Baby’s First Halloween: Our Harry Potter Mandrake Costume

Halloween with a 4-month-old looks a little different than Halloween with big kids—but that didn’t stop us from getting creative with our little guy’s first spooky season. Instead of buying a store-bought costume, we decided to lean into one of our favorite fandoms: Harry Potter. The result? The cutest little Mandrake you’ve ever seen.

How We Put It Together

I’ll be honest, the idea started with a scroll through Etsy. I stumbled across a handmade Mandrake hat (little leaves and all!) and knew right away that our baby would be the perfect tiny plant. Once I had the hat, the rest of the costume came together pretty quickly.

Here’s what we used:

• A basic brown onesie – simple, comfy, and perfect for layering.

• A set of brown booties – keep his feet warm.

• A brown blanket – wrapped around him to give that “root” look.

• A black plastic cauldron-style pot – the pièce de résistance! We popped him inside (with padding of course) and added a large custom sticker that was a Mandrake label.

• The Mandrake hat – absolutely made the look.

We carried him around to a handful of houses for trick-or-treating. He wasn’t eating candy yet (of course), so the pot doubled as our candy bucket. It was such a fun way to involve him in the night without overcomplicating things.

And honestly? He was the best Mandrake—no screaming involved.

Take a look at it in action! – https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6skWuP7/

The Family Touch

Because we’re huge Potterheads, my husband and I decided to wear house shirts ([Amazon link]) to match. It made for the cutest family costume moment. And in true Hogwarts fashion, our little Mandrake “chose” his house later at Platform 9 ¾… and he’s a Ravenclaw!

Why I Loved This Idea

• Super cozy for a baby (no itchy costumes).

• Everything we used can be repurposed—blanket, onesie, even the pot for toy storage.

• It’s unique! We got so many comments from neighbors about how clever it was.

My Only Regret

If I had one regret about the whole costume, it’s that I completely forgot earmuffs. Any true Harry Potter fan knows you need ear protection when you’re handling a Mandrake. 🙉 It would have been the perfect little finishing touch for us as parents.

If you’re looking for a baby Halloween costume idea that’s creative but simple to pull off, I can’t recommend this enough.

✨ Shop the Look (affiliate links):

• Baby Brown Onesie →https://amzn.to/469IJg5

• Brown Booties → https://amzn.to/4p0rXYg

• Brown Blanket → https://amzn.to/427zuKR

• Mandrake Label → https://www.etsy.com/listing/1306714775/realistic-mandrake-label-printable?ref=yr_purchases

• Mandrake Hat → https://www.etsy.com/listing/800804962/the-mandrake-root-hat-beanie-newborn?ref=yr_purchases 

• Black Pot → https://www.homedepot.com/p/Trade-2-Gal-1-8-Gal-Black-Thermoformed-Nursery-Pot-TFR002G1G18/300434566

Disclaimer

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my little corner of the internet — it helps me keep creating and sharing content like this! 🖤 💚