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Halloween Nightmares in Disguise

Surviving the Holiday With Toddlers in Tow

By Gwen Kopetzky

Remember how hard it was when you were a kid to ball up the edges of your pillowcase and carry it around full of trick-or-treat candy? It hasn't gotten any easier. We tried outfitting our first daughter with a pillowcase until we saw her struggling to keep it closed. And you know she didn't want to entrust her candy to her parents. So now the pillowcases stay on the bed.

We have also tried the cute stuffed pumpkin bucket with the cloth handle until it dumped its load in the middle of the street after my daughter started swinging her arms and skipping down the street. Cue one hysterical little girl in a ladybug costume. We tried the adorable satin bag that came with a princess outfit, only to have it rip out along the side when we were halfway through our rounds. I spent the rest of the night stuffing Tootsie Rolls in my pockets.

The best Halloween receptacles we've tried? Either the handled plastic bags like the ones you use for treat bags at birthday parties or, better yet, the larger paper bags with twine handles from your local grocery or department store. They aren't Gucci, but both bags have the carrying capacity and the durability to make it through a night on the town.

By steering clear of these Halloween horrors, I have managed to ensure a less stressful harvest holiday with my children during the toddler years. Of course, no matter how bad my experience is the year before, it's hard to stay away from the fun of Halloween. This year you'll find me out there again sneaking a candy bar from one of my daughter's trick-or-treat bags when she isn't looking – don't even try to tell me you don't!

Want to see more?

• Halloween Headquarters
• Halloween Costumes
• Trick or Treating Safety Quiz
• Talk about it!

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