NICU Nurse Reveals Why Halloween Is the “Most Anticipated Event” of the Year

Image source: Advocate Health

Halloween is looking a little different for some of the tiniest patients in the NICU this year, and the photos are absolutely adorable.

Advocate Health children’s hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin are celebrating their annual NICU Halloween Costume Contest, giving babies and their families a chance to participate in a holiday tradition while spending time in the hospital. According to PEOPLE, nurses and parents worked together to create costumes that were both creative and safe for the babies.

This year’s costumes in Wisconsin included Slinky Dog from Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, a rabbit, a football player, and a tiny lion. The celebration also included a social media contest where the public could vote for their favorite costumes by reacting to photos on Facebook. Voting was scheduled to close at noon CT on Monday, October 26, with the winning photos receiving a special prize from the hospital.

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For the nurses caring for these babies, the Halloween celebration is about so much more than dressing them up in cute costumes.

Alli Lukens, a NICU nurse at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Illinois, told PEOPLE that the annual costume contest is the unit’s “most anticipated event” of the year. Many of these nurses have been caring for the babies through some of their most difficult days, so getting to celebrate a special milestone with them and their families means a lot.

Lukens explained that having a baby in the NICU is stressful for any family, “whether it’s for 20 days or 200 days.” Between the monitors, medical equipment, and uncertainty that often come with a NICU stay, parents don’t always get to experience those typical newborn moments. Events like this give families something fun to look forward to and a chance to make memories outside of their baby’s medical care.

For NICU mom Gabriela Soto, choosing her son Emiliano’s first Halloween costume was something she wanted to make extra special. Soto, whose son recently came home from the hospital, told PEOPLE she considered several ideas, including a race car and a ¡Mucha Lucha! costume, before deciding on an adorable lion to match his animal-themed nursery.

She also wanted to use the costume as a way to recognize the nurses and other members of Emiliano’s care team, whom she described as “amazing.” Soto shared that when you’re a parent in the NICU, so much of your time is spent worrying about your baby and focusing on their health. Being able to participate in something as simple as a Halloween costume contest gave her a chance to briefly forget about being in the hospital.

She also appreciated the activities and crafts the unit offered families throughout their stay. Those little touches helped make the NICU feel more like home and reminded her that the nurses and staff cared about the family’s experience, not just their baby’s medical needs.

As a NICU nurse who has spent more than two decades caring for some of our tiniest and most critically ill patients, I can tell you that getting a baby dressed up for a Halloween photo isn’t always as easy as it looks.

Many NICU babies have IV lines, monitor leads, respiratory support, and fragile skin. Some are still working hard just to maintain their body temperature. Even something as simple as putting on a costume requires a little extra planning and consideration. Depending on the baby’s condition, costumes may be gently placed over or around them instead of being fully dressed. The goal is always to keep the baby comfortable and safe while allowing families to enjoy the moment.

That’s why having nurses involved in these celebrations is so important. Parents get to come up with the fun ideas, and nurses help figure out how to make them work around the baby’s medical needs. Of course, not every baby will be stable enough to participate, and each unit has its own policies regarding infection prevention, photography, and patient safety.

For families with a baby in the NICU, holidays and special milestones don’t always happen the way they imagined. Instead of celebrating their baby’s first Halloween at home, they’re spending it in a hospital room surrounded by monitors, medical equipment, and a whole lot of uncertainty.

These celebrations give parents an opportunity to do something that feels normal. They get to pick out a costume, take pictures, and make memories with their baby, just like they would if they were home. It’s also a reminder of how important family-centered care is in the NICU. Nursing isn’t just about managing ventilators, administering medications, and monitoring vital signs. It’s also about supporting families through some of the most emotional days of their lives.

After more than two decades as a NICU nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how much these little moments can mean to families. What might seem like a simple Halloween costume or a cute photo can become a memory they treasure long after their baby leaves the NICU.

And for the nurses who have been there through the difficult days, getting to celebrate these milestones alongside families is one of the many reasons we love what we do.

🤔 Nurses: Have you ever worked in a NICU that celebrates Halloween or other special milestones with its tiniest patients? What are some of your favorite ways to make these moments memorable for families?