Baby Halloween Costumes

Costume ideas for infants

It’s never too early to dress your kids up for Halloween. Granted, infants won’t have a clue what’s going on, but it’s fun for the adults and you’ll have adorable photos to last a lifetime. Toddlers even as young as 12 months will understand that something exciting is happening, and they’ll enjoy participating with you. Read on for tips on choosing baby Halloween costumes.

Infant Halloween Costumes

Keep infant costumes simple. Your little one will be squirming in your arms, and anything too elaborate will likely get disarranged and be uncomfortable for all. Babies will protest against anything that feels strange, especially on their heads or faces. Especially avoid any bits and bobs that could come off and become choking hazards, or any capes, cords or excess material in which baby could become entangled.

If you live in a cooler climate, a bunting-style baby costume may be ideal. Baby can wear as many layers as necessary inside the costume, which then zips up into one tidy package. Legless costume themes such as mermaids, fish, fruit and vegetables lend themselves well to this type of outfit.

Newborn Halloween costumes can be hard to find, especially since you don’t want to put your precious infant into a cheap, uncomfortable, store-bought polyester costume. Get creative – put baby in an orange sleeper with a green cap and call her a pumpkin!

Toddler Halloween Costumes

Toddlers are just old enough to catch the excitement of Halloween and go trick-or-treating at a few neighbors’ houses. They don’t fully understand the holiday, though, and it may be too much to expect them to choose or even enjoy a costume. Some toddlers will love dressing up, but others will find a costume too strange or cumbersome.

Be sure to choose a costume that does not impede movement at all – your toddler is unsteady on his feet as it is, and he will likely want to run around. Avoid oversized footwear or extra padding around the legs and feet; these can be trip hazards. *Masks[Halloween masks] interfere with visibility, and most toddlers won’t tolerate wearing them for long. Trains, capes, lassos and anything else that can catch around the neck, drag along the ground or wrap around the legs should be avoided as well.

For themes, choose something that your toddler likes and can readily identify with. Most toddlers love animals, so choices like cat, dog, pig, frog or ladybug are usually winners. Beloved storybook or favorite TV characters, like Winnie the Pooh, are also hits with toddlers. Most toddlers won’t like scary costumes, and besides, they don’t really know what vampires, mummies and pirates are, anyway.