Remember how when you sorta grew out of Halloween, there were still times when you were able to throw together a costume with items you had on hand, because at the last minute someone would convince you to dress up? This can work for a baby or toddler costume, too.

The one above was inspired by a visit to the Zynga office when they launched a Facebook game called ChefVille!

Here are a few more ideas:

1. Waldo – Red and white striped shirt or onesie. Beanie. Glasses optional.
2. Tourist – Hawaiian shirt, shorts, socks with sandals. Print a picture of a camera from the Web, paste it onto some cardboard, and make it a necklace for baby to wear.
3. 50s guy – black fake leather jacket (buy used at baby resale store or ebay), white onesie, jeans. Slick back hair for maximum effect. If hair is available.
4. Fried Egg – white one piece outfit or separates. Cut yellow circle from felt and sew or safety pin onto belly.
5. Ballet dancer – Pink onesie, pink tights, pink Robeez. Done.
6. Farmer – Plaid button down shirt, denim overalls, sunhat. Carry a stuffed animal that belongs on a farm, such as a pig.
7. Bumble Bee – Black onesie, black sweats, yellow electrical tape. Pipe cleaner headband for anntenae. (Contributed by veteran mom Jen R.)
8. Aerobics instructor – onesie over leggings with baby legs if you’ve got ‘em. Make a quick sweatband by cutting the edge off an outgrown newborn cap.
9. Baby Einstein – Write E=MC2 on a onesie and be done with it. Concept and photo courtesy of ParentHacks.com.

What else could you do for a last-minute DIY baby Halloween costume idea?

I came upon these printable paper dolls from Mr. Printables and shared them with Scarlett. At five, she is very into drawing, cutting, gluing, and painting. This is one of my Mommy sweet spots, so I’m thrilled with this phase.

Oh, you didn’t know? You don’t have to be good at all aspects of parenting. Hate standing around at playgrounds? Crying jags make you sweat? Floppy-headed infants bore you? Don’t know what to do with LEGOS? That’s okay. You’ll be good at something else.

Even if your child is too young to enjoy these little paper cones without eating them, I could see a mom or Grandma enjoying them on her own.

Here’s how they work:

Print the basic “undressed” dolls from this page.

Cut them out and glue the edges into a cone shape that can stand up on it’s own.

Print the Halloween-themed clothes and accessories from this page. Scarlett felt the need to add her own embellishments to the mummy outfit with a ball-point pen.

Slide the “outfits” onto the paper dolls.

These little ladies have hair just like mine and Heather’s, red and curly on one and dark and straight on the other, so I couldn’t resist them. There’s one with darker skin and kinky hair too, so moms of color, rejoice!

We always like to make something on Mondays. See the whole list of Makin’ It posts from this year.

Here are the things Julian and Scarlett have dressed up as through the years.

2004: This set of newborn giraffe pajamas were the first thing I ever bought for my unborn baby who was due October 16th. I pictured I’d be strolling around the neighborhood with him on Halloween. Wrong. I had a C-Section on October 29 and spent Halloween in the hospital. When we got home the next day, we turned our newborn into a giraffe.

2005: Skeleton jammies. Best value on the Halloween market. We got them at Gymboree but this year you’ll find them at Old Navy.

2006:  I am pretty sure I’m pregnant, but I can’t get any pregnancy test to show a real line, so I head over to the lab. Later that afternoon, they call to confirm I am pregnant with my second child.

Julian is dressed as a tiger in a warm costume I got at the second-hand children’s store. He’s still unaware of the holiday and what he’s wearing, forget about what’s going to happen in our family in 8 months. I tell Heather who is five months pregnant my news that day in the park and we snap this commemorative photo that’s on Heidi’s site in honor of our second concurrent pregnancies.

2007: Scarlett is an aerobics instructor and Julian is a skeleton again. Ryan was an Ace Hardware employee, having stolen a vest from the store when he was in college and kept it until we were in our thirties…? He went to the store that morning, not to apologize, but to buy a hat and get a bag to carry for his costume.

2008: Julian is a bat, bought at Old Navy. Scarlett is a zebra. I made her a hood and added zebra stripes to her pants. She borrowed a fluffy zebra jacket from a friend.

2009: Scarlett is Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba and Julian is a vampire, which surprised me because how did he know what a vampire was? He was five. I made the cape from scraps of a bridesmaid dress Heather had (the lining) and some scary fabric I bought.

I made Scarlett’s Foofa costume, using a pink sweatsuit as a base. I am damn proud of it, too.

2010: Julian was a clown and I made it all myself — a sleeveless jumpsuit and a collar. My stepmom made me a similar costume when I was little. Scarlett was Minnie Mouse for half the day and Tinkerbell for the rest of the weekend. She doesn’t want anyone to look at her or take her picture. This is not her favorite Halloween.

2011: Julian was Santa Claus, a nice warm costume that earned a lot of shouting out when he walked down the street. He basked in the glory. We bought the costume and I made the belly but adding stuffing to a tshirt I sewed a pocket into. Scarlett was Fancy Nancy, having inherited a bunch of accessories from her older cousin who was Fancy Nancy the year before.

2012: Julian will be Drew Brees, New England Orleans Saints QB. Pictures to come.   We made the shoulder pads from a tshirt of his dads and stuffing. I added an iron-on “9″ and “BREES” to the jersey and we’ve got a pink breast cancer ribbon since that seems to be all the rage in the NFL these days.  Scarlett will be Cleopatra, which was half-price at Target the day after Halloween last year. (An older girl she admires was Cleopatra that year.)

How’s your (child’s) costume coming along?

Rookie dad and camera gadget junkie Brian Russell wrote to us and offered to share photography tips  for Halloween. His own twins Max and Wyatt are a bit too young for candy, but not for costumes.

For parents wanting to capture the night’s special moments on camera, it can seem like a trifecta of tricky conditions: sugared-up children, a variety of lighting situations and a small window to snap the perfect picture. With all the photography hang-ups Halloween has to offer, there are a few tips I can share to help you snap the best shots.

Play around with actions and themes involving costumes.
From sneaky ninja moves in the yard to a witch brewing up a potion in the kitchen, some of the best pictures can come out of playing dress up not only with your child’s attire, but with the setting as well. Help them get even more excited about the night – and more willing to pose for pictures – by setting up a play area or activity that goes along with the theme of their costume. It will make for great action shots rather than bland, posed pictures on the sidewalk.

Focus on the best part of the costume.
Whether it’s the fairy wings, an intricate mask or a sparkling wand, the best accent of any costume is worth documenting. Watch and see what your child loves the most, then hone in on it by framing it and using it to help fill the shot. Try a variety of angles and points of depth to make the costume stand out.

Use natural light and candle light for unique shots.
If you choose to go trick-or-treating at dusk, the sun will be lower in the sky and provide you with long shadows and a golden light perfect for snapping action shots. Set your digital or manual camera settings to ISO 400 or higher for clearer low-light pictures.
Once the sun sets, you can use the glow of custom jack-o-lanterns to take silhouette shots.

Become a pro at group shots.
When it comes to gathering a group for a photo, there are two practices you should try to keep in mind: First, make sure everyone is close so you can tightly fill the frame. Second, let everyone be natural and at ease. Don’t stage a criminal line-up; let your subjects vary their positions and interact for a more candid picture.

Get creative with angles.
Crouch down for a child’s perspective of their surroundings, or grab a chair and hold your camera above all the action. If something would look better from down below, lie on the ground and get the shot. With so much happening all around the house and neighborhood, why stick with only one view?

For a spooky effect, add light from below.
For a truly ghoulish-looking picture, add a light source like a flashlight or candle below the subject of your shot to create dark contrasts.

Don’t forget to get a picture of the final candy haul.
Make sure to record the final candy pile at the end of the night for a fun shot of wild candy-wrapper colors and the look of pride on your child’s face.

Finally, however, a tip I received on Twitter when I asked fellow photo geeks for Halloween shooting advice.

@CBJason Don’t over-shoot the occasion, take time to actually enjoy your kids

That one probably trumps all the rest.

Brian Russell is a father of twin toddlers, Max & Wyatt, and a freelance writer for Gadget Infinity, which has a host of digital camera accessories to help with your next photo shoot.

[photos: twin monsters, Brian Russell; wizard detail and clown with wig, Whitney Moss; Halloween fatigue, peasap on flickr.]

This homemade owl beanie is so cute, I had to share. Not only is it a simple sewing project, similar to the make a baby hat out of a tshirt post I did a few years ago, but the whole Owl in a Tree is a clever mom and baby costume idea. The mom behind this project is the author of the blog Humpty Was Pushed.

She provides step-by-step instructions in her post.

While she sews her owl eyes and nose to the hat, you could just as easily cut them from felt and glue them if they are just for one or two wearings.

Now that I know how to make a baby hat out of a tshirt, I have a hard time getting rid of any tshirts that have their hems intact. I see each of them as potential beanies!

Sewing not your thing? Buy one of these on Amazon.

Don’t miss parts one and two of this series!

Finally, it’s October, and we feel like we have permission to talk about homemade costumes for babies even more incessantly. But I also want to share that mega-site BuyCostumes.com has a ginormous selection of costumes if making something is not happening in your household. They have a referee costume that I’m tempted to buy for my husband since our son wants to be a football player. There’s also a Princess Leia get-up for adult women that would make many of you the coolest mom alive, I bet. There’s also a sexy Princess Leia – NOT KIDDING – that might make you the coolest wife alive.

I think this link will get you a 15% discount on the site. If I screwed that up, I apologize.

This is a true Hall of Fame, because some of these pictures have lived in my files for five or more years. Witness Caley’s DIY knight accessories. The whole homemade costume utilized her discarded belt and the hood of a favorite old sweatshirt.

Secret Agent Josephine’s merbaby is probably The Cutest Thing On The Internet

My friend Laurie sent me this link last week. Wee Society designed a handful of costumes that use brown paper grocery bags as their base.

Photos on this post show how to make all of them.

Internet friend and fellow Bay Area parent, Leah, made this costume for her firstborn for his first Halloween.

Zoodies – A crafty mama has transformed hoodies into a whole line of animal costumes, available in sizes 6 months and up in her online store. Totally will be worn again!

For more inspiring DIY costumes for babies, check out our Halloween Guide!

When Whitney posted her easy babydoll dress tutorial and explained that it could double as a pirate vest, she inspired me to brainstorm other easy vest Halloween costumes. I love vests for their versatility in the costume box and the fact that they can fit longer than other tops.

She said that if you didn’t care if the vest closed (a la babydoll robe), you could easily upcycle an old sweater into a costume vest. That girl is brilliant.

Here are the easy peasy steps:

1. Cut your sweater into two pieces like so.
   
2. Sew the shoulders and sides together, leaving the armhole open.
   
3. Cut down the middle for an opening (to make a tunic, leave it closed!)
   
   
4. Voila – something new for Halloween or the costume box!
   

Please add your other vested ideas in the comments. Here’s a rainbow of ideas for you:

• Cowboy, cowgirl – vest is red or brown, add hat, plaid shirt, jeans
• Construction worker – vest is orange or yellow, add hard hat
• Police officer – vest is blue or black, add badge
• Pirate – vest is black, add eye patch, scarf, white shirt

If you’re ready to invest in my idea, you can follow either vest tutorial (with or without sash) for something worthy of one night of trick-or-treating.

Does anyone else remember the old Gap ad for Everybody In Vests? No? Just me? Okay then.

Kicking off our latest collection of super homemade baby and kid Halloween costumes is this Starbucks barista costume. We especially like that baby Alonzo got more than one year of use out of it!

Photos: HomeEcoNanay

Barista costume-creator Irene says, “I initially planned to stencil the logo over the apron but after several attempts I realized that having it printed out for me at a local computer shop was easier and less messy! Mama sewed the cap while I also made a candy bucket out of an old lamp shade and made it look like a Starbucks cup with a sleeve.” Alonzo also wore the same costume a second year. Simple apron costume for the win!

Photo: CityMama

Stefania created her daughter’s wolf princess costume in two hours for less than $20. Right on, mama.  Instructions for Princess Mononoke costume are in her blog post on citymama.com.

Photo: mycupofcreativitea

Thien-Kim invented her daughter Sophia’s fairy dress by combining two totally different articles of clothing a la Pretty In Pink. She writes, “I like upcycling because half the sewing is done for you. If you cut up the clothing right, you don’t have to hem and most inside seams are already finished.”

Elizabeth made this adorable penguin costume ALREADY for her 5-month old son. Looks cozy! I’m totally impressed. She put instructions on her blog, if you’re interested.

See last week’s round-up of DIY baby Halloween costumes.

I’ve been saving and pinning images of baby Halloween costumes all year. I wanted to share this early in case you are inspired to order something or start getting crafty.

1. A Yoda hat like the one above can be the starting point for a Star Wars-themed costume. Wrap baby in a cream-colored blanket and tie with a belt to give him a Jedi robe. (photo from this Etsy shop.)

2. Fried egg – Use a plain, white sleeper or onesie and attach a piece of yellow felt cut into a circle for the yolk. Or, execute the egg look on a blanket and drape it over your baby when she’s sleeping in the car seat.

3. I am in love with these other carseat “costumes”. Aren’t they brilliant? Find them at this etsy shop. (If you have a crafty grandma within reach, I always encourage you to show them a photo and ask if they can make something like this.)

4. Swaddled baby options:  Sozo makes a blanket/hat duo that turns your infant into a ladybug, bumble bee, sock monkey, or cow. (Buy them here)

5. Pig in a blanket. (Pair hat above with white or pink jammies. Wrap in blanket.)

6. Football.  Start with a brown snapsuit and use white masking tape to add stitching. Or, use a white bodysuit and red sharpie, or felt if you’re fancy, to add baseball stitching. (Photo from this etsy shop.)

7. I don’t really get why a sushi costume seems to be so popular these days (based on my online research) but for a baby who will be laying down, this execution is really cute.

8. The droid you’re looking for is right here. R2D2 is darn cute for a baby or even a new walker who holds his arms out like a robot. Found in this etsy shop.

9. Bottle. Easier to dress as a bottle than a boob (though the hat could work for either), wouldn’t you say? via Buzzfeed. Make ounce lines on a white outfit and top it off with a white or beige newborn cap, left unknotted.

10. Cozy, washable costume from Old Navy. Comes in strawberry and banana “flavors”. I think I’d cut a hole through the front and back, just to the side of the zipper near the crotch, to allow for snapping baby into carseat or stroller.

More baby costumes for slings and carriers >

I think you guys have the cutest babies ever. Seriously. Look at these babies in their homemade Halloween costumes!

photos: Lisa Holloway Waugh

Rookie mom, Louise Harm, posted this photo and explained, “I used a Martha Stewart idea, and then lucked into a vest at Target that I opened, added the legs to, and sewed closed again.” I think the Martha Stewart spider costume is this one. I love how Louise made her family into the Itsy, Bitsy Spider song — it makes dressing your baby as a spider very cute and not creepy!

The mom who runs Twilight Nanny Agency submitted this one and marveled (see what I did there?), “My 6-month old son kept on novelty glasses for his Clark Kent costume all day. My daughter is his alter ego Superman.”

photo: David Vienna

More super heroes. Eleven-month old twins, Wyatt and Boone, wear comfy sweats with decorative details to dress up as Dr. Horrible (an aspiring supervillain originally played by Neil Patrick Harris) and his nemesis Captain Hammer.

Nicholle Pendergraft was on a serious budget last Halloween. She wrote, “My hubby and I couldn’t find anything at thrift stores and I was about about to give up when he found a black turtleneck and came up with the bestest idea ever for 2011! And what a fitting tribute to a genius who had recently passed.”

The Halloween before that, Nicholle had a skilled friend help her make this adorable Jack Skellington costume. (That’s a Nightmare Before Christmas character, for those who don’t recognize it.)

Thanks to everyone who shared these images with us! If you want to add details about how you made yours, a link, or any other notes, please do so in the comments and we’ll update the post as we receive them.

Look for Part II next week!

Related: You’ll totally wear that again: Halloween investments that will last more than one night

Since we’re getting so close to Halloween, I’m guessing that any last-minute costume seekers are done with ordering online and more likely to be contemplating a late-night Target run. I think you might be able to find what you need for this funny toddler costume there.  I just love this clever concept from Molly of Ain’t No Mom Jeans because it’s so original!

Presenting: A Baby Saloon Keep and a School Marm Mom.

Sources for baby’s outfit:

eBay Baby Tuxedo Vest Set – $9

Red Arm Garters (cut to baby size) – $4

Flour Sack Dish Towel – $13 (7 pack)

Baby Gap 5 Pocket Cords in True Black – $27

Old Navy Oxford Uniform Shirt – $12

Molly points out that the cords can be worn again for Thanksgiving or another occasion that demands baby to wear something a little dressier. I would like to point out that the vest will probably fit for a long time and that Julian has a costume-ish one that he wore two years ago to be a vampire and still wears to be a magician or circus ringmaster when he does “shows” for our family.

As for Mom’s part in this duo, while Molly is all fashion-y about it, I suggest you just dig into your closet to approximate an 1880s babe of the Wild West. Goodwill is your friend this week, should you find yourself lacking a long skirt.

Another benefit to this costume is that turning your partner into a cowboy (assuming he is not already one!) will make it a fully coordinated family costume without much work.

Thanks, so much, Molly!

Other costume ideas in our series:
You’ll totally wear that again: Laura Ingalls costume from Molly
You’ll totally wear that again: prom dress becomes princess dress from Carrie
You’ll totally wear that again: cowgirl costume from Dottie
Reusable toddler train engineer costume from me, on BabyCenter.com.
You’ll totally wear that again: Cool (little) dude jackets from Caitlin

Caitlin from Pacifier in my Pocket sent us these pictures of her boy in his very versatile Halloween-or-any-other-fall-day outfits. In fact, she said he wore these jackets throughout the year, which makes buying such a jacket a brilliant choice.

Biker jacket sources: If you would like your little one to be a greaser or a Hell’s Angel, consider a Harley Davidson branded costume or a more splurgey biker-style jacket that can be worn all winter long. The one below is from Amazon.com.

Another look from Caitlin’s little man: The Aviator. She got this jacket at a consignment sale for $10 and he wore it to a Halloween party at their local zoo, and for a long time afterward.

A quick search brought me to this one which comes in 3T and 4T. Again, it ain’t cheap, but it doesn’t need to be banished to the dress-up box after Halloween.

Related:

You’ll totally wear that again: Laura Ingalls costume from Molly
You’ll totally wear that again: prom dress becomes princess dress from Carrie
You’ll totally wear that again: cowgirl costume from Dottie
Reusable toddler train engineer costume from me, on BabyCenter.com.