Baby Costumes Should be Comfortable, Safe AND Adorable
It’s your baby’s first Halloween and you can’t wait to dress him or her up in one of the hundreds of precious baby costumes you’ve seen in catalogues, in stores and on the Internet. Be honest, your first thought is to run out pick the one that catches your eye – that perfect little cowboy or princess, puppy dog or clown. But before you start narrowing down your choice of baby costumes, remember that, just like choosing baby clothes for everyday wear, you need to keep your child’s safety and comfort in mind.
Infant costumes are big business these days, and it’s no longer reserved just for Halloween. If you’re at a loss for baby gift ideas, a baby Halloween costume can be a wonderful choice, especially if it’s an October baby or a Christmas baby. You can find Santa outfits for the holidays, bunnies for Easter and something for just about any other occasion – even leprechauns for those of us with a bit o’ the Irish in us!
Don’t assume that the most expensive baby Halloween costumes are the safest or the most comfortable. Check the details. Because costumes usually have more elaborate fastenings and trimming than ordinary baby clothing, the potential for danger or being uncomfortable is greater.
What makes a high quality baby costume?
A few things to look for in well made baby costumes include:
- No metal parts anywhere
- Zippers, if any, should be plastic
- No buttons or small pieces that could come loose and be swallowed
- If there is fake fur, make sure it doesn’t “shed,” or the baby may inhale it, causing a choking hazard
- No sparkles or glitter that can come loose and be inhaled
- Odor-free. Some costumes use special dyes that are highly aromatic, and babies can be very sensitive to these odors.
- Check to see that the costume meets all federal standards for being flame retardant
- Proper fit without loose strings and/or ties that could become entangled around the baby’s face or limbs
- Don’t buy a costume that covers the baby’s face even partially
- Baby costumes should be safe for crawling in – nothing that can tug or constrict when the child is moving about.
Some Infant Costumes Double as Sleepwear
There are plenty of elaborate, detailed costumes that your baby may only wear once for that Halloween night photo next to the family jack-o’-lantern, but if you can also consider some of the versatile baby costumes that double as sleepwear. These are costumes that have pajamas or sleepers with a print such as puppy spots as the main piece, with a separate headpiece that ties on like a bonnet or hood that matches and may have floppy ears or some other detail attached. When the festivities are over, the bonnet can be put away and the pajamas can be worn by your baby as often as you like. Christmas costumes are often available with this option. Just picture your little one in a matching red pants and shirt with white trim, wearing a Santa cap! The pants and shirt can be worn separately or together without the Santa hat.
Why We Love Baby Costumes
We all know that the baby doesn’t understand Halloween, Christmas or any other reason to be all tricked out in a frilly (princess) or menacing but cute (pirate) costume, but we dress them up in the costume rompers and sleepers anyway. Why? Because we love to play dress-up, even as adults. Because we’ll take pictures and send them to everyone we know and enjoy having them sigh and coo over how adorable our baby is. Because we’ll love showing the pictures to their dates when they are seventeen years old! Because, in the end, there is nothing cuter than our children, and any reason to dress them up and play with them is a welcome thing, so break out the infant Halloween costumes and the cameras and have fun!
About the Author
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her work because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about Disney baby clothes, nursery monitors and baby clothes for newborn girls. She has two dogs who are spoiled and one teenager who is not.
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