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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my ds aged 22 months trick or treating

103 replies

YummyorSlummy · 29/10/2010 20:00

Even though he can't say 'trick or treat'? Not sure whether to go or wait until next year and just let him answer the door instead. So please can you all tell me what to do?!

OP posts:
IloveBafanaBafana · 29/10/2010 20:03

don't take him, he is never gonna remember and you are not going to let him eat all the shite that you then get.

Stay home and watch telly please

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 29/10/2010 20:03

We all go out en masse round our cul de sac, with all ages from babies to my teenager welcome. Would you be going out in a crowd?

herbietea · 29/10/2010 20:05

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cherrybea · 29/10/2010 20:09

YANBU - dd1 went out last year at 21 months and sang twinkle twinkle as she couldn't say trick or treat. We went out with her older cousins round our estate and she loved it.

Original poster
YummyorSlummy · 29/10/2010 20:10

Herbietea sorry to hear about that, its dreadfull that you got your house egged. General rule as far as I'm concerned is to only trick or treat if there's a pumpkin/decorations out.

Maybe I should let him dress up and just go and answer the door to them, we wouldn't have been going in a crowd just me and ds unfortunately!

OP posts:
bruxeur · 29/10/2010 20:11

Trick or treating is at best a bit plebby and at worst is begging and vandalism.

So just don't!

Original poster
YummyorSlummy · 29/10/2010 20:11

Cherrybea think I'd find it easier to take him if we were going with other people but am scared people will think I'm just trick or treating for myself!

OP posts:
usernamechanged345 · 29/10/2010 20:12

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Ragwort · 29/10/2010 20:13

Seriously, he is far too young. Surely he would be in bed anyway when the trick or treaters come round unless they are very early where you live [hgrin].

I have refused to allow my DS to go trick or treating and he is 9 this year.

MrsVincentPrice · 29/10/2010 20:13

Put out a pumpkin (until his bedtime) dress him up and let him help answer the door - he'll love it (assuming your local TOTers are cute 5 year olds accompanied by parents, not menacing thugs).

cherrybea · 29/10/2010 20:14

I let her go to the door with her 4yo cousin while we waited on the path. Just meant we were a bit far away when she started grabbing handfuls of sweets. Blush

I did go to a few doors with her and didn't have any funny comments or looks. Take him and have fun.

herbietea · 29/10/2010 20:14

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Ragwort · 29/10/2010 20:14

Quite agree with mrspickles [hsmile] - I do answer the door to trick or treaters and have stocked up with the necessary sweets but really, really hate it and would not be amused if a parent with a very small child came round.

mummycreepynora · 29/10/2010 20:14

I took dd at that age (ish) but to be fair we don't do 'proper' trick or treating, only to friends and family - and really only so they can see the kids dressed up! I think we say happy halloween or something too - rather than the 'trick or treat' thingy :)

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 29/10/2010 20:16

If it's just you and him, then no, I wouldn't.

nigglewiggle · 29/10/2010 20:17

YABU and slightly unhinged to even consider it. I thought you were going to say you had older children and didn't want them going out alone and had no-one to look after your baby. In your case, the idea is bonkers. [hshock]

otchayaniye · 29/10/2010 20:18

Why do you want to?

cherrybea · 29/10/2010 20:19

My dd really enjoyed it, all the houses round here are decorated and she was fascinated.

Mamumu · 29/10/2010 20:23

This is my first Halloween in England, and I am a bit surprised to be reading such negative comments. Do you say it's something plebby? Like begging? Come on, please! I thought it was just for fun and laughs.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 29/10/2010 20:28

We've been guising up here for generations - it's certainly not plebby or begging. Egging houses, throwing flour or threatening behaviour is a separate issue.

Ragwort · 29/10/2010 20:31

I do think it is begging, and those of you who say it isn't - can you explain why?

A child knocks on my door, says 'Trick or Treat' (or Happy Halloween) - and expects sweets - how is that not begging?

(and if anyone mentions carol singing - to my mind that is totally different as the money is (usually) collected for charity).

JustKeepSparkling · 29/10/2010 20:31

I'm not sure when we will go out with the DC, if ever tbh. DS1 is 4.5 and would love to knock on doors/ring doorbells and get given loads of sweets but i'm not comfortable with the idea really.

He's happy with answering our door and handing over chocolate for now - and one for him each time too of course :)

So, in answer to the OP, yes YABU.

Mamumu · 29/10/2010 20:34

@Ragwort, to me it's not begging because it's... a game? A childrens thing? Also, I've been told that if you don't want to give sweets you don't put decorations outside the house and people shouldn't be bothering you.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 29/10/2010 20:36

I don't see it as begging, but then I make it quite clear that I'm happy to receive guisers by decorating the house. We all go out round each others houses, and don't go to people that we know don't want them.

PlanetEarth · 29/10/2010 20:36

Last year we had a young couple (strangers to us) come round with a baby - a few months old, and certainly too young for sweets. Here guising is the thing, but they didn't even do proper guising (i.e. tell a joke or sing something), just stood there and said, "Trick or treat." Confused. I gave them a few sweets just to get rid of them, wasn't impressed though.