costume has reflective tape, arm them with a flashlight or glowstick, and perhaps most important? Be with them every step of the way. Or if they're older and would rather get hit by a car than trick-or-treat with their parents, make sure they're walking with a group and paying attention at all times.
Other Halloween dangers to watch out for include: food allergies, pumpkin carving with sharp tools, and hard falls due to intricate costume designs.
What's it all mean?
The best costume is the brightest costume, which is why my entire family will be dressed as stop signs lined with flashing lights.
But seriously... just follow common safety guidelines and you'll be fine! Also, don't forget about your dogs! Pets are 32% more likely to experience food poisoning during Halloween week. Keep them away from the candy!
DID YOU HEAR
🧹 Ah! It's a clean freak! Run!
We all want to have a clean home, but it's not easy, especially when you have dirty kids running around. But it's not impossible! You just have to learn from the best. Here are 30 habits of clean freaks, and 33 cleaning tools every home should have. One of our favorite (and cheap!) cleaning tools is the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster. Perfect for people who hate dusting, which let's be honest, is everyone.
🧪 Too many parents are relying on pouch potions
A recent Los Angeles Times report revealed sales of baby food pouches have soared 900% since 2010, indicating they're now more popular than jarred baby food. And while these pouches are extremely convenient, some experts are concerned we're becoming too dependent on them. Some of the cons? A 2019 study found that toddler food pouches contained more sugar than other types of packaged food. Additionally, experts are worried kids will become dependent on the pureed texture, making them less likely to try new foods. Learn more here.
👻 Walking pneumonia is haunting our children
Has your kid had a cough for weeks? You might want to get them tested for walking pneumonia, specifically Mycoplasma pneumonia. The CDC reports that the percentage of children ages 2 to 4 in the ER for pneumonia who tested positive for Mycoplasma jumped from 1% in April 2024 to 7.2% by early October—a sevenfold increase. And according to doctors, typical antibiotics don't work against this illness.
🪦 Anti-aging diet tips to keep you away from the graveyard
BBC Science Focus released an insightful article detailing the most effective, science-supported dietary changes for promoting a long and healthy life. You can check it out here, but if you don't have time to read it all, here are the most important bits: eat more spermidine (found in soybeans, mushrooms, cheddar cheese and peas), eat more veggies, eat more protein that doesn't come from animals, and surprisingly, say no to fasting.
😱 A birthday party without gifts? The horror!
No gift birthday parties are becoming more popular, and these parents don't know how to feel about it.
BITES WITH KIYAH
Whether you’re strict or lenient with Halloween candy, one thing’s clear: a hearty dinner before trick-or-treating helps curb the candy overload. We've pulled together more than 40 recipes to fill bellies and feed a crowd (in case a few extra ghosts and witches make their way to your dinner table on Thursday).
@KiyahDuffey is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition.
THE BEST PICTURE BOOKS
This year, consider giving all the little ones on your NICE list picture books that will spark their imagination and love of reading. Some of our favorites include Nannette's Baguette, a rhyming masterpiece from Mo Willems about the undeniable power of freshly baked bread (and the joys of growing up) or The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore about the power of sharing everyone's story.
Find all 15 of our recommendations here.
HERE’S A QUESTION
How do you feel about no gift birthday parties? |
Last week, we asked if you ever leave dirty diapers laying around your house, and nearly 90% of you said “Never!” Only 10% said "Maybe once or twice?"
RECALLS
Honestly, there's a bunch of food recalls going on right now. It's hard to keep up.
Frozen waffles are still being recalled, onions are being recalled and pulled from menus at McDonald's and Burger King, Costco smoked salmon might be contaminated with Listeria, and more.
Thankfully, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are completely safe!