BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Babies in NICU Celebrate First Halloween With Adorable Costume Contest

“It gives families an opportunity to forget about the stress of their hospital admission and just be a family.”
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Published October 28, 2019

There are few things cuter than babies in Halloween costumes, and, with Halloween just a few days away, you’re social media feed may be full of them (not that anyone’s complaining!). But for parents with babies in the NICU, celebrating Halloween may not be as easy. Luckily, one children’s hospital is taking steps to change that—and preemies in the Chicagoland area are already celebrating.

Every year, Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn and Park Ridge, located in the suburbs of Chicago, holds a Halloween costume contest for babies in the NICU. The parents are invited to dress their little ones in costume to get in the Halloween spirit.

The hospital started the initiative as a way to provide parents with some normalcy and help them celebrate baby’s first Halloween. “We began this event several years ago” neonatologist Mike Cappello, D.O. tells The Bump. “It gives families an opportunity to forget about the stress of their hospital admission and just be a family.”

Some of our favorite costumes from this year? Grandma Serenity (who looks simply purr-fect), a little mouse with his cheese, the cutest two peas in a pod, a lion cub from the circus, a baby bunny with her carrot, and the marvelous Wonder Woman.

The babies in the contest range from one day to six months old. You can vote for the costumes on the hospital’s Facebook page until noon on Halloween, and you can vote more than once. After all, these babies are all winners in our book.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Baby laying on her stomach trying tummy time.
Developmental Baby Milestones by Month
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
mom and dad at home with their newborn baby
How Long Is the Newborn Stage? (Plus, Tips to Navigate It)
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
parents changing newborn baby's diaper at home
What Baby's First Day Home Is Really Like
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
baby lying on back with feet up
Here’s When Babies Roll Over—and How to Keep Them Safe
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
mother and baby smiling
When Do Babies Start Smiling?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
dad helping baby walk
6 Signs Baby Will Walk Soon
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
father holding up laughing baby
When Do Babies Laugh?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
overhead view of baby crawling in bed
When Do Babies Start Crawling?
Medically Reviewed by Loretta Cody, MD
parents with their newborn baby on christmas
16 Ways to Make Baby’s First Christmas Extra-Festive
By Ashlee Neuman
top view of baby clinging onto mom's legs
Why Babies Get Clingy—and How to Cope
Medically Reviewed by Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Babys First Christmas Ornaments-hero
The Best “Baby’s First Christmas” Ornaments to Add to Your Tree
By Elizabeth Nelson
Baby Milestones: What Baby Will Do When
Baby Milestones: What Baby Will Do When
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
close up of baby babbling
When Do Babies Start Talking?
Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
Baby Stocking Hero
Our Favorite Picks for Baby's First Christmas Stocking
By Martina Garvey
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on June 03, 2022 in London, England
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Share Daughter’s First Birthday Photo
By Wyndi Kappes
Mom packing a suitcase for a trip on her bed.
How to Prep Like a Pro for Baby's First Trip
By Erin van Vuuren
parents smiling with newborn baby at home
How to Celebrate Your First Valentine's Day as Parents
By Dara Pettinelli
ADVERTISEMENT
new mom staring lovingly at her new baby
Everything You Need to Know About Baby’s First Day at Home
By Kristin Fuerst
Your Baby Is 9 Weeks Old!
Your Baby Is 9 Weeks Old!
By The Bump Editors
Your Baby Is 11 Weeks Old!
Your Baby Is 11 Weeks Old!
By The Bump Editors
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.