NICUs across the country are having Halloween costume contests, and it's too adorable

Kerry Justich
·Health and Wellness Staff Writer


Halloween comes with a host of scary, funny, and even controversial costumes each year. But these little looks are sure to be the cutest that you’ll see this fall.

In a number of NICUs across the country, preemie babies are being dressed up as adorable characters, as pop culture figures, and in the most classic costumes to celebrate their first Halloween — and to comfort parents who have yet to bring their newborns home.

These NICU babies are Halloween ready. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
These NICU babies are Halloween ready. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)

“This gives families a fun way to bring them hope, and it’s something fun to normalize their experience. It celebrates their baby,” Susan McDonald, RN, patient care manager at Aurora Women’s Pavilion NICU in West Allis, Wis., tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “The baby might not be home going out trick-or-treating, but they have a child and they want to celebrate. It can be traumatic to have a baby in the NICU, so when you can add a little fun to your day, it can make everyone smile.”

The hospital was participating in making Halloween costumes for their preemie patients for the first time and gave both the NICU nurses and parents an opportunity to play a large role.

“We had 16 babies participate. It was a mixture of parents and nurses at the hospital who made the costumes,” McDonald explains. “It was something that was really fun for the families to do with their baby. We even had a family that came dressed up too.”

Other hospitals, like MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia, Mo., and Advocate Children’s Hospital in Chicago, have been taking part in the tradition for years, seeing firsthand the positive impact that celebrating the fun holiday has on families. Some have even turned the activity into a costume contest, allowing Facebook friends and followers to vote on their favorites.

From the looks of the adorable costumes below, these babies are all winners.

The Boland twins were dressed up as two little Twinkies. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
The Boland twins were dressed up as two little Twinkies. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
This baby girl became a classic Starbucks coffee cup. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
This baby girl became a classic Starbucks coffee cup. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
This bat costume was a hit throughout the unit. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
This bat costume was a hit throughout the unit. (Photo: MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
<span>Brothers Nicolai and Nathan</span> were dressed in matching lion onesies. (Photo: Advocate Children’s Hospital)
Brothers Nicolai and Nathan were dressed in matching lion onesies. (Photo: Advocate Children’s Hospital)
Baby baller Jordan looked ready to shoot some hoops. (Photo: Advocate Children’s Hospital)
Baby baller Jordan looked ready to shoot some hoops. (Photo: Advocate Children’s Hospital)
<span>Ulalia made the cutest Moana to match her favorite doll. </span>(Photo: Advocate Children’s Hospital)
Ulalia made the cutest Moana to match her favorite doll. (Photo: Advocate Children’s Hospital)
<span>Izzy stole hearts as a</span> little mermaid. (Photo: Aurora Women’s Pavilion)
Izzy stole hearts as a little mermaid. (Photo: Aurora Women’s Pavilion)
<span>Max made for a strong gladiator. </span>(Photo: Aurora Women’s Pavilion)
Max made for a strong gladiator. (Photo: Aurora Women’s Pavilion)
<span>Norah was dressed up in fluff to look just like a little chicken.</span> (Photo: Aurora Women’s Pavilion)
Norah was dressed up in fluff to look just like a little chicken. (Photo: Aurora Women’s Pavilion)

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• 10-year-old dresses up as Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr.: ‘I’m fighting crime’
• 13-year-old dresses as ‘tired mom’ for Halloween and the internet is obsessed
• Starbucks’ new Witch’s Brew drink contains a superfood

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