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There is something really sweet about seeing a baby prance (crawl? roll?) around in a DIY baby costume. Granted, this is often only for the firstborn child…but hey, at least you’ve got one under your belt.
Today I’m not only going to share 21 clever DIY baby costumes for you to enjoy, I’m going to point out how to make them on the cheap.
We’re cutting corners, people!
DIY Baby Costume #1: Little Lamb
Sewing: Basic skills required
From Home:
- A basic sewing kit with pins, needles, scissors, and thread
- White onesie
- Black leggings (Don’t have it? Click here.)
- Black long sleeve shirt (Don’t have it? Click here.)
- White baby hat (Don’t have it? Click here.)
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
- cotton balls
- black and white felt
Instructions: Follow the sewing instructions at Make It Love It and glue the cotton balls all over the hat and onesie.
DIY Baby Costume #2: Tiny Skunk
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Black zip hoodie (Don’t have it? Click here.)
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
- black and white felt
- white feather boa
- Iron-on strips
- 1 yard of black sweatshirt fabric
- Scraps of fabric, tissue paper, or newspaper
Instructions: Although the original design does involve some sewing, it’s entirely possible to hot glue everything.
- Cut two circles of black felt and glue two smaller circles of white felt in the center. Then glue those to the hoodie.
- Cut two white sections of white felt (here’s her example) and glue them on the front of the hoodie.
- Glue the boa down the top of the hoodie, then along either side of the back.
- Cut out two pieces of flat tail in the sweatshirt fabric, using the iron-on strips to attach them together.
- Flip the tail inside out and stuff it with extra fabric strips, tissue paper, or newspaper.
- Glue the boa on the edges of the tail.
- Attach the tail to the hoodie with the iron on strips or hot glue.
DIY Baby Costume #3: Porcupine
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Black zip hoodie (Don’t have it? Click here.)
- Black baby sweatpants (Don’t have it? Click here.)
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
- White faux fur
- Black rubber sheets (3 packages are recommended)
- White paint
Instructions:
- Paint horizontal white strips across the rubber sheets.
- Cut the sheets into long strips, tapering at the tip.
- Cut the faux fur and glue it onto the back of the black hoodie and sweatpants. Add a stripe on the top of the head.
- Glue the individual rubber spikes all over the white faux fur.
DIY Baby Costume #4: Owl / Hedwig
This would be perfect for a family Halloween costume of Harry Potter!
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Long sleeve white onesie
- White leggings, bloomers, or ruffle tights
- Fabric scissors (or a Cricut maker)
- Hot glue gun
- Nylon Headband (Don’t have it? Click here.)
From the Store:
- White felt
- White craft feathers
Instructions: Make Life Lovely has beautiful photos and step-by-step instructions that will help you recreate this DIY baby costume. Click here to learn from the master!
DIY Baby Costume #5: Starfish
Dress yourself as a scuba diver and go as a matched costume!
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Hot glue gun
- Baby carrier
From the Store:
Instructions: Follow the steps in this article.
DIY Baby Costume #6: Chicken
Sewing: No sewing required.
From Home:
- 2 white onesies
- Hot glue gun
- Orange/yellow pants (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Orange/yellow shoes (Don’t have this? Click here.)
From the Store:
Instructions: The steps to make this DIY baby costume are rather involved. Go here to follow them.
DIY Baby Costume #7: Baby Shark
This would be another adorable family Halloween costume idea! This version is in pink, but you could easily do it in blue. This particular version uses a Circut 2 to iron on “Doo Doo Doo” on the bum, but you can leave that off.
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Matching hoodie and pants (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
- Felt: dark purple, white, black, magenta
- White craft foam (or you can use white felt)
Instructions: Use the templates in this article to cut out the shapes, hot gluing them to the hoodie.
DIY Baby Costume #8: Cow
Sewing: Basic sewing skills
From Home:
- White onesie
- Epoxy glue
From the Store:
- Fleece: black and white
- Felt: black and pink
- 4 bottle nipples
Instructions: This DIY baby costume is a little more involved. You’ll need to go here to print off the templates and follow her sewing instructions.
Other Cheap Animal Baby Costume Ideas
Second guessing your plan to do a DIY baby costume? Here are a few animal costumes available for less than $20! Hey, there’s no shame in outsourcing! (Prices stated at the time of writing and are subject to change.)
Want more budget-friendly ideas? These baby Halloween costumes have you covered!
DIY Baby Costume #9: Ice Cream Sundae
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- White long-sleeved top
- Blue sweatpants (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Safety pins
From the Store:
- Stuffing (polyfill, felt scraps, tissue, or newspaper)
- Felt: green, red, orange, blue, pink, etc.
- Double sided fabric tape
Instructions: Follow the step-by-step instructions here.
DIY Baby Costume #10: Cotton Candy
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Pink or blue layette with hat (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Dishwashing gloves
- 8.5×11 Cardstock (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
Instructions:
- Dye the batting using the instructions on the iDye Poly package, letting it dry for at least 24 hours. (Remember to wear your gloves!)
- Roll the cardstock into a cone shape, hot gluing it in place.
- Pull off chunks of batting and hot glue it to the hat and layette.
DIY Baby Costume #11: Dippin’ Dots
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Baby hat and onesie (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Hot glue gun
- Large blue bucket (Don’t have this? Click here.)
From the Store:
Instructions: Print out the “Dippin’ Dots” logo and glue to the side of the bucket. Then start gluing pompoms to your baby’s hat and all around the rim of the bucket. Put a pillow inside so your baby can ride in style!
DIY Baby Costume #12: Cutie Clementine
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Empty Box
- Scissors
- Hot Glue
- Orange onesie (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Orange hat (Don’t have this? Click here.)
From the Store:
Instructions: Print off the cutie logo and glue it on the box, attaching the balloons. Put a soft blanket inside the box for your baby to sit on and you’re good to go!
DIY Baby Costume #13: Starbucks Frappuccino
Sewing: Moderate sewing machine skills required
From Home:
- White or tan long-sleeved onesie
- Hot glue gun
- Coffee & Stock pot
From the Store:
- Black or brown fabric paint
- Felt: brown (2-3 sheets)
- Elastic
- Velcro
- Ribbon
- Fleece: 1/2 yard white
- Green glitter cardstock
Instructions: This is a very involved DIY baby costume, so let me point you to the expert.
DIY Baby Costume #14: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- White onesie
- White hat (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Stock pot
From the Store:
Instructions: Spray paint the foam balls so they look like meatballs. Cut long strips of the yarn and glue them to the onesie and beanie hat. Then glue the foam balls on last.
DIY Baby Costume #15: Sushi
Sewing: Moderate sewing skills required
From Home:
- White onesie
- White hat (Don’t have this? Click here.)
From the Store:
- Orange fabric
- Felt: white, light green, dark green, and pink
- A wide black leather belt
- Polyfill
Instructions: Follow the instructions here for the matching mom costume. Here’s how she adapted that original design to fit her baby.
Other Cheap Food-Themed Baby Costume Ideas
Good intentions definitely score you mom points. But you know what else scores you mom-points? Not being stressed about making that costume you intended on making.
Heather to the rescue! Here are a few cheap ideas you can purchase! (Prices stated at the time of writing and are subject to change.)
DIY Baby Costume #16: Rain Cloud
Sewing: Two options to make the skirt, one is no-sew.
From Home:
- A gray or blue onesie
- White sunhat (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- A bucket
- Hot glue gun
- Measuring tape
- Masking tape
From the Store:
- 6″ blue tulle (80-100 yards)
- Silver glitter paper
- Elastic
Instructions:
- Follow the instructions here to measure and create the waistband.
- For a no-sew option, watch this video on making a tulle skirt.
DIY Baby Costume #17: Exercise 80’s Queen
Sewing: Minimal sewing required
From Home:
- Tights
- Tennis shoes
From the Store:
- Sequin Romper
- Baby leg warmers (scrunched down)
- headband and armbands
- Boombox lunchbox
Instructions: This is the easiest costume you’ll find here. The hardest part will be making sure the headband and armbands fit. You may need to cut and resize them with a sewing machine.
Whether you are creating Groot for a family Halloween costume Marvel theme, a mandrake from Harry Potter, or simply a living room decoration, this potted plant will be an adorable addition.
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Brown onesie and pants
- Brown beanie (Don’t have this? Click here.)
- Staple gun
From the Store:
- Strips of brown fabric
- Brown and black fabric paint
- Brown plastic planter (make sure it’s wide enough)
- Fake plant
- Elastic
Instructions:
- Cut the bottom of the pot out. Staple (or glue) the elastic on the inside to create straps. Then wrap the brown fabric strips around the elastic, gluing them in place.
- Using the brown and black fabric paint, paint out roots on the brown onesie, hat, and pants.
- Wrap the brown strips around the fake plant, gluing them to the hat.
DIY Baby Costume #19: Cloud
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Long sleeve white onesie
- scissors
- iron and ironing board
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
- White felt (1.5 yards)
- Pink felt (1 sheet)
- Fabric glue
- Black puffy paint
- Fake eyelashes
- Heat and Bond Adhesive
- Polyfill
Instructions: Although this is a no-sew project, the steps are rather intricate, so you’re best going here and following her photographs and steps!
DIY Baby Costume #20: Scuba Diver
Sewing: No sewing required
From Home:
- Black long-sleeved onesie and pants
- Pacifier
- Scissors
- Empty pop bottle
From the Store:
- Black gaffer tape
- Yellow craft foam
- Flexible rubber tubing
- Silver spray paint
- Black electrical tape
Instructions:
- Spray the empty pop bottle with silver on the inside, rotating the bottle to coat the inside well.
- Cover the rubber tubing with black electrical tape.
- Attach the silver pop bottle to your baby by wrapping the “tank” and your child with two long strips of tape spaced about 2-3 inches apart.
- Attach the tubing to the “tank” and your child’s pacifier with electrical tape.
- Cut out two fins from the yellow craft foam, cutting out a hole for your child’s ankle so they sit over his shoes.
For more ideas on things to add to this costume, click here.
DIY Baby Costume #21: Where’s Waldo
Sewing: There are two versions of this costume. The original, which involves sewing, and Heather’s cheat, which doesn’t. 🙂
From Home:
- White onesie
- Jeans
- Hot glue gun
From the Store:
- Fleece: white and red
- Red felt
- Harry Potter glasses
Instructions: The best instructions come from the original post here. However, if you’d rather not sew, you can get a similar look by picking up this striped beanie and striped crew-neck shirt.
DIY Baby Costume: 2-Minute Edition
If worst comes to worst, and you have only seconds before having to present your baby to the in-laws in pristine photo-condition, let me present two of the World’s Simplest Costumes.
- The Baseball – white onesie, red marker.
- Baby Einstein – white onesie with E=mc2, crazy gel hair.
So break out that glue gun and start crafting! (Don’t forget to show us your stuff on Facebook and Instagram!)
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