Halloween Treats for Babies That Aren’t Candy
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There may be nothing cuter than a baby’s first Halloween. Those little “pea in the pod,” “tiny jack-o-lantern,” and “mini-carrot” trick or treating costumes get me every year.
That being said, you’re probably already tuned in to the fact that giving a baby Halloween candy isn’t a good idea.
Most Halloween candies are choking hazards and/or may contain honey and are therefore not safe for babies. Added sugars are also not recommended for babies under 2 for a few different reasons, so it’s not worth the risk.
But Halloween is a holiday made for treats! And it seems unfair not to include babies in the fun and provide some baby-friendly Halloween treats they’ll enjoy.
Here are 6 of my favorite healthy Halloween treats for babies and toddlers - keep in mind that at this stage, solid foods are ALL relatively new and they don’t really know what they are missing yet in terms of the taste of candy.
So any of these baby Halloween treats will be a fun way for them to celebrate right along with everyone else…
1. Freeze-dried fruits*
Freeze-dried fruits melt in the mouth and are a great texture for babies. They have been dehydrated so all the liquid is removed during processing, but many of the nutrients are retained, making them a nutrient-rich choice. Be forewarned, though - right out of the package, they are dry and powdery, and their dust tends to be pretty messy. I used to cringe at the freeze-dried strawberry messes my girls would make when they were babies and toddlers.
Packed with pumpkin flavor and bursting with nutrients, these cookies can be customized to include your child’s favorite mix-ins. Best of all, they are easy to make, take only 45 minutes from start to finish, and include 5 different allergens.
I created this BLW recipe to make it easy for you to offer your baby multiple top allergens in an easy-to-feed option that you can offer to your babies and kids at any meal or snack.
It’s a sneak peek from my latest cookbook, Safe and Simple Food Allergy Prevention: A Baby-Led Feeding Guide to Starting Solids and Introducing Allergens with 80 Family-Friendly Recipes.
Fans of pumpkin spice will love this easy-to-make pudding that is subtly tart and sweet and loaded with vitamins, fiber, and probiotics.
For a dairy-free version, swap out the dairy yogurt for vanilla coconut or soy yogurt. For a more robust, peanutty flavor, add an additional tablespoon of peanut butter. You can also add pumpkin seed or almond butter.
I created this BLW recipe to make it easy for you to offer your baby multiple top allergens in an easy-to-feed, versatile option.
It’s a sneak peek from my latest cookbook, Safe and Simple Food Allergy Prevention: A Baby-Led Feeding Guide to Starting Solids and Introducing Allergens with 80 Family-Friendly Recipes.
These Pumpkin Cookies for Babies are nutrient-dense, brimming with beta-carotene, soft in texture, perfect for baby-led weaning, and full of fall flavors. Safe for babies from the age of 6 months who are showing the signs of readiness for solid foods. Feel free to omit the step where you shape with a pumpkin cookie cutter - you can also roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls, flatten with the back of a spatula and bake and baby will enjoy just as much!
5. Cheerios*
Plain Cheerios do have a little added sugar (1 g per cup), but the amount is low in a relatively large serving size, so I give it a pass!
Babies tend to love this tried and true cereal - it offers a great way to practice a pincer grasp and learn a new texture.
Yogurt melts are a favorite because they taste great and have an easy-to-manage, meltable texture.
Plus, we tend to love them because they offer nutrients like potassium and calcium, and because they are light, portable, and travel-friendly. But many brands of yogurt melts for babies and toddlers have an average of 4-6 grams of added sugar per serving.
These snacks from Amara are made with 5 ingredients or less, no added sugar or preservatives, and they are 100% organic and non-GMO.
7. Baby-Friendly Pumpkin Muffins with No Added Sugar or Salt
I wish I could bottle up the cozy scent that fills my kitchen whenever I bake these warming, baby-friendly pumpkin muffins! Sweetened only with fruit, they contain no added sugar or salt and are rich in beta-carotene, a nutrient that supports baby’s developing eyesight and immune system as well as overall growth. The blend of spices is a great way to introduce some flavor, and the texture is soft and moist - as a pediatric dietitian and mom of three, I find these muffins a great choice for our littlest eaters!
8. Raisins*
Best for older babies and toddlers, raisins are an easy win. Loaded with fiber and tons of micronutrients, those little raisin boxes are perfect for tiny fingers, tasty, and easy to take on the go while trick-or-treating.
Happy Halloween to all your teeny ghouls and goblins!
Starting solids soon?
If you’re interested in learning more about how and when to integrate foods into your baby's diet, as well as reducing the risk of food allergies for your baby, check out my new baby-led feeding cookbook!
This one-stop BLW resource helps reduce the risk of developing food allergies during infant feeding and makes starting solids easy, joyful, and delicious for the baby and the entire family as well.
In it, you’ll find a complete guide to baby-led weaning, food allergy prevention, and baby’s first foods, as well as 8 weeks of BLW meal plans and 80 recipes the whole family will enjoy, to help keep allergens in your baby’s diet and maintain their tolerance throughout infancy without having to overthink it.
Alternatively, If you’re getting ready to start your baby on solids, download my FREE Baby-Led Feeding Essentials Checklist to make sure you have everything you need to get started. You might also want to check out my online BLW course for parents if you prefer to learn via video. In the course, I walk you through the whole process of starting solids using a baby-led approach.
Thanks for reading! xo Malina