Everybody is freaking out about the H1N1 virus. A lot of people are running out and waiting for 6 plus hours to get the vaccine and just as many people are refusing to get it altogether. I don’t want to debate the vaccine, but I do want to share with you some tips on how to prevent exposure over Halloween. I’m sure your kids will be attending parties, and going trick-or-treating will expose them to all kinds of new people with who knows what illnesses. You should be cautious, but don’t lock your family up in fear.

Here are the tips: There aren’t many studies investigating Halloween candy and flu virus transmission. So the following 12 tips are based on practical advice from practicing pediatricians. They tell parents how to handle Halloween trick-or-treating for candy, with the goal of minimizing the risk of contracting H1N1 swine flu and other “bugs.

Forget Grab Bags. Consider Non-Food Treats

1. Give Non-Candy Halloween Treats. There’s national concern over childhood obesity. Instead of candy, Dr. Shu* recommends “trading cards, baseball cards, tattoos, bookmarks, balls, glow sticks, or plastic spiders,” noting that these treats “don’t promote obesity and tooth decay.“ Check Oriental Trading Company and Target stores.

2. Scoop Halloween Candy, to Avoid H1N1. When giving out candy, hand it or scoop it – but avoid the grab bag. “If kids are fingering through a bag of candy it could add germs to the mix,” says Dr. Shu. Instead, hand the candy to each trick-or-treater. Or, use a cup to scoop it from a bowl. That way, many hands aren’t touching the same chocolate candy kiss.

Halloween Candy: Put Aside for Two Days

1. Let Those Germs Die. Let Halloween candy “sit” for a few days before touching or eating it. Dr. Shu says, “two days is plenty of time for any contagions” like a H1N1 virus that happens to be on the candy wrapper to die.

2. Avoid Obesity. No need to be a killjoy, but make Halloween candy last. (read more!)

image: stewystuff

I went to pick up a costume to wear to work last night, and the store I went to was packed because Halloween is on Friday, and I’m a procrastinator. :)  As I tried to maneuver my way through the aisles, I looked up at the wall of costumes to choose from and noticed these very young girls trying to decide which costume to get.  I noticed that they were a certain brand, I won’t mention, who is known for their sexy costumes.  These girls had to be about 12-14.  They looked the age which I personally feel is inappropriate to sport such sexy costumes, but I also thought to myself: “Those costumes apparently fit them, otherwise they would not be trying to pick out their favorite.  Geesh.”

These types of costumes are pretty much the only options out there as far as costumes to purchase for adults, so I’ve had come up with ways to make them not as sexy or a bit more modest, if you will.  There are ways to make the costume work, if that is the only available option.  For example, if you feel the bare midriff on the first preteen’s costumes is a bit much, have her put on a tank top or cami underneath.  Too much leg, you think?  Have her wear some knee length spandex shorts underneath.

Dr. Gail Saltz gives some great tips on MSNBC.com on how to “put your foot down,” so to speak, and make sure your daughter knows what is appropriate for her age.

Check out her great tips here.

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Image Source

These witch treats are perfect for passing out to fellow classmates.

Halloween Witch Craft and Treat - AmazingMoms.com

These treat holders are great for Halloween parties.

Egg Cup Treat Holders - Kaboose.com

Yummy Mummies - FamilyFun.com

These spider balloons are super cute for a classroom art project.  I would suggest making spider webs out of cotton, speading them around the classroom and taping or pinning the kids’ completed spider balloons around the room for a spooky Halloween setting.

Balloon Spider - Today’s Parent

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for Halloween craft kits.
                                       Discounts on craft supplies.
                                       Buy Halloween candy.

Yummy Earth Organic Candy Drops: $39.50 (5 lb bag)

           Candy Tree Organic Cherry Lollipops: $27.14 (pack of 12)

Sunridge Farms Organic Sunny Bears: $24.77 (pack of 6)

GoNaturally Organic Hard Candy Assortment: $49.50 (5 lb bag)

Shop for more organic candy at Smarter.com.

                      Devil Halloween Baby Socks: $0.99         Candy Corn Baby Socks: $0.99

                   Ghost Halloween Baby Socks: $0.99               Koi Halloween Socks: $0.99

Shop for more Hallowen baby socks at Smarter.com.

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Image Source: BabyBlogBlog.com

Pumpkin Pot Pies:

Ingredients:

6 sugar pumpkins or acorn squash (1 to 2 pounds each)
Salt and ground black pepper
6 tablespoon butter
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups canned chicken broth
8 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
8 ounces frozen pearl onions or chopped onions
4 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried leaf sage
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 refrigerated pie crust
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk for egg wash

Preparation:

1.    Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice tops off pumpkins. Remove seeds and pulp. Sprinkle insides of pumpkins with salt and pepper. Place pumpkins cut side up on a baking sheet. Cover pumpkins tightly with foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or just until skin is easily pierced with knife. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
2.    Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly until well blended, about 1 minute. Add broth and stir constantly until mixture is thick and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Add vegetables, onions, chicken and herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and divide mixture evenly among cooled pumpkin shells (approximately 1-1/2 cups per pumpkin).
3.    Unwrap pie dough and place on lightly floured work surface. With a sharp paring knife, cut (12) 6-inch-long, 1/2-inch-wide strips, and roll dough to resemble tendrils. Cut small leaf shapes, and with back of knife, gently press lines into leaf to resemble veins.
4.    Use egg wash as glue to attach dough strips, twisting gently to form coils. Attach leaves. Brush all decorations with egg wash. Return pumpkins to oven and bake about 30 minutes, or until pie dough is golden and filling is hot and bubbly.

…and for dessert.

Spider Cakes:

Ingredients:

18 to 20 chocolate cupcakes
1 box (4-serving size) white chocolate pudding mix, prepared according to package directions and dyed green
1 container (16 ounces) fudge frosting
Halloween cupcake liners
Black licorice, cut in half for spider legs
Red cinnamon candies for eyes
2 black licorice strings, cut into 1/4-inch pieces for eyelashes (optional)

Preparation:

1.    Poke small hole in the bottom of each cupcake with toothpick. Snip off a corner of a freezer bag with scissors, making a hole just large enough for a small, round piping tip to fit through. Place tip through bag and into hole. Spoon green pudding into bag.
2.    Insert piping tip into bottom of cupcake. Pipe some pudding gently and slowly into upcake. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.
3.    Frost tops and sides of cupcakes with frosting. Place each cupcake unfrosted-side down in a slightly flattened cupcake liner.
4.    Place 4 cut licorice sticks on each side of cupcake to form legs. Press in cinnamon candies for eyes. Press licorice strings about cinnamon candies to create eyelashes, if desired. Serve immediately.

Check out more Halloween recipes here. 

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                Plush Infant Lion Costume: $28.99               Lil’ Lion Infant Costume: $44.99

You can go with the cute and comfy lion costume on the right, or the the costume with a bit more detail and “pazzaz” on the left. 

                                                       Shark Bunting Infant Costume: $15.99

I’ve always said the bunting costumes are my fave beacuse the costume designers can be more creative.  If this shark had legs, it just wouldn’t work!  It looks like the baby model is saying “Pshhh, mommy please.”                      

                                    Lil Penguin Elite Collection Infant Toddler Costume: $39.99

        Daisy Infant Bunting Costume: $18.99            Infant Sunflower Baby Costume:  $21.99

                     Cookie Monster Costume: $39.99                         Elmo Costume: $39.99

                 Ragamuffin Dolly Costume: $22.99          Ragamuffin Sailor Costume: $22.99 

…or as we all know them, Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes  I think these costumes would be super cute for boy/girl twins!

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more baby halloween costumes.
                                       Buy kids’ halloween costumes.