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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think trick or treating should stop before 7pm?

152 replies

hibbleddible · 31/10/2015 19:57

Don't get me wrong: I love Halloween. Treats in, decorations out, pumpkin carved etc.

At 7.15pm I had just got the baby to sleep, and dd1 in bed. Trick or treater's knock and cause the dog to bark and wake the baby. Dd (5) answers the door by herself in pjs, and becomes very excited.

Grrr! I then had two non-sleeping children, plus they cleared me out of the candy which I was planning on scoffing alone after dd went to bed

OP posts:
MaryMcGregor · 31/10/2015 22:38

I used to put my toddler to bed by 7. Tonight the last lot of kids came by about 8.30. We were all watching a scary film ;-)

Original poster
hibbleddible · 31/10/2015 22:39

Pictish Baby often doesn't wake up until dd1 wakes her up. She is a reasonable sleeper but is sensitive to noise.

I enjoy the early bedtime.

OP posts:
Mehitabel6 · 31/10/2015 22:40

7pm is definitely late enough- you want to eat and relax by then.

pictish · 31/10/2015 22:40

I'm not saying that anyone shouldn't because if it works for their family then that's absolutely fine...but I don't think 6-7 is common.

HaydeeofMonteCristo · 31/10/2015 22:40

Yes, I think you take the pumpkin in if you don't want anyone else to knock.

We only went to houses with pumpkins.

We went between 7 - 8 because the other Mum we were going with had to work until then.

imwithspud · 31/10/2015 22:41

Both my daughters (3 and 5months) are in bed between 6 and 7, both of them are completely ready for it by that time. Although I don't mind being flexible with the occasional late night.

Most people I know in RL have their kids in bed by 7 or thereabouts, definitely not later than 9pm. But they also have no issue with their kids staying up late every now and then. I don't know anyone who genuinely freaks out if their kid happens to be up past their bedtime occasionally.

WorraLiberty · 31/10/2015 22:42

9pm is the cut off round here, although it tends to go quiet from about 8.30pm.

7pm is far too early to stop as some kids don't get to go out until about 6.30pm, due to having their evening meal etc.

Dismalfuckers · 31/10/2015 22:42

YABU. And miserable, it's just one night and not as though ridiculously late

Headofthehive55 · 31/10/2015 22:47

hibble I took my baby out regularly at all times in the evening. When you have older children life just carries on...club pick ups at nine pm, etc. you can hardly leave baby at home!

pictish · 31/10/2015 22:47

This is isn't a hot topic because it's a definite case of to each their own, but amongst my peers, anything between 7 and 8.30 seems typical for young kids. By the time my kids were three say, bedtime was 8ish. That rang similar with my friends. It might have been officially 7.30 but usually closer to 8 by the time the whole rigmarole was complete.

FeelingSmurfy · 31/10/2015 22:48

8pm for us, but last ones knocked at 7:59 so I think they all of my area must agree Wink

We have never had decorations outside, growing up it would have got stolen, and where we live now it wouldn't be seen, would have to go on floor, worry about the kids etc. We do pumpkins but keep them in the house (nowhere we could display in window etc either) the hall light is on so I assume that is why they knock? We have never had a year without a reasonable amount of kids knocking anyway

Original poster
hibbleddible · 31/10/2015 22:49

Woah dismal that is a bit of a miserable comment.

I would have thought the miserable ones are the ones who don't celebrate at all.

In case anyone missed it, yes I accept I was bu to leave the pumpkin out!!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 31/10/2015 22:54

None of my 3 kids ever went to bed before 8pm at any point in their lives (unless they fell asleep randomly), otherwise they would hardly have seen much of DH during the week.

Mind you, once they were in bed they would definitely not be allowed to get up and answer the front door alone.

Original poster
hibbleddible · 31/10/2015 22:59

worra judgy much?

I didn't 'allow' her to get out of bed and open the door, that is obviously not allowed, but as the baby was asleep on me there was a delay in me following her down. We have obviously spoken about how she should not open the door by herself.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 31/10/2015 23:05

I wasn't judging actually, although I appreciate it may have come across that way so I apologise.

I was just thinking back really, as mine are 23, 16 and nearly 13 now.

Baconyum · 31/10/2015 23:08

Interesting thread. We're in a quiet wee cul de sac in middle of nowhere, mostly elderly where I live I miss the trick or treater's.

OP you might find the book 'how Eskimos keep their babies warm' eye opening, I found it fascinating.

Pigeonpost · 31/10/2015 23:13

Pumpkin out and hall light off to signify being finished/out of sweets. Are they not the accepted 'rules'?

cozietoesie · 31/10/2015 23:14

Started at about 17.45 here (I don't think those two lots could contain themselves) and finished at about 21.45 with a couple of very laid-back girls who were more gratified to have their make-up and costumes commented on than to be offered any goodies. Grin Then it all tailed off so I closed the big doors and turned off the porch light. (We never had any decorations up to dispose of.)

Great fun. Smile

cozietoesie · 31/10/2015 23:18

Sorry - 20.45. I think the whole neighbourhood was at the gin long before 21.45 so the youngsters weren't around by then!

Pigeonpost · 31/10/2015 23:20

Quite a lot of religious objectors where we live so pumpkin+light on is key.

steppemum · 31/10/2015 23:20

7pm? most of them hadn't even started by then.

And the trickers who have thrown eggs all over my front window and wall were well after 7pm.

whole bloody thing should be banned, and those people who say
'oh its just a lovely thing for the kids'
can come round and clean the eggs off my house tomorrow

shebird · 31/10/2015 23:21

If your pumpkin was out than its fair game that people should knock. Some houses here left a bucket of sweets in the doorstep with a note saying don't knock just help yourself!

Lozislovely · 31/10/2015 23:29

Steppemum I'm right with you there!

How many people actually know the history of Halloween??? It has blown out of all proportion along with Bonfire night

Ba humbug and then some.

steppemum · 31/10/2015 23:39

I am really, really fed up this evening.

Earlier I read a Hallowe'en thread.
Those who chose not to celebrate it were called party poopers, scrooge, mean spirited, miserable, poo faced etc etc. Bloody rude ignorant comments, just because I chose not to do the same thing as you one night of the year.

We don't celebrate it. I never impose that on anyone, wouldn't dream of trying to tell other parents what to do. If I see a child in a costume (like I did at parkrun this morning,) I will make on comment on how good their costume is etc.
I put a very nice note on my door, which said sorry we don't do Hallowe'en with a smiley face.
Our front door is round the side, so you only see the note if you actually come and try to knock.

Every bloody year we get eggs thrown at our house or worse, because we don't do treats. The only thing I can say is that our car is parked at the front and they throw at the house not the car. (eggs damage car paint apparently)

So me, sitting at home, minding my own business has to suffer for your stupid celebration that I quietly and none offensively chose not to take part in.

So - any one out there who doesn't celebrate Christmas? Or Easter? Hey lets slag them all off on mn and tell them they are horrible people for not doing what I am doing, and then go round to their house and cause criminal damage because they aren't joining in the way I want them to?????

Bubblesinthesummer · 31/10/2015 23:40

I would have thought the miserable ones are the ones who don't celebrate at all

People aren't miserable just because they don't 'celebrate' Halloween!