NICU babies celebrate Halloween in adorable costumes across the country

Having a preemie is a stressful and emotional time for the families. Most preemies have to spend time in the neonatal intensive care united (NICU) as they get stronger, while their parents pray that their babies will survive. But NICU workers across the country do all they can to make sure the stress and fear of spending their first months together in a hospital is a little bit easier, especially during the holidays. And hospitals across the country got into the Halloween spirit this year with adorable costumes for their tiniest patients.

Woman’s Hospital – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

NICU babies at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge were “fa-BOO-lous” in their costumes, shared on the hospital Facebook page. “Woman’s littlest pumpkins and their families had help from our NICU staff to celebrate their first Halloween during our annual NICU Halloween Costume celebration,” staff wrote, with sweet little lions, superheroes, pumpkins, and more!

Henry Ford Health – Detroit, Michigan

The costumes at the Henry Ford Health NICU took a literary turn for Halloween, with babies finding inspiration from classic children’s books. According to the press release, each family will also get to take the costume and book home with them as a special keepsake. Each costume was handmade by the mother of one of the NICU nurses.

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Aurora Health Care – Wisconsin

NICU babies were “too cute to spook” in a Halloween costume contest where everyone was a winner. Babies dressed adorably as tiny crayons, cute cows, a special scarecrow, and more. While each baby wore a heart-meltingly sweet costume, the babies with the top two number of votes will get a special prize!

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital – Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hamburgers, strawberries, ladybugs, turtles, and more! Child and Family Life specialists at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital NICU worked to make Halloween boo-tiful for their tiniest patients. Gay Sexton, a Child Life assistant, helped make the costumes for the third year in a row. This year, according to the press release, there were over 200 costumes made. “This is their first Halloween and that doesn’t change just because they’re in the NICU,” Theresa Hartl, another Child Life assistant, said. “We work hard to make holidays special, but also normalized.”

Wolfson Children’s Hospital – Jacksonville, Florida

It was a team effort to bring Halloween to the NICU in Florida, where staff and family worked together to create costumes for their little patients. The annual tradition carried on, with colorful costumes ranging from Elsa, the Cat in the Hat, Peppa Pig, and more!

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHoP) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At CHoP, it was “all treats and no tricks” as Halloween was celebrated in the NICU. Preemies channeled some of the world’s biggest heroes from Superman to Top Gun’s Maverick, as well as pumpkins, foxes, and Cookie Monster! And with the Phillies going to the World Series, of course, one baby had to get into the baseball spirit.

Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn, Illinois

Another adorable costume contest was held at Advocate Children’s Hospital, as part of their annual Halloween tradition. Babies donned costumes of Irish dancers, mandrakes from Harry Potter, a boxer, superheroes, and more.

Ascension Saint Thomas – Nashville, Tennessee

Parents got into the spirit too at the Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown NICU! Nurses hand-made the tiny costumes, and some parents decided to dress to match. There were race-car drivers, Dippin Dots, astronauts, Elsa and Anna, and even a little girl dressed to honor the late Queen Elizabeth.

Even better? The press release included preemies who graduated the NICU last year dressed up again!

UT Medical Center – Knoxville, Tennessee

Preemies in the NICU at UT Medical Center in Tennessee were so cute, it was scary! A team of NICU staffers and volunteers worked together to bring Halloween to their littlest patients. There were little baby unicorns, popcorn, frogs, mermaids, butterflies, and much more.

HCA Florida North Florida Hospital – Gainesville, Florida

The cutest trick-or-treaters ever could be found at the NICU in Gainesville, where teeny babies dressed as witches, butterflies, superheroes, pirates… and even one who dressed as bacon and eggs!

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital – Washington, D.C.

Halloween went under the sea in the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital NICU, with costumes made by their nurses. Preemies dressed up as little mermaids, turtles, and other adorable sea creatures. This annual tradition was sponsored by the Juliet Grace Smith Foundation.