Fun and Adorable Baby Costumes for Halloween

Picking out baby’s first Halloween costume is one of those small parenting milestones that feels bigger than it probably should. You want something cute for photos, but you also need something your baby can actually sit, wriggle or nap in without getting overheated, itchy or fussy. That balance matters more than the costume looking perfect.

Below we’ve pulled together costume ideas by age and stage, along with the practical stuff that often gets left out: what to check for safety, how to dress a baby for the weather on the night, and where to actually find these costumes without overpaying.

A quick word on costume safety first

Before you fall in love with a costume, it’s worth checking a few things, especially for babies under one:

• No loose small parts. Buttons, sequins, bells, plastic eyes and anything glued or sewn on can come off and end up in a baby’s mouth. If you’re making a costume, use fabric paint or embroidery instead of anything that can be pulled off.
• Skip masks and anything covering the face. Babies can’t easily push a mask away, and it can interfere with their breathing or vision. A simple hat or headband with ears is a much safer bet, and honestly it usually looks cuter anyway.
• Watch the temperature. Babies overheat more easily than adults, and thick costume padding under a coat is a common culprit on a mild Halloween night. Dress in light layers underneath so you can adjust, and check the back of your baby’s neck for sweatiness.
• Be careful with face paint. Baby skin is thin and sensitive, and a lot of face paints aren’t tested for infants. If you want to use any, patch test a small area on the arm a day or two beforehand and check with your health visitor or GP if you’re unsure.
• Keep it loose enough to move in. If your baby can’t bend their arms, sit down comfortably, or turn their head freely in the costume, size up or choose something simpler.

None of this is meant to put you off, it just takes two minutes to check and saves a lot of stress later.

Baby costumes for Halloween by age

Babies 0-3 months

At this age your baby isn’t rolling, crawling or reaching for their hat yet, which actually makes life easier for you. Wraps, swaddle-style costumes and simple onesies with a soft hat are your best friends here, and they tend to be the most comfortable option for a newborn anyway. That potted plant costume above is a good example: it’s really just a soft wrap with leaves attached, and baby stays snug and can’t pull anything off.

If you’re a football family, a simple soft costume made from petal-shaped fabric pieces stitched into a ball shape, with a hole cut for baby’s face and a zip up the back, works really well and keeps baby fully covered without anything loose to grab. Add matching shirts for mum and dad and you’ve got yourself a proper family costume.

A popcorn costume is another lovely no-sew option for this age. White fabric wrapped around the body, red stripes added for the classic popcorn box look, a white hat, and you’re done. Just make sure any decorative “popcorn” pieces are printed or painted on rather than glued as separate bits, since babies at this age still mouth everything within reach.

If you use a baby carrier for walks, it’s worth thinking about a costume that works with the carrier rather than against it. There’s not much point in a detailed costume that disappears completely once baby is strapped in facing you. Look for costumes designed to be seen from the front and sides, or ones where the carrier itself becomes part of the look. Just make sure the carrier’s straps and baby’s airway are never covered by costume fabric.

Babies 3-6 months

By 3 to 6 months most babies still aren’t sitting unsupported, so carrier-friendly costumes are still a good shout. If you’d rather go without the carrier for the evening, here are some ideas that work well at this stage.

A Wizard of Oz theme is lovely for a family costume, with baby as the cowardly lion (a soft hood with a mane works nicely and is easy to make or find). If there are more of you, there’s Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, Glinda or the Wicked Witch to go round.

If you want something quick and a bit tongue in cheek, a Hamlet costume can be as simple as a plain sleepsuit with a small foam or felt skull prop nearby for photos (not attached to baby) and a name tag reading “to be” pinned to a spare outfit for a sibling or parent’s “not to be.” It’s more of a photo gag than a full costume, which is fine, not every costume needs to be elaborate.

Pokémon themed costumes are popular every year, and for this age a yellow onesie with a simple knitted or crocheted hat shaped like Pikachu’s ears works well without anything heavy or restrictive. If you’re using a carrier, some parents cover the carrier itself in a red and white Pokéball design so baby becomes the “Pokémon” popping out. Just check any knitted pieces are securely stitched with no loose threads baby could chew off.

Babies 6-9 months

Once your baby is sitting up confidently, usually somewhere between 6 and 9 months, you’ve got a lot more room to play with, since costumes can be bulkier and baby can stay upright for photos without you holding them.

A lobster costume is a fun one if the rest of the family dresses as chefs, complete with aprons and chef’s hats, and baby sits in a (baby-safe, well padded) prop “pot.” Just make sure any prop is stable, can’t tip, and baby is never left in it unsupervised even for a second.

An orange costume made from an orange-painted onesie with a matching hat is simple and comfortable, and if you want the “peeking out of a box” look, use a lightweight box with a reinforced, padded bottom, and only for supervised photos rather than for wearing around all evening.

For something a bit more detailed, an octopus costume works well at this stage because babies can both sit and start to crawl in it. Extra “legs” made from tights stuffed with soft fabric (not loose beads or small foam pieces that could work free) are stitched or pinned securely to the sides, with a simple hat and felt eyes on top. It looks brilliant in photos and doesn’t restrict movement much at all.

Babies 9-12 months

Somewhere between 9 and 12 months, most babies are pulling themselves up, cruising along furniture, and some are taking their first steps. This is the stage where you really want to prioritise ease of movement over how detailed the costume looks, because a baby who’s just learning to walk needs their arms and legs free to balance.

A scuba diver costume can be put together with a grey spray-painted plastic bottle worn like a small tank on the back (lightweight and secured so it can’t shift or press on baby), a soft foam strap holding a dummy like a “regulator,” and a pair of child-safe diving-style goggles for photos only, not for wearing while walking about. Try the full look on at home first to make sure baby is happy and comfortable in it before heading out.

Tangled themed family costumes are a nice option if you’ve got a few kids or family members involved, with baby as Pascal the chameleon in a simple green hooded outfit, while parents or older siblings take on Rapunzel, Flynn Rider or Mother Gothel.

A “biggest loser” style costume is an easy DIY: a plain red top, sweatbands on the wrists and head, and a paper logo cut out and glued on. Keep any props like a toy donut for photos only, since anything small enough to fit in a fist can end up in a mouth fast at this age.

A few more favourites

A sandwich costume with a little bag of “chips” tucked alongside is soft, simple and genuinely comfortable, since it’s really just padded fabric layers rather than anything structured.

A little clementine or “cutie” costume is another easy one to knit or sew, and works well layered over ordinary baby clothes if the evening turns chilly.

An “old man” costume with a knitted waistcoat, flat cap and glasses (lenses popped out for safety) always gets a laugh, and it’s warm too, which is handy if you’re heading out after dark.

Matching Minnie and baby Mickey outfits are a lovely option if an older sibling wants to join in the theme too.

And a little chef costume with a soft hat and apron is comfortable, easy to move in, and works from the newborn stage right through toddlerhood.

Do you actually need to take a young baby trick-or-treating?

It’s worth saying plainly: no, you don’t. Very young babies won’t remember Halloween, they don’t need sweets, and a lot of parents find it easier and kinder to keep the outing short, or skip the door-to-door walk altogether and just dress baby up for photos and family visitors at home. If you do go out, try to fit it around your baby’s usual nap and feed times rather than the other way round, dress in breathable layers you can add or remove, and bring a spare change of clothes in case the costume gets uncomfortable halfway through. There’s no prize for staying out longer than your baby is happy to.

Where to find baby Halloween costumes

• Costume Works has a huge archive of homemade costume ideas from real parents, including this mandrake baby costume and this little gnome, both good if you’d rather DIY than buy.
• Etsy is a good option if you want something a bit less mass-produced, since a lot of sellers make costumes to order. Just build in extra time for shipping and double check the size chart against your baby’s actual measurements rather than just their age, since babies vary a lot in size at every stage.
• Big retailers and supermarkets are the easiest and usually cheapest option, though sizing can run generously or “one size” for very young babies, so check reviews for fit before you order, especially if your baby is on the smaller or larger side for their age.
• The Disney Store is worth a look if your baby (or you) has a favourite character in mind.

Whatever you choose, the costume that gets the best reaction is usually the one your baby is actually comfortable and happy in, not the most elaborate one on the rack. Comfort first, cuteness second, and you’ll both enjoy the evening a lot more.

Check out our other Halloween posts:

• Cute and Simple Halloween Crafts for Babies
• How to Choose Halloween Costumes for Mom and Baby