The World’s Cutest Costume Contest: Starring NICU Newborns

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Advocate Aurora Health’s annual Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Costume Contest is back to bring fun and festivities to parents and babies celebrating Halloween in the hospital. Each year the healthcare system encourages parents to dress up their newborns in festive costumes for the spooky season and snap a picture for social media.

The adorable outfits offer a welcome respite from the stress of a long hospital stay and provide a time for parents to bond with baby. Plus, the creative costumes bring smiles to the faces of parents, pediatricians and people all over the world.

This year’s costumes include twin crayons, a mellow Mandrake from Harry Potter, a witchy mermaid, a positively pooped pumpkin and more. The hospital encourages the public to visit Advocate Children’s Hospital’s and Aurora Health Care’s Facebook pages to vote for their favorite ‘fit. To cast your ballot, simply like each photo. The photos with the most reactions by 12pm on October 28 will win special prizes.

While you scroll through the cute contestants, make sure not to miss the captions. The staff at Advocate Aurora has included outfit explanations, punny jokes and inspirational updates for many of the pint-sized patients. According to her caption, tiny baby boxer Alaysia was born at just 23 weeks old. “Since day one, [she’s] been fighting a tough fight in the NICU," the caption says. “It’s fitting that Alaysia’s parents dressed her up as a little boxer/fighter as she truly is ‘Mommy and Daddy’s little fighter.’”

With so many cute contestants, we wouldn’t blame you if you can’t pick just one Halloween champion. We would have to agree with Advocate Children’s Hospital when they say, no matter what, “They are ALL winners.”

Looking for the picture-perfect costume for your tiny tot? Check out these adorable baby costumes.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.