Halloween Costumes for Babies (The Guide)
From elaborate sewing projects to last-minute baby costumes and frugal-minded ideas for parents who want to highlight their baby’s mind-blowing Halloween cuteness, we’ve put all our best dress-up ideas on this page. If you’ve got a related photo or story to share, feel free to comment at the bottom.
Best last minute costumes for infants:
- Farmer – denim overalls, plaid shirt
- 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
- Greaser – jeans, white t-shirt, converse (requires a baby with hair – Whitney makes this kind; Heather does not)
- Baby Einstein – Write E=MC2 on a onesie and be done with it. Concept and photo courtesy of ParentHacks.com.
Simplest tiny newborn costumes:
- Fried egg – white sleeper with yellow felt circle sewn or glued to center.
- Swaddled ladybug, bumblee, or cow. (Buy them here)
- Pig in a blanket (Pair hat below with white or pink jammies. Wrap in blanket.)
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Best costume that will actually be worn again: pajamas!
Our hands-down favorite is skeleton pajamas — Carters saves the day with this skeleton pj-set that gets more wear after Halloween. Rookie Mom go-to costume! Julian has been this twice, Holden once, and Milo once. Gymboree has a set in pink for only $10.
Other “You’ll totally wear that again” costumes for toddlers and kids:
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
Best “baby as a prop to your own costume” ideas:
- Baby as a monkey to Mommy and Daddy’s Wonder Twins
- Baby in Bjorn as Mini-Me to your Austin Powers (the balder the baby, the better!)
More mom and baby costumes:
- Martha Stewart’s “no-sew” spider and web
- Baby as frog to your princess
- Baby in sling or Bugaboo to your celebrimom of choice.
- Mom as a butcher; baby as a piglet
- Baby as an owl and mom is a tree with a green or brown sling.
More sidekick costume ideas like this…
Best costumes for pregnant chicks:
- Embrace the belly and be Buddha, Santa Claus, or a guy with a beer belly (baseball cap, man-style sleeveless undershirt, beer in hand)
- Pregnant virgins: nun, cheerleader, girl scout, or bride
- Staying home? Paint your belly as a pumpkin like Caley
- Be athletic and paint your belly as a beach ball or basketball as below. (Image courtesy Parents.com)
- Quinn from Glee (aka pregnant cheerleader, see above!) and more more more ideas from pregnantchicken.
Best place for store-bought toddler costumes that will be soft and comfy:
- Old Navy (less than $20) — and Old Navy costumes go on as easy as a zippy sweatshirt and pair of pants. Milo is wearing his for a second year and its a costume box favorite!
- Zoodies – A crafty mama has transformed hoodies into animals. Totally will be worn again!
Best shortcuts for DIY parents:
- Costume kits on Etsy for tricking out a sweatsuit
- Start with a monochromatic base outfit like the one below from One Step Ahead (This warm under-layer comes in red, pink, tan and green for $14.99) and add accesories.
- Iconic OshKosh train conductor-style overalls paired with collared shirt and red bandana ($14 at Carters.com as of this writing!)
- Use a ribbon + sponges to make a dragon or dinosaur costume out of anything!
- Use iron-on printer paper to add details and designs, such as a control panel for R2D2 or a tiny necktie for an old man.
- Make a clown collar and wear it with pjs. Here’s how.
Best resource for cheap Halloween stuff to get you in the mood:
Laziest costume for a parent with a printer:
Print a mask from the Kodak web site
Most impressive costume endeavors by other parent bloggers:
> Kermit the Frog made from green sweatsuit by BelleFlower
> Caley’s DIY knight costume for preschoolers utilizes her discarded belt and the hood of a favorite old sweatshirt.
> Secret Agent Josephine’s merbaby is probably The Cutest Thing On The Internet
Still reading? If you’ve got a cute idea to share for Halloween, please send it to moms @ rookiemoms . com and we’ll add it to this guide!
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Thanks for the great guide!
I’m a firm believer in at least partially DIY and/or reusable components to Halloween costumes. Last year my daughter needed some long-sleeve tops anyway, so I got a few from American Apparel, and I got black yoga pants to match the top. I bought some plain white “princess” wings from a craft store but painted them as a butterfly, so she got some sweet butterfly wings out of the deal–easily reusable again for her and another kid, and we used the clothes over & over again. The only part that didn’t work so well was the antennae/crown I made out of pipe cleaners– rejected. Oh, well.
Bristol must have left quite an impression for people to still be picking on her. Because of the fact that you still do, is a reflection of your own insecurities!!!
Rookie moms to the rescue once again! You saved my nerves while I was pregnant, saved my sanity when my wee lad was a newbie, and just saved my sorry bum when I put off costuming to the last week. Old Navy cutie monkey costume with all the options a toddler needs (soft, warm, removable hood, gloves, and elastics to keep on the feet) and ONLY ten buckaroos with rave reviews. Well done rookie moms, well done!