NYU Winthrop Holds Cutest NICU Halloween Costume Contest

Some of Long Island's tiniest babies participated in one of the cutest Halloween costume contests ever at NYU Winthrop's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

More than 20 babies, including ones born prematurely, dressed up in costumes that included a mermaid, candy corn, princess and witch.

The NICU staff the voted for the Cutest, Funniest and Best Overall costumes. The winning families received baskets filled with baby goodies as a prize.

“These costumes capture the tiny personalities of our NICU babies, and the contest brings great joy to the parents, who get to experience the spirit of Halloween even while their child is in the hospital,” Caterina Tiozzo, Neonatologist at NYU Winthrop, said in a press release. “The event is also providing parents an occasion to focus on costumes and fun rather than worries and fears, helping them to deal with the stress of having a baby in the NICU and allowing them to start building joyful memories with their babies.”

This is the NICU's second year holding the contest. Babies that enter the NICU are born prematurely (before 37 weeks) or have other medical problems such as breathing disorders, feeding issues, heart problems, infections or conditions requiring surgery, Winthrop says. Winthrop is considered among the best in the world regarding its NICU outcomes in terms of overall survival and survival without complications in extremely premature babies.

“Babies in the NICU may have been born too small, too soon, or with a medical condition that requires they be in the hospital for weeks or months, which can be very draining on the parents,” LaShon Pitter, Nurse Manager of NYU Winthrop Hospital NICU, said. “We continually look for ways to support the families during these challenging times, and the joy and laughter that this Halloween contest brings is definitely a dose of the right medicine for parents.”

Images via NYU Winthrop Hospital