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title: NICU Baby Superhero Costumes
description: Move over, Batman and Superman, there’s a new batch of heroes
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article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:38:14.824Z
og:title: The Babies In This Hospital&#x27;s NICU Really Are Superheros
og:description: Move over, Batman and Superman, there’s a new batch of heroes
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# This Hospital Empowered NICU Babies With Superhero Costumes

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by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Nov 1, 2016 6:06 PM UTC

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Nov 1, 2016 6:06 PM UTC

Nurses at a Kansas City hospital figured out a way to bring some power to the neo-natal intensive care unit [on Halloween.](http://motto.time.com/4291599/grieving-parents-find-purpose/?iid=sr-link9) 

Saint Luke’s Hospital teamed up with March of Dimes to provide teeny, tiny superhero costumes to the 35 babies in the NICU. Instead of just [babies](http://time.com/3850255/premature-babies-22-weeks/?iid=sr-link3) under hospital care, the NICU looked like a stand-in for the Hall of Justice with a tiny Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, and Superman in residence. Hospital staff and March of Dimes volunteers created the costumes for the wee superheroes by hand, specially designed to fit around their life-saving medical equipment.

These DIY creations were not only a healthy dose of cuteness, but also gave [families](http://time.com/6505/language-skills-improve-when-parents-talk-to-their-preemies/?iid=sr-link7) the opportunity to celebrate their child’s first Halloween despite the fact that they were still in the hospital.

“Families in the NICU may spend weeks or months here, and it can be an emotional time,” Todd Dezen, the Associate Director of National Media Relations for March of Dimes [told _The Huffington Post_](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nicu-baby-halloween-costumes%5Fus%5F58135ca9e4b064e1b4b1c536). “Providing an opportunity for them to celebrate Halloween with their little ones allows them a sense of normalcy.”

Because no Halloween would be complete without trick or treating, the infant’s also received their own Halloween “trick”—a card that read “Trick or Treat, smell my feet” and printed with their footprints. For treats, there were hand-crocheted pumpkins filled with goodies and a Halloween book for the [families to read together.](http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/10/reading-to-newborns-in-the-nicu-boosts-bonding/?iid=sr-link1)

See pictures below.

> [](https://twitter.com/MarchofDimes/status/793136678055665664)


> [](https://twitter.com/MarchofDimes/status/793225793082126336)

\[H/T [Mashable](http://mashable.com/2016/10/31/halloween-costumes-nicu-babies/?utm%5Fcid=hp-n-2#GERbD7ufDqq8)\]

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