For some autistic children, Halloween is one of their favorite holidays. It means eating candy, going to the pumpkin patch and enjoying tractor rides. For others, it’s not a favorite due to the scary décor and especially uncomfortable costumes. Due to sensory issues that many autistic children have, dressing up for Trick-or-Treating or Halloween parties isn’t that much fun. So when deciding on a Halloween costume for your autistic child, what considerations should you take into account?
Why do some autistic children not like Halloween costumes?
If you think about store bought Halloween costumes, many are made of cheap fabric that tends to be scratchy and stiff. Wearing make-up on their faces can feel gooey and cause discomfort for many autistic children. Also, using a mask can make it difficult to see and breathe for many children.
Sensory issues are common among those with autism. Many children with autism cannot wear clothing that is itchy or uncomfortable – even for the fun of dressing up like their favorite superhero, princess or character. Make-up, wigs and masks are difficult as well for the same reasons.
We are fortunate that our son J doesn’t have a lot of sensory issues related to clothing. He usually adapted fairly well to store bought costumes and even had a “Scream Ghost” costume that he wore for a few years because the cape was so soft. It did come with a mask though that would fill with fake blood when you pumped it. J loved to freak people out during Trick-or-Treat with it 😊 Of course, that lasted for a few houses, and then I carried the mask for the rest of night because it wasn’t very comfortable to wear.
Considerations for your autistic child’s Halloween costume
Even though your autistic child may have sensory issues, they can still have a fun Halloween costume that fits their needs.
1. Look for sensory adaptive store-bought Halloween costumes
More companies are making Halloween costumes that are for those children who have sensory issues. They offer more comfortable costumes made of soft materials, no seams and especially no tags. These may be a good option to help your child still be able to dress up like a favorite character!
2. DIY your child’s costume
Lots of costumes can be made with clothing your child already has (and is comfortable wearing) with a few accessories added. This also gives you many more options.
3. Focus on your child’s special interest
Your child will most likely be thrilled if you can create a costume that is sensory friendly and related to their special interest. You can be creative and even have them carry something related to their interest instead of having to get too dressed up.
4. Adapt a store-bought costume for your child and have them wear a comfortable T-shirt and pants or shorts under it
If your child really wants to dress up like a character and has their heart set on a specific store-bought costume, then you can adapt it to make it be as comfortable as possible. You can remove the tags and even tack in with thread or glue some soft fabric inside over any large seams that will be troublesome. To add a layer of comfort, have them wear a soft T-shirt and shorts or pants under their costume so that the scratchy fabric isn’t against their skin.
5. Use a fun T-shirt as a costume
A Halloween or other fun T-shirt itself can serve as a costume. To go Trick-or-Treating, your child doesn’t have to be dressed up a lot for it. They even have Velcro capes that can be added to T-shirts for extra flair.
6. Why not wear pajamas?
Does your child have some superhero or other character pajamas? Those could be the ultimate comfortable “costume” for your child for this Halloween.
7. Consider the weather
Depending on where you live, the weather can be warm, cold or rainy on Halloween night. Make sure your child’s costume is weather appropriate. I remember one year we even had snow on Halloween where I live! It wasn’t a lot, but it was windy, cold and snowy, so we didn’t stay out for very long.
8. Incorporate noise-reducing headphones/earmuffs or other sensory assistive accessories into your child’s costume
If your child is overwhelmed by the noise during Trick-or-Treating, include their noise-reducing headphones/earmuffs as part of their costume. Live in an area where the sun is still bright during part of the Trick-or-Treat hours, include sunglasses as part of their costume. Will your child feel more at ease by wearing a weighted vest under their costume? Ensure they have what they need to best manage their sensitivities.
Fun Halloween costume ideas for your autistic child
Check out these fun ideas for a Halloween costume for your autistic child this year.
ROKO Superhero Capes for Kids Cool Halloween Costume (affiliate link)
Kids Dinosaur Costume, Animal Onesie Halloween Costume Boys Girls (affiliate link)
Silly Ghost Face | Spooky Halloween Ghoul Face Easy Costume Youth T-Shirt (affiliate link)
Peanuts Snoopy Cool Halloween Costume T-Shirt (affiliate link)
Click N’ Play Magician Costume for Kids with Cape & Accessories (affiliate link)
For DIY Halloween costume ideas, check out this blog post.
Do you have any tips or suggestions that have helped with a Halloween costume for your autistic child? If so, leave a comment so that we can share with each other! Enjoy this fun holiday!
