How to Make Halloween Costumes Out of Baby Clothes

by Jan

I started looking for ideas for making baby Halloween costumes from clothes I already had because I had several onesies, sleepers and tiny shirts that were still in good condition. Some were nearly outgrown, but they were much too nice to throw away.

That made me wonder how many Halloween costumes could start with an ordinary piece of baby clothing instead of a completely separate costume.

I also like this approach because inexpensive baby clothes are easy to find at consignment stores, thrift stores and yard sales. A plain onesie or sleeper can become the base of a costume without spending much money on something that may only be worn once.

Before changing a onesie, sleeper or other baby outfit, I would first think about how the finished costume will fit and how the baby will actually wear it. These infant Halloween costume ideas include practical suggestions for warmth, movement, carrying and easier diaper changes.

How I Would Make Halloween Costumes From Baby Clothes

I would start with the clothes rather than choosing an elaborate costume first.

A solid-color onesie can become the base for a ballerina, candy corn, pumpkin, animal or character costume. A sleeper works well when Halloween weather is cooler. A plain T-shirt can become part of a costume for an older baby who is sitting, crawling or walking.

The advantage is that the baby is still wearing familiar clothing underneath the decorative part of the costume.

I would also keep anything I add lightweight. I would avoid hard decorations, long cords, loose pieces, beads, buttons or anything that could come off and end up in a baby's mouth.

Baby Ballerina Costume From a Onesie

One of the prettiest ideas I found starts with a basic onesie and turns it into a little ballerina costume.

The Tiny Dancer costume tutorial uses a onesie with a small tutu to create the look.

I like this idea because the basic outfit is immediately recognizable without covering the baby in a bulky costume. A soft pink, white or black onesie could work as the base, depending on the look you want.

For a very young baby, I would skip anything around the neck or anything that could shift toward the face. A simple onesie and securely attached soft skirt are enough to suggest the ballerina theme.

Baby Cupcake Costume

A cupcake is another costume that can begin with ordinary baby clothes.

The DIY cupcake costume tutorial is useful inspiration because it shows how recognizable a costume can become once the basic shape and colors are in place.

For a baby version, I would keep the design much simpler than an elaborate child's costume. A comfortable onesie or sleeper could provide the base color, with a lightweight removable cupcake wrapper effect added around the body for photographs.

I would not attach hot-glued pieces directly to clothing the baby is wearing. If glue is used while making decorative components, I would make those separately, let everything cool completely and check the finished piece carefully before it ever goes near the baby.

Candy Corn Costume From a Onesie

The candy corn costume may be the easiest idea to recognize with very little decoration.

The familiar white, orange and yellow color combination does most of the work.

A white onesie can become the top of the costume while orange and yellow fabric creates the lower portion. Another option is to layer those colors through clothing the baby already owns instead of sewing an entirely new outfit.

I especially like this idea for Halloween photographs because it looks seasonal without requiring a hat, mask or complicated accessories.

It can also be adapted for cooler weather by beginning with a long-sleeve onesie or sleeper instead of a short-sleeve bodysuit.

Easy Baby Costumes From T-Shirts and Simple Clothes

Plain shirts can be useful costume bases too, particularly for an older baby.

I found more inspiration among these easy children's costume ideas.

Rather than trying to copy every detail of a larger child's costume, I would identify the one feature that makes the character recognizable and use that.

A solid green outfit might need only a soft dinosaur detail. Brown clothing can become the beginning of a woodland animal costume. Yellow clothes can become a banana, chick or other simple character.

That approach keeps the costume easier for the baby to wear and usually makes it easier to photograph too.

Choose the Baby Clothes Before Choosing the Costume

If I were making one of these again, I would empty the baby clothes drawer first.

I would sort the pieces by color and see what themes suggest themselves.

Yellow could become a banana, chick or bumblebee.

Orange could become a pumpkin or part of a candy corn costume.

Green could become a dinosaur.

Brown could become a bear or woodland animal.

White could become a ballerina, little lamb or the top of a candy corn costume.

Black clothing can also provide the base for a bat, cat or other classic Halloween idea.

Starting this way makes more sense to me than buying several craft supplies and then discovering that the costume is uncomfortable or difficult to put on.

Make Sure the Costume Still Works Like Baby Clothing

The biggest thing I would keep in mind is that a costume made from baby clothes should still function like baby clothes.

I would not permanently cover snaps needed for diaper changes. I would make sure added fabric does not wrap tightly around the waist, neck, wrists or ankles. I would also check that nothing interferes with crawling, sitting or being carried.

For babies who will spend most of Halloween in someone's arms or a carrier, a simple costume may work better than an elaborate one.

The baby Halloween costumes guide has more ideas organized around age, weather, family themes, carriers and different ways babies actually spend Halloween.

Why I Still Like Homemade Baby Halloween Costumes

What I like most about making a costume from existing clothes is that it does not have to become a major sewing project.

Sometimes a plain onesie plus one spooky fall detail is enough. A crochet bat applique, crochet ghost applique or crochet skull applique can supply that Halloween detail without requiring a separate full costume.



It also gives me the option of removing the costume pieces after the photographs and letting the baby continue wearing the comfortable clothing underneath.

If the pictures are the main reason for making the outfit, these newborn costumes that double as photo props offer more handmade inspiration.

For a baby's first Halloween, that seems much more practical than spending hours making something complicated that the baby may tolerate for only a few minutes.

The best idea may be the one that uses clothes you already have, takes very little time to put on and still looks unmistakably Halloween in the pictures.