When the parades start rolling and beads start flying, attention can quickly turn from one thing to another.
For parents with small children, that can turn into a scary situation.
Youngsville Police Chief Rickey Boudreaux, whose parade rolled this past weekend, says taking a picture of your child is a good way to help law enforcement if that child is lost during the festivities.
"If that child goes missing, you can send it to that police officer and he can send it out to everybody else or put it out on our briefings and it'll go out to everybody that is out there," says Boudreaux.
Other tips for keeping your children safe this Mardi Gras:
Dress them in bright colors to make sure you're able to spot them should they wander from your spot on the parade route.
Encourage family members to join you and your kids at the route. More eyes and hands mean kids are less likely to become lost or hurt by beads, throws or other spectators.
Set boundaries for young children if the route doesn't have barricades.
And pick a well lit area if you're heading out to any nighttime parades.