Autism and Sensory-Friendly Halloween Costume Ideas
Halloween can be a fun, spooky night for kids of all ages! But for some kids with autism or sensory needs, the costume can make or break Halloween night. Scratchy fabric, tight elastic, face paint, masks, or unfamiliar shoes can quickly turn excitement into a meltdown 5 minutes into trick-or-treating.
The good news? A costume doesn't have to be uncomfortable to be great! Instead of getting frustrated because your child won't wear a typical costume, lean into what they're comfortable with. With a little planning, kids can dress up as something they love while staying regulated, comfortable, and ready to enjoy the day. Read on for some great costume ideas and practical tips from a behavior support perspective.
Now you should know that I did post some links below to some kids' clothing items and shops, but they're not affiliate links. (I'm not even sure how to do that.) This article was just written by a mom who shops a lot and likes to share the things that work for her kids. :) Hopefully these autism and sensory friendly Halloween costume ideas get your creative juices flowing!
First, try leaning in to their special interest
Instead of planning a matching family costume where everyone is a different Disney character of a movie they don't particularly care for, see if your child would like to pick their own costume from one of their special interests. It may not be the "aesthetic" you were hoping for, but if your child is happier as an obscure Pokemon or dinosaur than matching with their siblings, who are we to judge?
What Makes a Costume Either Autism- or Sensory-Friendly?
Before picking a character, check the costume against what your child can comfortably tolerate. Every child is different, but these features tend to help:
Costumes made from cotton, fleece, and jersey knit are usually easier to deal with than polyester, tulle, sequins, or stiff felt, especially if they're the same weight and quality as other clothing they already wear.
Itchy tags can completely ruin a whole outfit. Cut tags out, or turn the costume inside out to check for rough edges to avoid meltdowns.
Skip masks and face paint if your child is sensitive to touch around the face, neck, or head. Hats, headbands, and hoods are gentler alternatives to masks or face paint.
Avoid back zippers, tight necklines, and lots of pieces that make them feel claustrophobic. Your child should be able to take off a layer quickly if they need to, especially for potty breaks or diaper changes.
Sometimes, costume shoes are a breaking point. Their comfortable everyday shoes are almost always the better choice, and don't make that big of a difference in the overall outfit.
Loose fits and no long trailing pieces create a safer costume overall, because of fewer tripping hazards. Reduce the risk of meltdowns by having everything fit properly, or forgoing capes entirely if you feel like dragging fabric might be an issue for your child.
In Utah, late October evenings can be either be unseasonably warm, or already turning cold (especially when the sun goes down). Choose a costume that works over a coat or warm layers, not one that has to be squeezed over them.
Favorite Everyday Clothes can be turned into a Comfortable Costume
The easiest sensory-friendly costumes start with clothes your child already wears and likes. Add one or two simple details, and you're done!
You can accomplish a simple but comfortable back cat costume with a black sweatsuit or plain black pajama set, a soft headband or hat with ears, and a felt tail pinned on (or skipped! - it's up to your kid!). Try waterproof eyeliner for the face makeup if they're feeling brave!
If your kiddo likes wearing simple jeans and a T-shirt most days, throw an orange safety vest over the top! (No itchy vest touching their skin when it's over the top of their normal clothes.) A kids' hard hat (if they'll wear it) and a toy drill or hammer complete this simple costume!
Your child's favorite team jersey with comfortable pants or shorts can make up a simple costume in a pinch, especially if they're already a fan of the team (because it's probably all in their closet already)!
This costume is easy-peasy! A lab coat (or an adult's white button down shirt) over regular clothes, with a toy clipboard or stethoscope. If you want to be extra crafty, you can laminate a paper "security badge" with their doctor name and photo on it.
You can make a simple ghost costume from a white sweatsuit with a few felt shapes attached to it. Or you can do the same with a white poncho, or fashion a cheap, white fleece blanket into a poncho. No sheet over the face/head needed.
You can try a comfy sweat suit like this one: https://comfrt.com/products/minimalist-kids-sweatpants?variant=44546071625772
Or get a cheap white blanket from Amazon: https://a.co/d/0gc17Sva
There are often simple pumpkin T-shirts available for purchase! (You could also make one yourself if you already have a plain orange T-shirt on hand.) One of the easiest and most Halloweeny costumes ever! This soft pumpkin shirt from Little Sleepies is $22.
Many character pajama sets double as costumes, and they're designed to be soft and cozy, and worn for hours. Some popular brands are Bums & Roses, Posh Peanut, or Little Sleepies. Old Navy, Walmart, or Target sometimes also have comfy Halloween pajamas for sale for less. We recommend picking a brand, size, and/or fit that are similar to what your child typically wears.
Posh Peanut often has character outfits and dresses released year-round, not just around Halloween time. Here is the link for the Tiana dress shown above. I do think their items are very soft and cozy, but their prices can be a little bit more than most people might be able to afford.
Another brand I've eyed before is Little Adventures. They say that their costumes are totally machine washable (which is a must for kids' clothes!) and have soft knit fabrics for more comfortable play. I haven't tried them yet, but they have good reviews from other parents. I love the idea of these costumes being easy to clean so they can get worn multiple times for maximum bang for your buck!
Help your kiddo dress head to toe in one color, or layer bright colors to make a rainbow if they like all the colors. Simple, bold, and fully comfortable. You could even do a family matching costume if you have everyone be crayons, but in their own favorite colors! A few strips of felt glued to their T-shirt can turn a plain tee into a crayon! You can also buy some crayon tees from Etsy like these or from Tee Public.
Sorry, another plug for Posh Peanut! This Shaggy jogger outfit is super cute though! You could also take a look at Target and browse their character hoodies, like this Yoda one. Throwing a hoodie on over regular clothes is a low-effort costume that they can wear again and again.
More and more brands are selling skeleton pajamas and sweatsuits - probably because they're so popular! The sweat suit pictured above and to the right is from Posh Peanut. I've seen comfy skeleton outfits from RAGS, Hannah Anderson, or the GAP. There are many to choose from, and many different price points depending on your budget.
Costumes for Kids (or even adults!) Who Seek Comfort or Deep Pressure
Some children feel calmer wrapped up, weighted, or when they're holding something familiar. These costume ideas take that into account.
Fleece or pajama onesies (bear, dinosaur, owl) are soft, warm, and give an all-over cozy feeling. There are also many options, leaving it open for your child to pick their favorite animal. Leave the hood down if it bothers them.
Wrap a soft blanket around your child. If they can tolerate some tin foil or a shiny emergency blanket, even better! Perfect for kids who love to be tucked in, and a comfy option if they are sitting in the stroller during trick-or-treat time. Here's a link to a relatively inexpensive tortilla-patterned round blanket.
A cape made from a favorite blanket or fleece adds weight on the shoulders without any tight fit. This might be a hit or miss if your child hates feeling things around their neck, though.
Is Halloween going to be a cold night? If your child is sensitive to the cold and likes to wear their puffy coat, you can easily add your own astronaut patches to make an easy astronaut costume. NASA always has their graphics free to download, so there are lots and lots of actual mission patches to choose from!
Let your child dress up as the plush they already carry everywhere, so the comfort item becomes part of the costume. Here's a comfy-looking teddy bear costume from Amazon.
A soft plush pillow or small backpack worn as a "shell" can give gentle, steady pressure on the back. This can also work for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, or a Bowser costume.
Ideas for Wheelchairs, Mobility Devices, and Minimal Costumes
A wheelchair, stroller, or walker can become a race car, pirate ship, train, or rocket with cardboard and tape. Your child stays in comfortable clothes while the decorations do the work. If you're not crafty or are low on time and energy, Halloween Costumes has lots of different adaptive costumes (including the Buzz Lightyear one above!) to choose from for adults and kids using wheelchairs, walkers, and more.
If your child uses other accommodations like headphones, those are easy to attach decorative ears to without sacrificing comfort.
For kids who don't want to wear a costume at all, one small piece can still let them join in, such as a single accessory like a cape, magic wand, or toy badge. A fun glow or light up bracelt can be a fun experience and help you find them better in the dark! A themed trick-or-treat bucket can be enough for them to feel like a part of the Halloween festivities, as long as they're having fun and are willing to hold the object.
Not wearing a costume is a perfectly good choice. There's no need to make them wear something or hold a prop if it makes them upset. Participation can look like handing out candy, decorating, or watching from the window.
Now That You have your Autism Friendly Halloween Costume Ideas, Here are a few Tips for Getting Your Child Ready for Halloween
You've got the comfortable costume, now what? Well, a little preparation goes a long way into helping your child know what to expect on Halloween night. Here are some tips on how to prepare your autistic child for Halloween so that they have the best day possible.
Offer two or three sensory-friendly options and let your child choose their favorite. Letting them choose gives them autonomy and helps them get excited about the day.
Have them try on and wear the costume for a few minutes at a time in the days before Halloween, gradually building up to longer sessions. If you opted for a Halloween pajama combo, you can also let them wear it to bed a few times leading up to Halloween. Trying on the costume ahead of time is also a good idea because if they decide they hate it, you have time to go with a different option.
Practice practice practice! Walk through trick-or-treating at home: knocking, saying (or showing a card for) "trick or treat," and taking one piece of candy. Attend trunk-or-treat events in your community in the days leading up to Halloween for more adventurous practicing with other people involved.
Show what the evening will look like by using picture stories, including other people in costumes and masks, which can be surprising or scary. You can also watch a family-friendly movie together that shows kids trick-or-treating as an example.
It's never a bad idea to bring a backup plan. Bring a change of comfortable clothes, headphones, or a favorite comfort item just in case they might need it.
Decide ahead of time how many houses or how long you'll go, and agree on a signal your child can use when they're done. And don't push them too hard; if you know they start getting tired around 7:30 for bedtime, make sure you're home by then.
A successful Halloween is what YOU decide it is! Three houses and a happy kid is a great Halloween. Even if you end up staying in and not trick-or-treating, that's okay too. As long as your child is happy, that's all that matters!
A Halloween That Works for Your Child and Your Family
Halloween is already a spooky affair - the change in routine is scary enough! A good Halloween experience can start with the costume. And the best costume is the one your child feels good in. When they feel comfortable in what they're wearing and not distracted by exposed tags or itchy fabric, they have more engergy on the fun parts: the decorations, the candy, and the time with family and friends.
At Nova Supports, our team helps families and schools build supports that make everyday routines and special events more successful. If holidays, transitions, or school celebrations are challenging for your child or your students, we're here to help. Contact us to learn more.
We also often do Halloween parties at our clinics! Visit our Events Page to see if we're hosting one near you soon, or to follow us for email announcements about upcoming events.
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