When you have young children, Halloween is such a beautiful time. A family costume is the ideal method to create shared experiences, which is what makes the holiday so memorable.
As a paediatric doctor, I witnessed directly how much dressing up fosters children’s capacity for empathy and pretend play. Additionally, it is a great way for the entire family to bond.
We used to like organising our costumes weeks in advance when my own kids were little. Just as significant as the actual trick-or-treating is the anticipation and collaborative creating.
Check out our inventive guide to halloween baby shower themes if you’re organising other seasonal celebrations. For additional creative inspiration, check out our tutorial on DIY felt quiet book ideas.
These ten family costume themes are my favourites since they are cosy, secure, and quite popular.
1. The Lost Boys and Peter Pan storybook
Families with several toddlers will love dressing up as Wendy, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys. While parents play the traditional major roles, younger siblings can dress up as cuddly baby bears or ferocious animals.
Simple bits of brown and green clothing that you already own can be used to create these ensembles with ease. To finish the traditional fairytale design, add matching fabric feathers and a simple pointed felt hat.
From a paediatric standpoint, youngsters adore this subject because of its high level of activity. Without wearing any constrictive clothes, they can safely run around the yard trying to get away from Captain Hook.
Make sure your toddler’s sword is made of soft, flexible felt if they wish to carry it. During active play, hard plastic toy weapons may cause unintentional knocks and bruises.
2. The crew of The Wizard of Oz
Everyone may play fantastic roles in this timeless theme, from the Tin Man to the Cowardly Lion. In a little wicker basket, even the family dog, Toto, may participate in the pleasure.
For the Tin Man, you can wear a basic silver shirt and a funnel hat. Blue gingham fabric makes Dorothy’s dress simple to locate or sew.
Remember that some old cardboard box Tin Man costumes might be extremely rigid. Soft grey fleece shirts are a better option than stiff boxes for toddlers who need to bend their knees.
You can make a pram resemble the Yellow Brick Road by draping it with yellow fabric. It’s a creative method to keep weary children moving in style.
3. Friends and Winnie the Pooh
Warm, delicate hues like pastel pink and yellow are used in this motif. If you have a baby who can dress up as a little, cuddly Piglet or Roo, this is especially ideal.
To complete the Hundred Acre Wood crew, parents might dress as Christopher Robin or Tigger. The main items are cosy cotton hoodies that are perfect for skin that is delicate.
I’ve seen that young infants frequently get nervous when they see scary outfits. They feel safer and happier in crowds when they dress like well-known, amiable figures.
For gathering candies, you can carry a plastic bucket that has been painted to resemble a “Hunny” pot. During trick-or-treating, it’s a terrific prop that keeps your hands free.
4. The Woodland Forest Family
Cosy neutral sweaters and felt ears make it easy to put together a woodland motif with foxes, owls, and deer. If you like relaxed, cosy clothes that youngsters can wear again in the future, this is a great choice.
Brown felt and cheap plastic bands can be used to create basic headbands with ears. To complete the look, apply a little black nose to your child’s face using safe, non-toxic makeup.
You may utilise regular clothes with this theme, which is a fantastic way to save money. Additionally, it guarantees that your children will be sufficiently warm in the event of a cold October.
As a family, spend an afternoon making the felt ears and tails. It’s a great method to get your toddlers excited and practise their fine motor skills.
5. Adorable Circus Group
With a ringmaster, a strongman, and a few cute baby lions, you can turn your family into a circus act. For simple neighbourhood trick-or-treating, you can turn a red waggon into a mobile lion cage.
Wear a paper top hat and a basic red jacket to portray parents as the ringmaster. You can paint whiskers on toddlers’ faces or dress them up in cuddly lion outfits.
The waggon cage is quite useful since it provides a seat for weary children. To keep them comfy on long treks, fill it with soft blankets and pillows.
Instead of using scratchy synthetic materials, make sure the lion mane on your baby’s costume is lined with soft cotton. It keeps children from attempting to remove the hood and avoids skin discomfort.
6. Aliens and Space Explorers
Make a futuristic theme with a newborn or toddler costumed as an amiable little extraterrestrial and parents dressed as astronauts. This arrangement feels very graphic and contemporary thanks to the use of metallic textiles and silver accents.
Silver-painted empty two-litre plastic bottles can be used to create rocket jetpacks. Use basic ribbon rucksack straps to fasten them on your child’s back.
Heavy plastic astronaut helmets frequently cause toddlers to become extremely sensitive. I suggest utilising beanies or silver caps in place of the helmets.
To make the alien spaceship stand out, you can equip the stroller with battery-operated green wire lights. As it grows dark outside, it guarantees that cars can see your family clearly.
7. Cosy Animals and Farmers
While kids dress up as fluffy newborn sheep or small chicks, parents can wear basic flannel shirts and dungarees. On chilly October evenings, this rustic motif keeps babies warm.
Glue cotton balls onto a white hooded sweatshirt to make a lamb costume. It’s a simple do-it-yourself craft that looks cute in family pictures.
To keep everyone safe, we advise against using masks or long strings when clothing infants. For additional advice on costume safety, see the AAP Halloween safety tips.
To allow your infant to move freely, use animal outfits made of elastic knit materials. Your trick-or-treating journey may be shortened and frustrated by restricted mobility.
8. Sweet Pastries and Retro Baker
Parents can dress up like bakers or chefs by donning white hats and aprons. Toddlers can dress up in cosy, padded costumes that resemble cupcakes, doughnuts or tiny pastries.
You can make enormous sprinkles on a cardboard doughnut by painting pink and brown pool noodles. It’s easy to wear the baker dresses over regular adult attire.
Instead of utilising stiff wire frames, use foam stuffing to keep the pastry shapes flexible. If your youngster gets sleepy, soft stuffing makes it possible for them to sit comfortably in a pram or car seat.
Before dressing up, let your children play with actual flour and baking pans for an enjoyable sensory experience. They are able to relate to the topic and anticipate the holiday as a result.
9. Seafaring Adventurers
With basic black costumes and homemade cardboard oxygen tanks, parents may pretend to be scuba divers. Kids can dress up as little jellyfish with ribbon tendrils, octopuses, or vibrant sea stars.
A clear dome umbrella adorned with hanging blue and purple ribbons can be used to create a jellyfish costume. If you live in an area that receives a lot of rain, this is an excellent choice.
Make sure the hanging ribbons are sufficiently short to prevent your toddler from tripping over them. You should always put your safety first when using dark pavements.
The backs of the cardboard oxygen tanks can be covered with reflective tape. Your vision at nightfall is greatly increased by this tiny addition.
10. Forest Rangers and Storybook Campers
In this earthy motif, kids are shown as tiny brown bears or campfires, while parents are forest rangers. Because you may construct the costumes directly over heavy winter jackets, it is quite useful for outdoor events.
Parents should wear wide-brimmed hats and basic khaki coats. Kids can hold little cardboard pine trees and wear fluffy bear ears on their hoods.
Because it takes little styling on the part of the grownups, this arrangement works flawlessly. It maintains the children’s attention while giving the group a cohesive appearance.
A tiny toy lantern can be used as a utility light and prop. It perfectly complements the comfortable outdoor camp vibe while illuminating your route.
Sloane’s Take
“When creating costumes for young infants, I always advise keeping warmth and comfort in mind. A child wearing a stiff, complicated costume will not have as much fun on Halloween night as one who is warm and free to move.”
