DIY Halloween Costumes: Monster Costume for Babies

We had our first Halloween party of the season last week and the theme was Monsters, Inc. And while, typically we would DIY those costumes so hard, this year the date snuck up on us and we had to turn to two-day shipping to help us out. However, we did have one tiny DIY detail that ended up being the hit of the party. We brought Sam’s new baby along and dressed him in a DIY monster costume like Boo wears in the movie!

If you haven’t seen Monsters, Inc. in awhile, there is a part where the monsters have to dress up the little girl who entered their world to look like a monster. They grab what they can from a supply closet and create a monster disguise using a mop head and other odds and ends. So, we recreated that outfit in a super simple way that made it so easy for us to stay on theme and have the tiny baby in tow! Here is what you need to make your own, plus links to where we snagged our costumes in case you need it for yourself or in child sizes!

Supplies needed to make a DIY Monster Costume

Purple beanie
Purple baby wrap (or grab a lighter color and tie dye it, like we did!)
Foam balls (1.5-2 inches in diameter)
Black craft felt
Black pipe cleaners
White rope
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
Scissors
Mike Wazoski costume for adults or kids
Sully costume for adults or kids

How to make a DIY Monster Costume

Step 1. Using scissors, cut pupils out of your felt to an appropriate size for your foam balls. Attach the felt pupils to the foam balls using hot glue.

Step 2. Press a pipe cleaner through each of the foam balls. If desired, secure with hot glue.

Step 3. Attach the eyes to the beanie by bending about 1-inch of the end of each pipe cleaner (on the side without the eyes). Apply hot glue to the bent area and press into the top of the beanie.

Step 4. Using scissors, cut approximately 12-14 8-inch pieces of rope (you may need to cut longer or more pieces depending on the child’s head size). Tie all of the pieces together with the knot in the center.

Step 5. Attach the knotted rope bundle to the top of the beanie by applying hot glue to the knot and pressing it into the beanie, in the center, between the pipe cleaners.

Step 6. Wrap the baby in the wrap, add the hat and you’ve made your monster Boo!

That’s it! Can you handle how cute? If you have older kids or toddlers that might be too big to carry, you can make this same costume by making the beanie, then dressing them up in a cozy purple sweat suit! We love the way the pipe cleaners make the eyes move around, but since they are attached to the outside of the beanie, it didn’t bother baby C at all! So adorable.