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Halloween is here! Well, with the pandemic still going on, perhaps Halloween has been here all through this year, huh? Anyway, if this is going to be your baby's first Halloween, you're probably trying to figure out how to make it extra special.
You might argue that no one remembers their first Halloween, but these memories are going to be just as important (or even more important) to you. You don't want to take any chances with this!
If you are stumped on where to start when it comes to celebrating your baby's first Halloween, this guide is here to help.
If you are going to forget everything else here, remember this one thing: your little one's comfort is important to them, and convenience is important to you. You are going to be spending 90% of your time with your little one this Halloween. You want to make this time as stress-free as possible for you. You take the first steps towards achieving this goal by ensuring they are comfortable and by taking care of certain conveniences for yourself, which shall be explored here.
That said, here are a few great ways to ensure that you have a wonderful time celebrating your baby's first Halloween:
1. Keep it simple
This sounds so simple, doesn't it? Well, on Halloween, it is easier said than done.
You want to take it easy with your baby's first Halloween costume. You've been through a lot already, and you do not need the extra stress that comes with a cumbersome costume. So go low-key and whatever you do, don't try to make anything from scratch! Just keep it simple.
The rule of thumb is the costume should be easy on and easy off. Think about diaper changes and your baby's comfort. Can you change a wet diaper within a minute or two in that costume?
Animal onesies are great for this. You can also get a pair of animal pajamas or some other Halloween-themed pajamas. These double as costumes and you won't have to worry about changing them into something more comfy after when they are ready to go to bed.
Make sure that whatever simple outfit you choose to go for is warm and cozy. If it isn't, layer it with a jacket or sweater.
2. Host a small party at your house
Because your little one is barely one year old, you might want to take it easy with the trick or treating. A great way to do this is to host a simple party for a small number of friends and family with young kids. They can come over with their little ones in full costume, have some food, then everyone goes home.
Just keep things informal. Hang out with the adults, let the kids play together, and let everyone have some snacks. Hosting a small party at your house takes the stress out of the equation. Plus, when you do it early in the day, everyone can get home by bedtime and no one's routine is left in shambles!
3. Don't go trick or treating this year
It's not just about the pandemic going around. You want to avoid running into mods of older kids and overstimulating your little one. They are not ready for that kind of stress.
Consider visiting friends or family instead. You know for a fact that they'll be excited to see your little one, and it might also help to start splitting the holidays with your partner as early as now.
4. Visiting friends or family for Halloween? Take lots of pictures
Babies can be very unpredictable. Their moods can change in an instant and there is very little you can really do about it.
If you are visiting friends and family, or if you are planning to go trick or treating around the neighborhood, consider taking your little one's Halloween pictures even before you leave your home.
Because they are most comfortable in their own home, they'll probably be in the best mood at this time. If you miss this opportunity, you might never get another chance to take decent photos especially when their moods change once they leave home!
5. Going trick or treating? Make sure you bring a stroller with you
You probably already know this, but holding a baby in your hands for hours on end can leave you physically exhausted. It's not easy. If you are going trick or treating with them, the fact that you are going to have to carry them the entire time as you walk up and down the streets must be stressing you out.
If you do not want to be one of those struggling parents walking up and down the streets like zombies, make sure you bring a stroller with you. This way, your baby's first Halloween becomes completely stress-free for you. And they'll get to have lots of fun without getting tired or frustrated.
6. You probably won't have a perfect Halloween
As with most things to do with kids, there's the version you have in your head where everything you visualized goes perfectly according to plan, and there's reality, where something will always go wrong somewhere no matter how carefully you had everything planned.
Mixing these two versions up will only lead to disappointment. It is completely normal for your baby to end up being too fussy or too stimulated on the big day. They might not go down for their nap when you need them to.
Therefore, to avoid being disappointed, don't expect things to be perfect. Instead, just go with the flow. They might want out of their costume, or they may not want to see a camera anywhere near them. It happens. If you let yourself get stressed over these little things, your entire day will be ruined.
Focus on having a good time with your little one. How many first Halloweens do they get? Just this one! So enjoy it and five years down the line, you might not remember what they were for Halloween, but you'll remember all the fun you had together!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. With these tips, having a wonderful time with your little one this Halloween should be a walk in the park. It's all about proper planning, hoping for the best and expecting the worst, then preparing for that worst-case scenario.
On Halloween day, try to have a little fun, too. Hang out with them and get to relieve your own past Halloweens through their eyes. If they have a great time, that's all they'll remember. And that's all that really matters, right?
