Cedars-Sinai NICU Babies Celebrate Halloween in Style
Thanks to Volunteers, the Tiniest Patients at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s Dress for Halloween in Custom, Hand-Sewn Costumes, Bringing Color and Joy to the NICU
Families and staff at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s gathered in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a longstanding Halloween tradition that spotlights the tiniest babies.
To kick-start some Halloween magic, excited parents picked out outfits specially hand-sewn by Cedars-Sinai volunteers to accommodate the hospital’s littlest patients, bringing big smiles and a touch of normalcy in an otherwise stressful time.
“It’s hard to be in the NICU,” said Alva Pantig Gregorio, a clinical social worker who helps parents navigate their child’s stay in the NICU. “Celebrations can be difficult to keep up with when you’re at the hospital with a fragile baby. So, we bring the baby’s first Halloween to them.”
The babies’ costumes, all inspired by children’s books, included pumpkins, a watermelon, a snowman, a caterpillar, an ear of corn and a peanut, complete with a matching hat. 
Lauren Masciarelli’s son, Wesley, surprised everyone by being born two months early, and the doting mom was thrilled to pick out a classic first Halloween costume for her newborn.
“I always liked being a pumpkin as a kid, and I joked with my husband that his first costume next year could be a pumpkin. So, when I saw this, I had to go for it,” Masciarelli said. “This costume is the best quality costume I think he'll ever have in his life.”
Each outfit is lined with Velcro and tailored to accommodate the tubes, wires and other medical equipment. Parents get to take the keepsake costumes home to remember their baby’s first Halloween.
Dana Guerin, director of the Shapell Guerin Family Foundation, stopped by the NICU to join in on the fun celebration. She was touched by the staff’s and volunteers’ dedication, exceptional care and attention to detail.
“It’s very clear that there is so much hard work and so much love that goes into this event,” Guerin said. “They go the extra mile to bring vulnerable babies, their families and the community together for a day to remember.”
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