Top Five Classic Halloween Costumes

If you have multiple kids, the cost of Halloween costumes can add up to quite a bit. The worst part is that these costumes are only worn one year (and one day of that year). After that your children have outgrown the costumes or moved on to new favorites. But, what can you do?

Well, since you asked, there are actually a couple of things that you can do. One is to let your children create an outfit from items they have at home. Another is to encourage your children to pick out costumes that are classic, and preferably gender neutral. This may not last forever, but it should help out while your children are young. If fact, parents have pretty much all of the say for the first couple of years.

Here are five classic, Halloween costume ideas to get you started.

#1: Baby animals. Is there anyone who does not love baby animals? Baby animal costumes give you a number of options, including lions, chicks, or frogs (a personal favorite). With baby animal costumes, both boys and girls look good while trick-or-treating!

#2: Any Winnie-the-Pooh character. Winnie-the-Pooh is here to stay. From Tigger to Piglet to Pooh himself, you can pick whichever one you think is the most adorable. Many of Pooh's group has costumes that are available in whatever material is best for your climate, such as a thick fleece or a breathable cotton.

#3: A pumpkin. Okay, so it is not the most original, but it is a classic. Any of your children from an infant to a toddler will look cute with a big, round, pumpkin body and a little, stem hat. This is one costume that screams, "Halloween."

#4: Princesses. Whether we like it or not, princesses are here to stay. You can choose a cult classic (like Disney) or create your own, complete with a tiara. These costumes even double as dress-up outfits after Halloween has passed.

#5: Sports costumes. Cheerleaders, football players, and more are Halloween favorites. While you can select costumes that display your favorite team names, there are some that are generic, which will leave you more options. If one of your kids plays that sport, you already have most of the uniform requirements and accessories at home.

At this point, you might be thinking that your next child is going to object to wearing "used" costumes. This is a valid point and there are a few things you can do to help them feel like they are not getting the short end of the stick. For more ideas, see my article on "How to Make "Old" Costumes like New."

Now that you have some ideas for your children, take a look in the attic for costumes once worn and see what you can find. Otherwise, head out to the stores with the above ideas in mind so that you can pick classic costumes that will last for years and years.