Boo baskets are one of my favorite Halloween traditions. They’re fun, festive, and a great way to surprise kids with something special during the spooky season. Traditionally, families put together a little basket of goodies, leave it on a neighbor or friend’s porch, ring the doorbell, and run away. My kids loved this when they were younger. This year, I made boo baskets for them instead and I can see this will become a tradition they will look forward to for years to come.
The best part is that boo baskets don’t have to be all about candy. For kids with food allergies, that’s actually the perfect opportunity to get creative. Allergy-friendly boo baskets can be filled with safe treats, fun toys, and little surprises tailored to what your child loves.
This year, I made two allergy-friendly boo baskets. One for my 14-year-old daughter and one for my 11-year-old son. Here’s a peek at what I included.
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My Daughter’s Allergy Friendly Boo Basket
- Mini Chocolate Haunted House Cookie Kit (this didn’t fit in the basket, but it was a fun addition!)
- Ghost slippers
- Haribo gummies (a great allergy-friendly brand)
- Halloween-themed bat pajama shorts
- Mango hydrating hand sanitizer (orange colored)
- Vermont Nut-Free “Goulish Gift Pack” (includes Skippers, ghost, pumpkin, mummy chocolate pops, mini pumpkins)
- New phone case
- Glow-in-the-dark Halloween bracelet
- Pumpkin squishy toy
- Orange slime
My Son’s Allergy Friendly Boo Basket
- Mini Chocolate Haunted House Cookie Kit
- Haribo gummies
- Vermont Nut-Free Sunbutter Cups
- Skull keychain
- Monster stuffy
- Pokémon cards
- SpongeBob T-shirt
- Halloween bubbles
- Green slime
- Blow-up Jack-O-Lantern punching bag
- Frankenstein slap bracelet
- Squishy toys and light-up Halloween trinkets
- Poster he had been asking for
Tips for Creating Allergy Friendly Boo Baskets
1. Include allergy safe candy
- Look for brands like Vermont Nut-Free, Free2b, YumEarth, or Haribo to include in your boo baskets. You can also check out my 15 Allergy-Friendly Candy Options for Halloween post for more ideas.
2. Mix in non-food goodies
- Add small toys, seasonal accessories, or practical items (like fun socks or hand sanitizer). This makes the boo basket exciting without putting all the focus on food.
3. Personalize the boo basket
- Include a couple of “just for them” items like a favorite character toy, sports gear, or even a book.
4. Think about the Switch Witch
- Boo baskets can also tie into this fun tradition, which helps families handle all the candy from trick-or-treating.
The Switch Witch Tradition
If you’ve never heard of the Switch Witch, here’s how it works: on Halloween night, after trick-or-treating, kids leave out the candy they can’t have (or in some families, they leave out all their candy). During the night, the “Switch Witch” visits, takes the candy away, and replaces it with a basket of allergy-friendly treats and small toys.
It’s a little bit like the Tooth Fairy of Halloween… magical, exciting, and helpful for parents who don’t want the stress of unsafe or overwhelming amounts of candy.
For families managing food allergies, the Switch Witch can be a lifesaver. Instead of your child feeling left out when they can’t eat certain candies, the focus shifts to the surprise they’ll get instead. A basket filled with safe chocolate, gummy candy, or homemade treats along with toys, crafts, or trinkets makes them feel included and cared for.
In our house, we’ve done a mix of both approaches. When my kids were younger, they would collect candy while trick-or-treating, and anything that wasn’t safe went straight to the Switch Witch basket. Now that they’re older, I tend to create their boo baskets ahead of time with items I know they’ll love. It’s become a way of saying, “Halloween is still fun, and it’s still yours.”
Why Boo Baskets Work So Well for Allergy Families
Halloween can be tricky for families managing food allergies. Between classroom parties, community events, and trick-or-treating, food is everywhere and not always safe. Boo baskets give you control. You choose exactly what goes inside, and you know every single item is safe.
At the same time, you’re not taking away from the Halloween fun. Kids light up when they get something that’s been thoughtfully picked just for them. Whether it’s a piece of candy they can actually enjoy without worry, or a toy that connects with their current interests, the basket becomes a memory-making tradition.
Another bonus is that boo baskets don’t have to break the bank. You can mix in a few practical items, shop dollar sections, and add one or two “bigger” items your child has been asking for. It’s the combination of little surprises, not the price tag, that makes these baskets so special.
Keeping the Spirit of Halloween Alive With Boo Baskets
Whether you deliver boo baskets to neighbors and friends, or make allergy-friendly boo baskets for your own kids, the idea is the same: to celebrate Halloween with fun, safe, and thoughtful gifts. For allergy families, it’s one of the easiest ways to shift the focus away from unsafe candy and onto the joy of the season.
You don’t have to give up traditions just because food allergies are in the picture. You just adjust them. And sometimes, those new traditions end up being even better!
This year, my kids may be too old to ring the neighbor’s doorbell and run away giggling, but they’re never too old for a surprise boo basket waiting at home. And honestly, I think they’d miss it if I ever stopped.
So whether you try out the Switch Witch this year, start a new tradition with boo baskets, or do a mix of both, remember this: Halloween is about the fun, the creativity, and the memories. With a little planning, allergy-friendly boo baskets make sure everyone gets to be part of the celebration.