Trick or Treating! A baby or toddler may not understand what the phrase means, but they can still have fun by participating in the Halloween festivities. Of course, the baby’s first holiday is really for the parents, as the baby probably won’t remember any of them, so feel free to dress her little one however she wishes; there will be a day when they will not want you to see it anymore. ! Have fun with it and take lots of photos. In the following paragraphs we will give you some ideas for baby costumes, as well as safety tips and ideas for fun activities for parents to do with their little ones at Halloween time.

How to choose a costume

Halloween is a time for young and old to be whatever they want to be for a day. A Star Wars character? No problem. Superman? Excellent. One princess? In witch? A ghost? The list goes on and on. In the case of the baby, his costume is based on what the parents want him to be that day. When brainstorming your baby’s costume ideas, you’ll first want to decide what type of costume you want to pursue. Many times parents want the baby’s costume to match the rest of the family, so you may want to choose the other family member’s costumes first, and then look for a matching baby costume.

basic genres of clothing

Inspired by TV and movies: This type of costume includes characters from television and movies from yesterday and today. Examples of this type of costume are: Superman, Supergirl, The Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, Dora The Explorer, Go Diego Go!, Buzz Lightyear, Travelocity Roaming Gnome, Shrek, Scooby Doo, Mickey or Minnie Mouse, Elmo, Wizard from Oz, characters from Sesame Street, Batman or Robin, characters from Star Wars, Hulk, The Smurfs, Baby Eeyore, Thomas the Train, Yogi Bear, Curious George, characters from the Muppets

Fantasy/Storybook: Pirate, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Tinker Bell, Belle, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland

Occupation/Hobby: fisherman, doctor, soldier, sailor, rock star, astronaut, firefighter, soldier, police officer, baseball player, golfer, nurse, football player, basketball player, soccer player, vet, lawyer

Animal: Some examples of animal costumes are: Lion, Lady Bug, T-Rex, Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Lobster, Bumblebee, Lamb, Butterfly, Elephant, Cow, Puppy, Triceratops, Kangaroo, Frog, Penguin, Skunk, Bat, Rabbit, alligator, kitty, spider, bear, pig, octopus, panda, guppy

Fun: Little Monster, Crayon, Woopie Cushion, Chili Pepper, Hot Dog, Pizza Slice, Billion Dollar Baby, Strawberry, Candy Corn, Pea in a Pod, Jack-in-the-Box, Tootsie Roll

classic: Witch, Skeleton, Devil/Angel, Frankenstein, Ghost, Mummy, Zombie, Flower, Vampire, Pumpkin, Clown, Cowboy/Cowgirl, Angel, Ragamuffin

Make, buy or borrow?

After deciding on a costume idea, you’ll need to decide whether you want to make your baby’s costume yourself or buy one. You might also consider borrowing a costume from a relative or friend whose baby has grown too big (which is probably the most cost-effective costume idea you’ll find).

Shopping-wise, most baby costumes range from $19.99 to $49.99. You can even find some on clearance for $14.99 at certain stores and websites. There are also costumes for older kids, teens, and adults, so you may want to consider buying all of your family’s costumes at one time to take advantage of free shipping opportunities and coupons.

If you decide you want to make a baby costume yourself, well done! This gives you the chance to make a truly unique and custom costume just for your little one. There are many websites that offer baby costume patterns, and you can also try looking for Halloween patterns and fabrics at your local fabric store.

*Note- For newborns and very young babies a good option are themed pajamas. In pajamas, baby will stay comfortable and safe while dressing up as an animal, skeleton, ghost, demon, goblin or other festive creature.

Suit Safety and Comfort

Whether you make, buy or borrow your baby’s costume, the first and foremost thing to consider is the baby’s comfort and safety. Please note that the costume should not be too tight or tying, especially around the neck. The baby will not have a good Halloween if her movements are restricted or if she is too hot. If you decide to wear a costume with a headdress, make sure that it is not squeezing the baby’s head. Many babies and toddlers don’t like things on their heads, so their headdress may be removed during or even before the festivities. In addition, we recommend that you do not wear a mask in your baby’s outfit as this could be dangerous or at least scare your baby. If you choose to paint your baby’s face, use non-toxic paints to make sure baby’s sensitive skin is protected and to prevent them from ingesting anything toxic (as the paint could run if the baby sweats or the baby could lick themselves). around your mouth).

Other important things to consider

The weather– Is it usually cold or is it still a little hot around Halloween time where you live? If you have your heart set on a summer costume for your baby and it will be cold where you live, be sure to bring a thick coat and outfit the baby with items such as leg warmers (which can be put on the baby’s arms or legs for warmth), mittens, socks and shoes or boots. If baby tolerates a hat, consider a matching winter hat or other hat that covers baby’s head and ears.

The type of event you will be attending– If you’re going to a pumpkin patch or other outdoor event, consider what the likely outside temperature will be. However, if you’re attending an indoor celebration and it’s cold outside, be sure to remove the baby’s costume layers when you go inside so baby stays warm on the journey to and from but feels comfortable inside the event .

other people’s costumes– As you probably know, infants and toddlers can easily get started. If you’re going to an event where adults and teens will dress up, or if you’re planning to go trick-or-treating, it’s important to be aware that your baby might be scared. Some adult costumes can be very scary, even for the baby’s parents, so it’s important to keep in mind that you may have to change your plans if the baby doesn’t enjoy the festivities. Certain babies won’t be able to handle a situation like this, so try to gauge what kind of event you think your baby is ready for and plan accordingly.

Fun Halloween Activity Ideas

Throw a Halloween party

Organize your own Halloween party and invite your friends, family and your children; By throwing her own party, baby can enjoy the Halloween festivities in her own home with people he’s already familiar with. In your own home, you will have more control over what the baby is exposed to, such as certain costumes (you can ask guests to remove scary masks, etc. when they are around the baby – most guests probably won’t care). matter, since your intention is probably not to scare little babies!) You could have a small gathering or go all out and make cute invitations, decorations, food, drinks, games and favors. Just make sure that decorations and games don’t have small pieces that your baby can grasp. There are many websites that offer great Halloween party ideas, so have fun and start planning!

Community Organized Events

Sometimes there are Halloween events planned at local churches, schools, malls, museums, fire stations, zoos, and YMCAs. In some cities there are even Halloween parades and carnivals. It’s important to do some research on each event first to see if it’s going to be something you think your baby or toddler could handle and hopefully enjoy. Many of these events will have many other children in attendance so that your baby can be entertained by watching the children play and do activities (and it’s even better if you have an older child because she can participate while the baby watches). You can usually find a good listing of events in your local newspaper or online by searching for “Kids’ Halloween Events in ______” and adding your city in the blank.

pumpkin patches

Pumpkin patches are a great place to take a baby or infant for Halloween! Babies will love looking at all the pumpkins and watching the older kids do the hayride, corn maze, face painting, mini train, pony rides, or other activities on offer. Many pumpkin patches also have farm animals that babies tend to enjoy looking around and, in some cases, stroking. As with other activities, don’t forget to bring a jacket and extra clothes for the baby if it’s a cold October.

Trick or treat (if you dare!)

Many parents who have older children decide to take the baby for a walk, and others choose to take the baby trick-or-treating to show off their cute costume and be sociable. Either way, it’s essential to remember that your baby can’t handle what older children can, and therefore her limit will probably reach it much sooner than the other children, especially if she freaks out. If you’re going as a family, make sure you have a “back-up plan” in case the baby gets tired or scared, such as one parent taking the baby home and the other staying with any other kids who want to keep going asking for candy. . It is also highly recommended to take the baby only to the houses of friends or relatives to avoid possible scares. Some people enjoy making their house and costume as scary as possible for trick-or-treating and while an older child may think this is “cool”, chances are a toddler or infant won’t!

Our daughter is turning 11 months this Halloween and we are beyond excited to choose the right costume and event for her. Whatever you decide to do with your baby, don’t forget to bring your camera and child wonder. We wish you a very happy and safe Halloween!