As families across Central Florida prepare for Halloween this coming weekend, a Central Florida pediatrician is reminding parents that keeping children safe goes beyond checking their candy bags after trick-or-treating.
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Dr. Maneesha Tailor, a primary care pediatrician at Nemours Children’s Health in Lake Nona, said excessive sugar consumption can lead to health problems, including inflammation, unhealthy weight gain and digestive issues.
“We do recommend, please, if you are going to give your child a sweet, please give it after a high protein and high fiber meal,” Tailor said.
She also recommends avoiding sweets before bedtime because they can interfere with children’s sleep and their ability to concentrate the following day.
Beyond sugar intake, Tailor warns parents to watch for choking hazards, particularly among younger children. Hard candies, sticky treats, chewing gum and small toys can pose risks. She also cautions against toys containing small batteries or magnets and pieces of popped balloons.
READ: Make no bones about it, the giant skeleton has become an American Halloween fixture
Beyond the Candy Bag
But safety concerns extend beyond the candy bag, especially when children are trick-or-treating after dark.
“The safety aspect is very important because when we’re trick-or-treating, it’s dark, you can’t see very well. Some streets may not be as well lit as other streets,” Tailor explained.
She recommends reflective clothing or accessories to make children more visible to drivers. Helmets and protective gear are also important for children riding bicycles, skateboards or scooters.
“We’ve seen a lot of scooter accidents, not related to Halloween, but just students who are riding their electric scooters to school,” Tailor said.
Emergency department visits involving children injured on e-bikes and e-scooters rose sharply in Central Florida this year, according to data from Orlando Health Children’s Arnold Palmer Hospital.
The hospital recorded 124 visits from January through July 2026 alone, including 52 cases of children between ages 11 and 13 and 30 elementary-aged children.
The Impact of Excess Candy Days after Halloween
Tailor also shared an observation from her medical practice: children sometimes experience digestive problems in the days following Halloween after consuming too many sweets.
“We do see a lot of patients coming in two days, three days after Halloween with terrible stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, all of which can be triggered by excess sugar intake,” she said.
To help children enjoy the holiday without overindulging, Tailor suggests parents allow them to select a few favorite treats and encourages them to share the rest.
Her advice to Central Florida families is to focus on moderation, nutrition, and safety while allowing children to enjoy the Halloween festivities.
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