If you miss the trick-or-treating candy-collecting days of yore, bundle your little one up in a sling or carrier, grab a flashlight and bag, and get read to help baby celebrate her first Halloween. Does it really matter that she doesn’t even have teeth or that she can’t eat chocolate?
Here are some costume ideas for baby only and for baby-parent combos. I’ll also provide a list of sling-friendly costumes and do-it yourself ideas you can create with things around the house.
Infant Sling-Friendly Costumes
Any costume that comes bunting style and features stand-out details on the upper body and head will not only win points for comfort and warmth, but will also elicit comments of “Awww, how cute” from neighbors as they plunk mini-Snickers and candy corn into “baby’s” bag.
My top five favorites? The lobster, the pea pod, the caterpillar, chili pepper, and the clown fish. All of these covered baby completely and have a design that keeps the head and neck warm.
Infant Front or Back Carrier Costume Ideas
On the front – My son was a Kangaroo for his second Halloween. In the Bjorn, the irony or redundancy or whatever you’d call it was a big hit at our Halloween party and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.
On the back – Butterflies, bees, and anything with wings (attach them to the carrier instead of to the baby). Also, baby dressed as the little devil or little angel on your shoulder can work.
DIY costumes have always been my favorite. Even back in 3rd grade, my parents were completely supportive and supplied me with all of the necessities to transform myself into a raisin. I made my costume out of a black lawn and leaf bag stuffed with a few pages of crumbled newspaper. I used some paper and tape to write the word Sunmaid on chest after my brothers informed me that I looked like a trash bag.
Here’s how your cutie and his sidekick (you) can partner-up on a DIY Halloween get-up. Sure, you might have to clarify exactly what your costume is, but you couldn’t ask for a better conversational opener!
Dress Up the Carrier or Sling
Go with the color of your carrier. Our Bjorn happens to be red and black. A few safely-placed safety-pinned circles of red and black, a red hat with more felt black circles and your lady bug is ready to trick-or-treat!
As for slings, play on their natural crescent or hammock-like shape. Dress baby in yellow with a brown hat and she can be the banana to your monkey (wear brown, buy ears and a tail).
Or be the tree to your baby bird and her nest-like sling. Brown pants and a green shirt make you the tree. A knit hat with a bird’s features (beak included) complete this easy duo. And if baby is the apple of your eye, you can be the tree to his pomme, outfitting him in cozy red jammies and green hat.
One of my favorite sling DIY costume ideas is to go Hawaiian. Especially if you have a bold-patterned sling. Wear your Hawaiian shirt, straw hat, flower lei, even carry around a plastic cup with a drink umbrella taped to the inside. Your baby is doing what people do in paradise: relaxing in a hammock. Put baby in colorful Hawaiian garb, too, and a summery sunhat with an artificial plumeria attached. To complete the look (and give baby something to look at while you make the rounds), pick up an accessary that’s fun for her to look at and safe to play with: artificial coconut, whale or ocean animal soft toy, or anything else that says ‘relaxing island style.’
Bottom Line
Why take your baby out at all if he can’t even say trick-or-treat, if all he wants to do is chew on his costume instead of wear it? One word:
No, the word is not “candy.” It’s “siblings.” Sling-costuming has made it possible for us to trick or treat as a family and for our baby to safely get in on the dress up act.
Next year, maybe the family dog will come too!
