20 Easy, Low-Cost Halloween Costumes for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers

Halloween is a brilliant excuse for a bit of dressing-up fun, pumpkin-themed play and plenty of giggles. But when you've got little ones at home, it can also feel like one more thing to organise – and shop-bought costumes can add up quickly.

At My Ohana, we believe Halloween should be simple, pressure-free and fun for the whole family.

The good news? Babies, toddlers and preschoolers don't need anything fancy. Most of the costume ideas below can be put together in minutes using clothes you already have, a bit of felt or card, and a little imagination.

Whether you're getting ready for a nursery dress-up day, a family party or a a little trick-or-treating with the neighbours, here are some easy, low-cost ideas for every age.

When is Halloween 2026?

Halloween falls on Saturday 31st October 2026.

As it lands on a weekend this year, many nurseries and preschools will mark the occasion during the week before, with autumn activities, pumpkin play and Halloween stories - so it's worth checking with your setting if they're planning a dress-up day.

The best early years costumes are comfortable, easy to get on and off, and made from things you already have at home.

Little ones are just as happy in a black top with some felt ears as they are in an expensive outfit - and they can still run, climb, nap and play in it.

Halloween Costumes for Babies

For babies, comfort comes first.

Stick to soft babygrows and sleepsuits, skip anything bulky or fiddly, and keep accessories to a minimum.

1. Little Pumpkin - an orange babygrow or sleepsuit with a green hat. Add a simple felt leaf to the hat for an extra touch.
2. Black Cat - an all-black outfit with a pair of felt ears stitched onto a soft hat. Draw on a tiny nose and whiskers with face-safe paint for photos (for babies over six months, after a patch test).
3. Friendly Ghost - a white babygrow with a cute ghost face made from black felt shapes sewn or stitched on.
4. Tiny Bat - a black or grey outfit with small felt wings stitched to the back of a cardigan or hoodie.
5. Little Spider - a black babygrow with a few soft felt legs stitched to each side. Keep the legs short so they don't get tangled.
6. Baby Skeleton - a black babygrow with white "bones" drawn on in fabric paint. It becomes a keepsake too!

Halloween Costumes for Toddlers

Toddlers are on the move, so choose costumes they can run, climb and play in - and that are easy to take off for nappy changes or potty trips.

1. Pumpkin Patch - an orange top with a black felt pumpkin face and a green hat or headband.
2. Friendly Monster - a colourful hoodie decorated with felt eyes, spots and teeth. There's no wrong way to make a monster!
3. Little Dinosaur - a green hoodie with felt spikes stitched down the hood and back.
4. Scarecrow - a checked shirt, jeans or dungarees, a hat and some raffia or wool "straw" poking out of the cuffs. Finish with painted-on freckles.
5. Mummy - light-coloured clothes wrapped with strips of an old white sheet or bandage, secured with a few stitches or fabric tape so they don't unravel.
6. Owl - a brown jumper with felt "feather" shapes attached down the front and a pair of big felt eyes on a headband.
7. Little Witch or Wizard - dark clothes, a cardboard hat and a homemade broom (a stick with some twigs or paper strips tied to the end).

Halloween Costumes for Preschoolers

Preschoolers love having a say in what they dress up as and they're brilliant little helpers when it comes to making costumes too.

Let them choose colours, stick on shapes or decorate a mask.

1. Skeleton - black top and leggings or trousers with "bones" made from white felt or white fabric tape.
2. Vampire - dark clothes with a cape made from an old piece of dark fabric or a pillowcase, plus a little face paint.
3. Spider - a black top with extra legs made from stuffed black tights or socks, attached at the sides.
4. Robot - a cardboard box costume covered in foil, bottle-top buttons and hand-drawn dials. Perfect for a rainy afternoon of crafting.
5. Funnybones Skeleton - a nod to the classic story, using the skeleton idea above with a book to carry along.
6. Meg the Witch - a black dress or top, a tall cardboard hat and a toy cat as "Mog".
7. Room on the Broom Witch - dark clothes, a bow in the hair and a homemade broom. Bring along a soft toy cat, dog or frog as a travelling companion.

Book-inspired costumes are a lovely way to link Halloween fun with a love of stories and many can be reused for World Book Day, too.

You can find more ideas in our World Book Day Low-Cost Costume Ideas guide.

Halloween Costume Safety Tips

A few simple checks help keep Halloween fun and safe for younger children:

• Avoid small, loose parts - buttons, sequins, pom-poms and googly eyes can be choking hazards for babies and toddlers. Stitch details on securely or draw them on instead.
• Keep it comfortable - avoid anything tight around the neck, long trailing fabric that could trip them up, or masks that cover the eyes, nose or mouth.
• Check the label - if buying a costume, look for the UKCA or CE mark and keep children well away from candles and open flames, including in pumpkin lanterns.
• Patch test face paint - use face paints designed for children and try a small patch on the skin first.
• Take it off for naps - remove hats, capes and accessories before sleep time.
• Be seen after dark - if you're heading out, add some reflective tape to costumes or buggies, or carry a torch.

Celebrating Halloween Without Costumes

Not every child enjoys dressing up, and not every family celebrates Halloween and that's absolutely fine.

Autumn is full of lovely ways to play and explore together, whether that's collecting leaves, going on an Autumn scavenger hunt, jumping in puddles or baking something warm and cosy.

6 Simple Halloween Activities for Early Years

Looking for some easy, not-too-spooky ideas to enjoy at home?

These activities are perfect for little hands and cost very little to set up.

1. Pumpkin sensory play - Cut the top off a pumpkin and let little ones explore the seeds and flesh with their hands, spoons and scoops. It's messy, squishy and full of new textures to talk about.
2. Pumpkin painting - Skip the carving knives and decorate pumpkins with paint, stickers or chunky crayons instead. Great for toddlers and preschoolers alike.
3. Magic potion making - Fill a tray or washing-up bowl with water, a few drops of food colouring and some leaves, conkers or pine cones. Add spoons, jugs and pots for stirring up spells.
4. Autumn scavenger hunt - Head out to the park, woods or your garden and see how many autumn treasures you can find, from crunchy leaves and conkers to acorns, pine cones and feathers. Try our free Autumn Scavenger Hunt for a ready-made list to take with you.
5. Leaf and stick crafts - Bring your finds home and turn them into leaf bats, stick spiders or a simple autumn collage.
6. Halloween story time - Snuggle up with a torch and share some gentle Halloween stories such as Room on the Broom, Meg and Mog, Funnybones or Pumpkin Soup.
7. Monster dance party - Put on some music and take turns doing your best monster, ghost or cat moves – then freeze when the music stops!

If you're looking for more playful ideas, take a look at our 8 Simple Sensory Play Ideas for Kids and The Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children.

Halloween and Autumn at My Ohana

Autumn is a wonderful season for learning through play across our My Ohana nurseries. From exploring pumpkins and conkers to sharing seasonal stories and getting creative with autumn crafts, our teams make the most of this colourful time of year.

As with all our celebrations, we want Halloween to feel inclusive and relaxed. Children are welcome to join in however feels right for them and their family.

Find a Nursery Near You

If you'd like to see how we support curiosity, creativity and learning through play all year round, we'd love to welcome you.

Our nurseries offer calm, nurturing environments where babies, toddlers and preschoolers can explore, play and grow at their own pace. Find a My Ohana nursery near you and book a tour to meet the team and see our approach first-hand.

Other posts you might like…

• World Book Day: Low-Cost Costume Ideas and Alternative Ways to Celebrate
• 8 Simple Sensory Play Ideas for Kids
• The Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children
• Top 16 Literacy Activities for Early Years & Free Activity Pack