It’s Baby’s First Halloween! So…What Can They Do Besides Look Adorable?

Halloween Costume for Baby

Halloween is one of those holidays adults take really seriously or not at all. You can go all out or have a nice quiet evening at home. For kids, Halloween is one of the most treasured days of the year; promising a night filled with costumes, carefreeness, and, of course, candy. But if you’re a new parent you might be wondering how to celebrate this holiday as a new family with a baby who doesn’t do much besides look unbelievably adorable in their bumble bee costume. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s a pocket guide to your baby’s first Halloween!

Halloween Activities with a baby

Unfortunately, trick or treating is most likely off the table for babies unless you’re a sneaky candy-loving parent who won’t hesitate to use your own newborn’s cuteness to your own advantage and go door to door for that sugary goodness (no judgement here). 

We recommend keeping an eye out for some local events (libraries are great for this) where you and baby can get involved in some fun with your community. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate in a baby-friendly way and meet new people. 

Taking a family trip to your local pumpkin patch is a classic family outing. Put on a sweater, sip some cider, and enjoy your hunt for the perfect pumpkin. If you’re bummed your baby can’t hold a carving tool yet, fear not! This pumpkin carving activity from Midlife Healthy Living will do the trick nicely. 

Lastly, if you’re in a group with other new parents, why not be the one to host a baby costume party at your place? Talk about cuteness overload. 

Halloween Costumes for Baby

Speaking of costumes, just because your baby can’t walk or talk their way through trick or treating doesn’t mean you can’t dress them up! This is one of the precious few Halloweens where they won’t have any say in what costume they’ll be wearing, so have as much fun with it as you want!

If you’re trying to save some cash or want a more sustainable option, look for inspiration around your home and try to put something together with what you already have. Believe us, cotton balls can go a long way and they’ve been used in some of our favorite DIY costumes to date: The Old Lady Baby costume and this adorable DIY Sheep Suit.

If you’re feeling too overwhelmed to come up with something from scratch, these costumes from The Bump should give you some inspiration (or direct you to where you can add them to your shopping cart). 

If you’re trying to save some cash or want a more sustainable option, look for inspiration around your home and try to put something together with what you already have. Believe us, cotton balls can go a long way and they’ve been used in some of our favorite DIY costumes to date: The Old Lady Baby costume and this adorable DIY Sheep Suit.

If you’re feeling too overwhelmed to come up with something from scratch, these costumes from The Bump should give you some inspiration (or direct you to where you can add them to your shopping cart).

Family Halloween Traditions

One of the sweetest parts about being new parents is considering all the traditions you’ll participate in as a family around the holidays (and traditions are by no means exclusive to Winter holidays!). 

Maybe you’re planning to roast pumpkin seeds like your mom used to when you were a kid or recreate the annual costume competition from your teenage years. The beauty lies in the fact that you get to decide what you want to introduce your child to and the kinds of memories you want to make as a family.

Your baby might not be able to fully participate yet, but doing something you enjoy on the holiday will spark a desire to keep the momentum going for next year and the year after that. It’s good to show our kids we like to have a good time, so why not start now?


We hope these pointers will be helpful guideposts to your first Halloween with your baby. We here at Family Tree Doula Services wish you and your growing family a safe and spooky holiday!

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