NICU Babies Dress Up For Halloween At UC San Diego Health

SAN DIEGO, CA — Some of San Diego's tiniest trick-or-treaters celebrated their first Halloween with a special photoshoot.

Newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit at Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health were dressed up ahead of the holiday.

Playing dress up for Halloween is a fun way for parents to bond with their babies receiving care in the NICU, while bringing smiles to the doctors, nurses and staff who provide them with support, according to Gabrielle Kelley, manager of the neonatal intensive care units at UC San Diego Health.

"Celebrating Halloween in the NICU helps bring a sense of normalcy and joy to families during what can be a very emotional and stressful time, and it allows parents to experience a meaningful milestone — their baby's first Halloween," Kelley told Patch. "This annual event offers a very special opportunity for parents to bond with their infants while in the hospital and it also brings a lot of joy to the doctors, nurses and staff that care for them as well."

Many of the costumes gifted for the celebration were made by registered nurses and respiratory therapists who work at UC San Diego Health and care for babies in the NICU, according to the hospital. The little cuties in costumes include twins dressed up as Batman and Robin and Disney Princesses, as well as a flower fairy and a gladiator.