Back in the dark ages of the ’80s/’90s, when my mother was a stay-at-home-mom who really needed a creative outlet, she would take us to the fabric store in the mall (that was a thing!) to choose our Halloween costumes in the beginning of October and then devote the entire month to sewing them herself. To this day, I feel very guilty that I am unable to create such beautiful handmade costumes for my kid. But unlike her, we busy (and possibly unskilled) parents have a secret weapon in the homemade-costume game: We can buy the best Halloween costumes from the talented makers of Etsy.
This is the perfect option for so many of us. It lies between grueling hours trying to learn how to sew and burning ourselves with hot glue guns and the often cheap-feeling ready-made Halloween costumes available at stores. This is even better than both of those options because these Etsy makers don’t just know their way around a needle and thread, they also put in the time to think up original costume ideas, so your child doesn’t have to be one of 100 Paw Patrol or Frozen characters on the block. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those!)
We happen to think that the best Halloween costumes for kids have to meet certain criteria: They should be comfortable enough for children to keep them without tears; they should be easily recognizable (or at least look good if they’re obscure); and they shouldn’t be too scary, offensive, or inappropriate for children. The Etsy costumes we selected here meet all of those standards, plus they are all deadly cute.
One thing you should know about buying a costume on Etsy, if you haven’t bought from the retailer before. These are small, independent makers, often working out of their bedrooms, basements, and living rooms. That means that they have a limited supply ready made, and may need a few weeks to make your costume on demand. If you see a costume you love, double check that the maker will be able to ship it to you in time. The good news is that if they can’t, there are hundreds of other options awaiting you!
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A version of this story was originally published October 7, 2020.
Here are some of our picks for the Best Halloween costumes you can buy your kids on Etsy right now:
Spooky-Cozy Mummy
It doesn’t get much cozier than a Halloween costume that’s essentially hoodie pajamas. This creepy haunted mummy getup is perfect for little kids who want to get into the spooky spirit — no itchy wings or poky accessories necessary.
Cabbage Patch Doll
Some costumes require nothing more than a single accessory to get the idea across. Pair one of these hand-crocheted wigs with just about anything and everyone will know your tot’s theme on sight.
Hedgehog
In case you thought hedgehogs couldn’t get any cuter, now picture your child AS a hedgehog. This one’s on the pricey side, but we can imagine it takes a long time to attach each of those spikes.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
We can’t wait to see how many girls (and boys) dress like the Notorious RBG this year. You can pick up this wig from one vendor. And some very nicely done accessories (collar, gavel, iconic quotes) from a second one.
Snail
Who knew snails could be adorable? This comes with just a hat and shell piece, so you can choose the right outfit to go underneath.
Ghost Girl
Some kids want to be scary and pretty at the same time, which is not such an easy feat to pull off. This sweet T-shirt and tutu could do the trick.
Wayne’s World
It’s amazing how a costume that was once too ubiquitous among adults to be funny can then be absolutely hilarious when you put it on little kids a few years later. It’s just so easy explaining Wayne’s World to your children. Not! (Oof, sorry.) Each of these items is sold separately.
Monster
We know, toddlers don’t necessarily need costumes to reveal their inner monsters. But at least one day a year, they can act that way on purpose in a Muppet-inspired onesie.
Transformer
We love that someone else has put in the strategic thought to create this PDF download, but you can do all the cutting and building from cardboard yourself. This is going to be hours of fun on Halloween and for as long as you want to keep those boxes around.
Baby Octopus
That is one infectious baby smile. This is a sewing pattern for the extra-ambitious out there, but you can also find some similar costumes ready-made. This costume works even when your baby has fallen asleep.
A Very Hungry Caterpillar
Here’s another book character that makes for a classic costume kids will love as much as the cooing adults around them. It looks pretty comfy too!
Where the Wild Things Are
Just like the book itself, Wild Things costumes never get old. Carol and Max are sold separately, in case you’ve got multiple wild things to dress up.
Skunk
Our only hesitation in recommending this costume is that smaller kids might somehow be misled into approaching real skunks in the future. Good luck with that!
Rhinoceros
This is such a gorgeous, simple handmade costume — it’s just a headpiece and cuffs — that we had to include it, even though it’s not clear that you’d be able to get this in time for Halloween. Reach out to the seller to see if she can expedite for you.
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Pin these kids costumes from Etsy.
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