AITA for refusing to give candy to parents who take their babies trick to treating?

A college dorm’s Halloween trick-or-treat event turns contentious when a student, stretched thin on candy, draws a line: no treats for babies too young to toddle or talk. Facing parents who expect candy for their costumed infants—some even without older kids in tow—the student prioritizes “big kids” to stretch limited supplies, sparking glares, shock, and threats of complaints. With the resident manager backing them, the student stands firm but faces Reddit’s split verdict on their candy gatekeeping.

This isn’t just about sweets—it’s a clash of fairness, tradition, and tight budgets. The student’s rule was strict, but was it stingy? Readers are hooked: should they have shared with babies, or saved the stash? The Halloween drama demands a verdict.

‘AITA for refusing to give candy to parents who take their babies trick to treating?’

This student shared their trick-or-treat standoff on Reddit, detailing their candy rationing and the backlash from parents. Here’s their original post, unpacking the sticky situation.

Halloween trick-or-treating is a cherished tradition, but this student’s decision to withhold candy from babies under 1-2 years old reflects the practical constraints of a college budget and event demands.

The “one candy per kid” rule aimed to ensure fairness, but denying parents with infants—especially those without older kids—felt exclusionary to some, as Reddit’s YTA voters argued, given the social joy of showing off costumed babies. However, the student’s rationale, backed by the resident manager and NTA voters, hinges on limited resources and the event’s focus on older kids who can engage with the tradition.

This mirrors tensions in community event planning. A 2023 study in Journal of Community Psychology found that resource scarcity in communal events often leads to strict allocation rules, which can alienate participants expecting inclusivity. The parents’ complaints, including threats to report, escalated a minor issue, but their expectation of candy for non-participating infants oversteps the event’s student-funded nature.

Event planner Lizzie Post says, “Clear communication of event rules prevents misunderstandings; flexibility can maintain goodwill”. Her insight suggests the student could have posted a sign about the “big kids” priority or offered stickers, as a Redditor proposed, to soften the policy. Parents should respect the student’s constraints rather than demand exceptions.

The student should consider clearer signage next year and small tokens for babies, while parents need to acknowledge the event’s limits.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit dove into this Halloween candy clash with takes as sweet and sour as a mixed treat bag. Here’s a roundup of their thoughts, sprinkled with humor—because even trick-or-treat tiffs need a chuckle.

These Reddit quips are lively, but do they unwrap the truth? Was the student’s candy cutoff a fair ration, or a grinchy gatekeep?

This student’s trick-or-treat standoff is a spirited mix of resourcefulness and rigidity. Denying candy to babies to save treats for older kids, they faced parental backlash but held ground, backed by their resident manager and Reddit’s NTA crowd. Yet, the YTA votes linger, questioning their holiday spirit. As next Halloween looms, one question remains: can they sweeten the tradition without souring the fun? What would you do with a dwindling candy stash? Share your stories and weigh in on this festive drama!