Halloween, for the
little ones
Warm, early, and not very scary. A costume they can walk in, a basket with no candy in it, a book for the week before, and pajamas for the week after. This is the short version of Halloween, written down by a grandmother who has done a good many of them.
The costume
From the head down: nothing over the face, a size up for layers, their own shoes, and a way to be seen.
How to choose one →A baby's first
Supper, a warm hat, one picture on the step and three houses. About forty minutes, start to finish.
The evening, by the clock →The boo basket
Thirteen small things that are not candy, by age — and what goes in the second bowl at the door.
See the list →The October books
Thirteen I read every year, sorted from not scary at all to a little bit scary on purpose.
See the list →The pumpkin patch
What to put them in so the pictures come out, and the blanket to bring, because hay is scratchy.
The patch outfit →At a boutique
The fleece lamb suit, the knit hat, the good pajamas. Independent children's shops, city by city.
Find one near you →Not everything orange — the short list. Eleven things that earn their place in the last week of October, grouped by the part of the holiday they belong to.
Links marked below are affiliate links; if you buy through one we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. See our disclosure. Wherever you can, buy it from an independent boutique instead.
The costume, and the walk
Clothes first, costume second. These are the pieces that get a small person to the last house and back.
- A hooded one-piece costume
Ears on the hood, hood on the costume, zipper down the front. Warm enough to be the coat as well.
Browse hooded costumes → - Thermal underlayers
Thin and warm, and invisible under the costume. Worn all winter afterward.
Browse base layers → - A canvas treat tote
Soft handles and child-sized. Fills quickly, which is the point.
Browse treat totes → - Glow bracelets and a flashlight
One on each wrist so you can count them from the sidewalk, and a light of their own to carry.
Browse glow bracelets →
The baby, and the first one
A first Halloween only needs to be gentle. Three things cover the whole evening.
- A bunting-style baby costume
A zip-up sack with a hood. On in a minute, warm in a stroller, off before the car seat.
Browse baby buntings → - Halloween pajamas
The costume that actually gets worn — for two weeks on either side of the day.
Browse pajamas → - A clean-touch handprint kit
One small hand on a card, turned into a pumpkin with a pen. The keepsake that fits in the box.
Browse handprint kits →
The basket, and the door
No candy in the basket; October supplies that. And something at the door for every child who knocks.
- A reusable sticker pad
Stickers that peel off and go back on, so the basket lasts longer than the afternoon.
Browse sticker pads → - Bubbles and a good wand
Still the best small present there is, at any age under eight.
Browse bubbles → - Room on the Broom
If the basket holds one book, this is the one that suits the widest spread of ages.
Browse the book → - A teal pumpkin for the step
The sign that there are non-food treats at your door, for children with allergies.
Browse teal pumpkins →
The Halloween costume they can actually walk in
A costume has to be worn outdoors, in the dark, for an hour, while walking. How to choose one from the top down.
A baby's first Halloween is about forty minutes long
The baby will not remember it and cannot eat the candy. That leaves you free to do the small, good version.
The pumpkin patch outfit, and the blanket that goes with it
Dress them for the weather first and the photograph second. A cardigan, a bonnet, the right shoes, and a blanket.
Find the good costume at an independent boutique
The fleece suits, knit hats and proper pajamas come from small shops that choose every piece by hand. Find one near you in our hand-checked directory.
Browse the boutique directoryFour things people ask every October
When should I buy a Halloween costume for a toddler?
The first half of October. The common sizes go first, and you want time to try it on over real clothes. Buy a size up so a warm layer fits underneath.
What goes in a boo basket for a baby?
A board book, Halloween pajamas, a small soft toy, and something new for the bath. Nothing edible and nothing smaller than the baby's fist.
What does a teal pumpkin mean?
A teal pumpkin on the porch tells families that the house has treats that are not food, so children with food allergies can trick-or-treat there too. Keep a second bowl of stickers, glow bracelets or bubbles beside the candy.
What time should little ones go trick-or-treating?
Early. For children under five, the hour before full dark is best: the porch lights are on, the streets are quieter, and everyone is home in time for a normal bedtime.