‘My toddler isn’t allowed more than five Halloween treats - it’s not healthy’

“This is a great way to cut back on candy but still enjoy Halloween,” Dad Levi defends his controversial parenting trick.

The Utah family has gone to extreme measures to ensure their 2yo doesn't have too many treats. Source: emilyxlevi/Instagram

Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for kids. 

Dressing up, running a muck, and, of course, the endless chocolates and lollies would make any child squeal in excitement. 

But for parents, the October holiday may not be as enticing, especially when it comes to divvying up the sugary treats. 

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“At night the Switch Witch comes and takes away our daughter’s candy”

Parents Emily and Levi have kickstarted their own tradition to fight the sugary content, sharing the concept with their large Instagram following. 

With a background in health and wellness, the Utah-based family decided their two-year-old daughter Aria doesn’t “really need all that candy”, so they devised a plan to help get rid of it. 

Every year, the toddler dresses up and goes door-to-door, hunting for the best lollies she can get her hands on and placing them in her Halloween basket. 

When the trick-or-treating experience ends, her parents instruct her to pick “five of her favourite pieces of candy to keep.” 

Her dad filmed her placing the basket outside, which he informed her would be picked up by Wilda, the “Switch Witch”, who takes away children’s unwanted Halloween lollies and switches them with something else.  

“During the night, the Switch Witch comes in to take the candy,” her dad Levi said. “And leaves a gift in return.” 

The family heard about the idea a few years back and claim their toddler is “just as excited” to see what the Switch Witch will bring to her doorstep after taking away her lollies. 

“This is a great way to cut back on candy but still enjoy Halloween,” he said, watching his daughter pick up an Elsa doll from the basket.

Parents Emily and Levi claim the “fun tradition” is more than just a clever way to spice up the holiday. 

“It’s been a way to let our daughter enjoy every bit of Halloween without eating [tonnes] of candy,” the caption read. 

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The Switch Witch comes every year and replaces her chocolates with a toy. Source: emilyxlevi/Instagram

“She is never going to forgive you for this s**t”

The clip, which has amassed over 13 million views, has ignited a fiery debate online, with some labelling the concept as “so mean” and “taking the fun out of Halloween.”  

“Dude, it’s once a year…” a baffled person wrote. “Wtf bro, just let the kid have fun once a year,” read an equally confused comment. 

“It’s one day of the year. Give it a rest,” another added. “You think it’s better to buy your kid toys than to let them have the bite-sized candy.”

“Or just don’t go trick or treating to that many houses?” someone suggested. “People paid money for that candy to be wasted.” 

The Switch Witch concept was bashed by others who claim the idea may contribute to disordered eating. 

“My parents did this, and it was so detrimental to my relationship with food,” someone shared. Everything was monitored and restricted, so when I had a chance to have some “unhealthy” food when they weren’t around, I went wild with it.”

Some were straight to the point. “Glad you were not my dad,” a comment read. “Oh, she is never gonna forgive you for this s**t,” someone laughed.

But some couldn’t help but love the idea. “Wish I would have known about it when my kids were younger!” an emphatic comment read. 

"I have a toddler, and he doesn’t need candy, but I want him to experience going out and trick or treating," another parent shared. 

Emily and Levi said they understood why their tradition received such backlash and conceded the trick "isn't for everyone."

However, they stressed they wanted to teach their child there is no "good or bad" food but to "prioritise foods with more nutrients", they told Today. 

"The last thing we want is for her to feel fear or guilt from eating a treat."  

Originally published as ‘My toddler isn’t allowed more than five Halloween treats - it’s not healthy’