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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to put up a sign saying "No trick or treaters after 7pm"

42 replies

mumofbumblebea · 28/10/2011 10:57

ok i know somebody may have already done a halloween related post so i apologise in advance if i'm repeating.
basically last year we had loads of late night teenage trick or treaters (11pm ffs!) which kept waking our DD up which was a real pain in the arse. we didn't answer the 11pm ones and had taken the battery out of the doorbell but the sods still woke her up by banging on the door (not particularly hard or necessarily meant maliciously but still enough to wake her up). DP thinks this year we should put the above sign up over the weekend and monday but i think that might just make it worse and make us a bit of a target for the troublemakers. so AWBU to do this, or does anyone have any better advice to keep late evening/night trick or treaters away?
btw last year we gave teenagers packets of raisons so maybe they will decide its not worth it this year...

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 28/10/2011 11:01

I was wondering how to tackle T or T'ers this year myself. I think I'm going to put a bowl on the front door step, when I'm bored of getting up and tell them to help themselves!

Why don't you do that? Write on the note, that although they are welcome to help themselves to sweets, you'd rather they didn't knock on the door after 7pm.

OldGreyWassailTest · 28/10/2011 11:03

You think they are all going to look at a watch to see what time it is? Just put a sign up at 7pm saying NO TorT Baby Asleep.

NinkyNonker · 28/10/2011 11:04

We're going to try, put a note up asking people not to knock as we have a sleeping baby! Otherwise it'll be a nightmare, the dogs barking each time someone knocks etc...

Liliana1 · 28/10/2011 11:07

Our local paper has a poster that people that don't want t or t put up, it generally accepted as it is a whole town thing. I don't think you're being unreasonable but OGWT's idea to put it out when you don't want any more will save those who aren't wearing watches.

On another note, my mum gave out chocolate covered sprouts a few years ago, don't think she had so many the next year!!!

ujjayi · 28/10/2011 11:11

When we've had enough (usually around 7pm) we put the bowl of sweets on the doorstep with a note for them to help themselves, and leave the pumpkin glowing out there too but blow out the candles of any in the windows. Seems to work in so far as the doorbell doesn't ring again for the rest of the night.

mummytime · 28/10/2011 11:11

Does your local police station have a sign to put up when you don't want trick or treaters? My DD was told all about it in assembly, she was cross as she's never been allowed trick or treating and it really doesn't happen much down our road anyway.

Original poster

mumofbumblebea · 28/10/2011 11:12

hmmm you have a point OGWT, didn't think of that. bloody scrambled pregnancy brain

OP posts:

BOOareHaunting · 28/10/2011 11:16

I live in a flat so will unplug the intercom I do that anyway once DS in bed.

We go trick or treating (very popular here and some people - especially the older generation - really get into it).

There's an unspoken rule that you only knock on a house all decorated up, with lights on, maybe open front door, basically anywhere where it's obvious they are in to the whole Halloween thing.

Because I'm out T/T with DS and then at his swimming training until 9pm I will leave sweets for the neighbours, take a box to the park for them because I don't think we should receive through T/T and not give iyswim?

Original poster

mumofbumblebea · 28/10/2011 11:23

i don't mind people coming round with their kids before this time. i quite like seeing the little ones dressed up and excited. but after 7pm it is mainy grabby teenagers anyway. i though about leaving treats outside but i think the first group of teens that come along will just grab them all.
anyone else had trick or treaters yet? we had 2 lads last night with hoods pulled up and scarves over their mouths (we do actually live in a nice area honest!) we told them that they had got the wrong day and we didn't have anything in for them (which was true - i don't buy that sort of thing, pregnant me would just eat it all!)

OP posts:

ShriekingLisa · 28/10/2011 11:28

we get alot kids down pur street t/t and my boys aged 5 and 3 love it. It dies down at about 9pm.

ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs · 28/10/2011 11:41

This will be our first year in England with DD and the trick or treating thing. I hadn't given it any thought whatsoever.
Would it be really poor dos if I got a sign saying 'No T or T'ing because I don't belive in it and my DD isn't allowed to go door to door begging'. Or would that be a bit OTT?

worraliberty · 28/10/2011 11:53

Just a simple "No trick or treaters thanks...Happy Halloween" will do unless you really want to make people feel bad for having fun?

girlywhirly · 28/10/2011 12:09

I'm going to unplug the doorbell as it frightens the cat! I will ignore any knocking on the door. We only had a couple of rings on the bell last year, but it was pretty wet weather. I wouldn't mind so much if there were any kids I knew, but there never are.

Trick or treating to strangers' houses is really odd to me; you wouldn't go asking for choc eggs at Easter, or Christmas sweets on Christmas Day.

BluddyMoFo · 28/10/2011 12:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rollon2012 · 28/10/2011 12:24

Yeah you have a good reason I actually think putting 'baby sleeping' make the sign more effective.

LtAllHallowsEve · 28/10/2011 12:25

Mum and dad (elderly) started getting scared by the ToT'rs so I did them a sign that says "No knocking please, big dogs. Help yourself to sweets" they put the sign out with a tin of quality street. Last year they put the same sign out with an empty tin - it still worked!

Original poster

mumofbumblebea · 28/10/2011 12:25

probably a bit OTT rips, but i know what you mean. i would rather take my DD to a halloween party if we were going to do anything for it (which were not, she would only be bloody frightened anyway). saying that though i wouldn't be prepared to host a halloween party so that's probably a bit meh.

OP posts:

LtAllHallowsEve · 28/10/2011 12:27

Oh and chose to say 'dogs' rather than 'baby sleeping' as I figured some kids wouldn't care about waking a baby up, but might be scared at the thought of a big dog!

Original poster

mumofbumblebea · 28/10/2011 12:33

LtAllHallowsEve - That's a good idea! Might pinch it.

OP posts:

worraliberty · 28/10/2011 12:35

I'm going to unplug the doorbell as it frightens the cat!

That's not very nice.

Anyway, why does your cat get frightened at you unplugging the doorbell?

WitchesAreComing · 28/10/2011 12:36

I was going to suggest that too r.e the dogs [hgrin]

GuillotinedMaryLacey · 28/10/2011 12:36

This'll be interesting. It's the first year we'll be at home on Halloween as my mother's traditional party is going to be on Sunday because of getting home from work logistics etc on the Monday. Although we're not there I always leave a bowl of sweets on the doorstep but I don't actually know whether we get lots of lots or one greedy lot :o

But we won't be answering after about 7.30 either. We'll all be fast asleep by then!

GnomeDePlume · 28/10/2011 12:38

We have used this poster for a while and had no bother at all. Just display it clearly.

Original poster

mumofbumblebea · 28/10/2011 12:42

thanks GnomeDePlume - i'll check my county council website to see if they have one

OP posts:

GuillotinedMaryLacey · 28/10/2011 12:46

One for Surrey here in case anyone wants one

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