NICU Nurses Help Tiny Patients Celebrate First Halloween
October 29, 2026
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Oct. 29, 2026) – In what has become a beloved annual tradition, the Trinity Health Grand Rapids Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team has once again brought the joy and creativity of Halloween to the hospital’s tiniest patients. This week, the babies were dressed in handmade costumes created by the NICU nurses.
“The holidays are always a challenging experience for families in the NICU, who are already going through so much stress and hardship,” said Kirstie Dixon, clinical services manager, Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU. “Anything we can do to bring a little joy or a smile to their faces so they can enjoy Halloween is well worth the effort.”
Though the babies can’t go outside to trick-or-treat, dressing up in costumes allows families to celebrate a childhood milestone. Each costume was handmade with lightweight felt and tailored to accommodate medical devices and incubators, ensuring the babies’ care and monitoring were never disrupted.
“Our team loves making these perfectly sized, hand-crafted costumes so families can share in the joy of Halloween,” said Michaela Behrens, RN, Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU. “As much happiness as it brings the families, it brings the same amount to our nurses who pour their heart and soul into caring for these babies every day.”
Families were gifted the costumes and provided with printed photos to commemorate the day. Costumes included a Barbie doll, Princess Peach, garden gnome, dragon and more.
Trinity Health Grand Rapids NICU is a licensed 15-bed Level III unit that cares for 200 to 300 newborns annually. The team provides specialized care for a wide range of patients — from those who are medically fragile and require intensive support, to full-term babies who need a little extra help before heading home.
To learn more about our NICU and Special Care Nurseries, visit our website.