10 Tips for Enjoying Your Baby’s First Halloween

Last Updated: January 2, 2026

Wondering if you should take your baby trick-or-treating? The short answer: yes, but keep it simple. Your baby won't remember their first Halloween, so think of it as a low-key introduction rather than a marathon candy hunt. After taking my own two boys through their first Halloweens, I've learned that less is definitely more when it comes to babies and costumes.

In This Guide

When to trick-or-treat with a baby
Choosing safe, comfortable costumes
How to keep Halloween stress-free
Alternative activities for newborns

1. Keep Your Expectations Low

Halloween with a newborn looks completely different than Halloween with a one-year-old or toddler. Your baby won't remember this day, and they probably won't even understand what's happening.

In my experience, the sweet spot for Halloween was when my kids were between 5-12 years old. They didn't really grasp the concept until they were toddlers, so don't feel bad if your baby's first Halloween is uneventful. This is more for you (and those adorable photos) than for them.

2. Choose a Soft, Safe Costume

Forget elaborate costumes with a million pieces. For a baby's first Halloween, comfort trumps everything. I stuck with soft pajamas, cozy onesies, or simple costume headbands that wouldn't irritate my kids.

Safety tips for baby costumes:

Avoid small parts that could become choking hazards
Skip masks that might obstruct breathing (and honestly, they just make crabby babies crabbier)
Use non-toxic face paint if you want to add details
Test the costume at home first to see how your baby reacts

3. Dress in Layers for Any Weather

Whether it's hot or cold where you live, make sure you can easily add or remove pieces of your baby's costume. I learned this the hard way when my oldest overheated in a fuzzy bear costume one particularly warm October evening.

Pack your usual diaper bag essentials plus an extra outfit for potential blowouts. And here's something nobody tells you: make sure your costume is comfortable too, because you'll be carrying this little pumpkin around most of the night.

4. Start Trick-or-Treating Early

Most neighborhoods see trick-or-treaters starting around 5:30 or 6:00 PM when it gets dark. With a baby, I always headed out earlier – around 5:00 or even 4:30 –before the big kids flooded the streets and before we crept too close to bedtime.

Early trick-or-treating means:

Fewer crowds and loud groups
Better visibility for walking safely
Less chance of running into scary costumes
Easier to stick to your baby's sleep schedule

5. Keep the Route Short and Close to Home

Walking three houses might as well be three football fields when you're tiny. Plus, a fun adventure can turn sour quickly if something unexpected or scary happens.

Stick to your immediate neighborhood – maybe just your street or the block. That way, if your baby has a meltdown or needs to eat, you're only minutes from home.

6. Bring a Stroller or Baby Carrier

If you have older kids who want to keep going, you'll need a way to give your baby a rest without cutting the evening short for everyone. I always brought both a stroller and my baby carrier as backup options.

Pro tip from experience: Build your family costume around your carrier, wagon, or stroller if your baby is really young. I dressed my carrier up as a kangaroo pouch one year, which was a hit and super practical.

7. Skip the Scary Houses

Houses with frightening decorations, loud noises, or jump scares? Just walk past them. Your baby doesn't need that kind of stress, and honestly, neither do you.

The goal is fun, not trauma or future therapy sessions. There will be plenty of years ahead when they love the scary stuff. For now, stick to houses with friendly decorations and welcoming vibes.

Better alternatives for babies:

Attend community costume parades
Visit local pumpkin patches during the day
Go to baby-friendly Halloween events at libraries or community centers

8. Take Lots of Photos and Videos

Looking back, all my kids' first Halloweens are a blur. I was exhausted from being in the baby trenches, running on minimal sleep. But I'm so grateful for every photo I managed to take during those years.

Do a mini photo shoot with your baby's costume before you head out. Snap pictures of pumpkin carving, costume try-ons, or any Halloween festivities.

9. It's Totally Fine to Skip Trick-or-Treating

Don't feel pressured to go door-to-door if it doesn't work for your family or if you live somewhere that isn't trick-or-treating friendly. There's no Halloween police checking if you participated.

Instead, consider hosting a low-key Halloween playdate at home. Invite other parents with babies or young kids, serve some themed snacks, and let the babies hang out in their costumes. Way less stressful than hauling everyone outside.

10. Try Other Halloween Activities Instead

Some of my favorite first Halloween memories didn't involve trick-or-treating at all:

Reading Halloween board books together
Letting babies touch and explore pumpkins and colorful fall leaves
Walking around the neighborhood to look at decorations (in non-scary daylight)
Making handprint or footprint pumpkin art
Eating diced apples while watching something cozy like Harry Potter

These quiet, sensory activities are often more engaging for babies than the chaos of trick-or-treating anyway.

Don't Stress If It Doesn't Go Perfectly

If your baby freaks out, take it in stride. They'll have plenty of years to fully embrace Halloween fun. It's okay if they're not on board the first time – I mean, it is kind of a weird concept to walk up to a stranger's door, not go in, get something you could choke on, and then leave.

Don't overthink it. Just have fun and enjoy this fleeting stage, and use your baby as a cute prop to score candy for yourself. "Oh, he likes the Reese's best!"

What to Do Next

Looking for costume inspiration? Check out these related posts:

About Amy Morrison: Amy has been researching and writing about pregnancy, newborns, and parenting since 2010. As a mom of two boys, she shares honest, practical advice based on real experience in the trenches of early parenthood. Learn more about Amy.