Spooky Fun Halloween Crafts with Infants

Last Halloween, I remember sitting on the living room floor surrounded by glitter, scraps of orange paper, and one very wiggly baby who thought the glue stick was a snack. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever tried to do Halloween crafts with infants, you know it’s not about perfect Pinterest-worthy results—it’s about the giggles, the mess, and those tiny handprints that somehow end up on the wall. Honestly, it can feel a little overwhelming, right? You want something cute and festive, but also safe and simple enough that your little one can “help” without everything turning into chaos. Don’t worry—I’ve been there, and I promise you can actually enjoy the process instead of stressing over it. In this guide, I’ll share easy Halloween crafts with infants that are fun, safe, and memory-making. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the craft itself—it’s about the sweet moments you create together.

Halloween Crafts with Infants

Halloween crafts with infants are simple, fun activities that help little ones explore colors and textures safely. These crafts also create special moments for parents and babies to bond during the spooky season.

Handprint Ghosts

Honestly, I’ve always loved handprint crafts because they capture such a sweet little moment in time. With infants, making handprint ghosts is simple and fun. I just dipped my baby’s tiny hand in white, non-toxic paint and pressed it gently onto black paper. The shape almost looks like a little ghost floating away. To be fair, it’s messy—expect paint everywhere! But seeing those small hand shapes as spooky ghosts just melts my heart every time.

Adding two little black dots for eyes with a marker finishes the ghost perfectly. You can make a whole family of these handprint ghosts to decorate your home. I’ve found that using washable paint makes cleanup less painful. Plus, it’s a great sensory experience for babies who love feeling the cool paint on their hands. Definitely one of my favorite Halloween keepsakes.

Footprint Pumpkins

 

Footprint pumpkins, yes, footprints! It sounds funny, but it’s super cute. My little one’s feet are so tiny, and turning those into pumpkins is a blast. I paint their feet orange and gently press them on paper, then add a green stem and some eyes or a smile with a brush or marker.

It’s a bit tricky because babies wiggle a lot, so patience is key here. But honestly, the imperfect smudges just add charm and show the realness of the moment. These pumpkins end up looking like funny little creatures rather than perfect shapes, and I love that. I stick these prints on the fridge every year as a little Halloween tradition that I cherish.

Sensory Gel Bags

If you want something less messy but still hands-on, sensory gel bags are amazing. I squeeze some clear hair gel or aloe vera into a ziplock bag and add Halloween-themed confetti or small foam shapes like bats and pumpkins. Then I seal it tight. My baby loves squishing and poking the bag; it’s like a mini sensory playground.

I remember one time my toddler got super fascinated by the squishy feel and kept pressing until the shapes floated all around. It’s a safe way to explore textures without paint on hands or floors. Plus, no cleanup stress! I think these gel bags are perfect for little ones who are too young for finger paint but still want to play and learn.

Pumpkin Stamping

Pumpkin stamping is one of those crafts that looks way harder than it actually is. You take a small round sponge or even a cut-up potato and dip it in orange paint, then press it onto paper or fabric. My baby loved the bright color, and I was amazed at how much fun stamping could be even with a squirmy little one.

To be fair, getting the perfect stamp isn’t the goal here. Sometimes the paint smears, but that’s part of the charm. Adding green paint for stems and leaves afterward makes it look festive and fun. I use this craft to make cards or Halloween decorations, and it’s always a hit with friends and family.

Spider Web Collage

Spider webs might sound complicated, but this collage is surprisingly easy and fun. I gather some black paper, white yarn or string, and glue. Then, with my little one watching (and sometimes grabbing the string), I help place the yarn in web patterns on the paper.

It’s messy and silly because babies want to pull on the yarn, but that’s part of the giggles. To be honest, the uneven web looks way cooler and more “spidery” than a perfect one. I throw in some tiny paper spiders or stickers to finish it off. It’s a cute way to introduce textures and shapes while creating something seasonal and fun.

Felt Monster Faces

 

I’ve found felt crafts with infants to be adorable and easy. For monster faces, I cut out simple shapes from colored felt—like big eyes, funny mouths, and spikes—and help my baby stick them onto a larger felt base with a glue stick.

Honestly, these monster faces always end up looking a little goofy and imperfect, which I think makes them even better. My kid loved touching all the soft pieces and trying to “help” place them. It’s a sensory-rich activity and creates a silly Halloween vibe that’s more playful than scary. Plus, you can reuse the felt pieces for another day, which is a bonus.

Paper Plate Bats

Paper plate bats are such a classic, and I love how easy they are with infants. You take a small paper plate, paint it black (or use black paper), fold the edges slightly to make wings, and add googly eyes and paper fangs. My baby was fascinated by the round shape and the fun textures.

It’s a simple craft but still feels special because you’re making a whole creature together. To be fair, babies love tearing paper sometimes, so make sure you have some extra plates ready! The bats make cute Halloween decorations for windows or walls, and they bring a lot of smiles whenever we look at them.

Cotton Ball Ghosts

Cotton balls and ghosts go together like peanut butter and jelly in my book. For this craft, I glue white cotton balls onto paper in a ghost shape, then draw eyes and a mouth. My little one loved feeling the soft fluff and watching it stick to the paper.

To be honest, it’s not the tidiest project, but the sensory aspect is worth it. Plus, cotton balls are super safe and easy for tiny hands to grab. I remember one afternoon where my baby kept trying to eat the cotton balls, so just keep an eye out! These fluffy ghosts are cute, soft, and make perfect decorations around the house.

Pumpkin Paper Fans

Paper fans shaped like pumpkins are surprisingly easy and look so festive. You fold orange paper accordion-style, then connect the ends to form a fan, and add a green paper stem on top. I helped my baby press the paper together, and honestly, they loved the crinkly sound.

It’s a quick craft that doesn’t require paint or glue, which is a relief sometimes! The fans can be hung on walls or doors and bring instant Halloween cheer. I think the best part is seeing my baby’s wide eyes when the fan opens up like magic. It’s simple but super effective.

Fingerpaint Pumpkins

Fingerpainting with infants is always messy, but I swear it’s so worth it. For fingerpaint pumpkins, I smear orange paint on a tray and let my baby dip their fingers in and make pumpkin shapes on paper. The little squishes and smudges are priceless.

I’ve found that the tactile feeling of paint on their fingers is a big hit, even if the final picture looks more like an abstract pumpkin. Adding some green finger dabs for the stems completes the look. Honestly, every time we do this, it’s chaos and joy rolled into one sticky, colorful mess. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Halloween Bubble Wrap Stomp

This one is pure fun and exercise—Halloween bubble wrap stomp! I taped a big sheet of bubble wrap to the floor and let my baby crawl or stomp over it. To make it Halloween-themed, I stuck paper pumpkin and ghost shapes underneath the bubble wrap so they peeked through.

Watching my baby’s surprise and delight when the bubbles popped was priceless. It’s noisy and wild but a total blast. To be fair, it might not be a traditional craft, but it’s sensory play with a Halloween twist. If you want your baby to burn off some energy and giggle nonstop, this is it.

Tissue Paper Lanterns

Tissue paper lanterns are a gentle, colorful craft that feels perfect for infants. I cut small squares of orange, yellow, and red tissue paper and helped my baby stick them to a balloon coated in glue. Once dry, you pop the balloon, and a soft lantern remains.

It’s a slower project, but watching the paper dry and create a glowing effect is magical. I remember my baby’s curious eyes watching the colors blend and the crinkly paper feel. It’s a great way to introduce color and texture without overwhelming mess. Plus, the lanterns make lovely Halloween night lights.

Pom-Pom Mummies

Pom-pom mummies are surprisingly adorable and soft. I glued small white pom-poms onto black paper in a mummy shape and added googly eyes. My baby loved the fluffiness and tried to grab every pom-pom, which made me laugh.

It’s not super precise, but the randomness of the pom-poms wrapped around like mummy bandages looks just right. I think this craft balances texture play and visual fun perfectly. Plus, pom-poms are easy to find and safe for babies. It’s one of those crafts that looks cute and is low-stress to make with little helpers.

Safe Glue Stick Collages

Glue stick collages might sound basic, but they’re a hidden gem for babies. Using a safe, non-toxic glue stick, I let my baby stick paper shapes like bats, pumpkins, and ghosts onto a big sheet. The stickiness fascinated them, and it felt like magic when the shapes stayed put.

I’ve noticed this craft encourages focus and fine motor skills without the mess of liquid glue. To be fair, it’s more about the experience than perfect art, and some shapes will fall off or get crumpled, but that’s part of the fun. It’s a chill way to introduce crafting with minimal fuss and maximum joy.

Pumpkin Seed Art

Using pumpkin seeds in art is one of those crafts that feels really “Halloween,” and it’s tactile too. I collected clean pumpkin seeds and glued them onto paper in fun shapes—pumpkins, spiders, or even letters. My baby loved the rough texture and trying to grab the seeds before they stuck.

It’s a slower process, but in my opinion, worth the patience. Pumpkin seeds add a natural element to the craft, which I think is cool. Plus, it’s a nice way to reuse those seeds after carving pumpkins. If you’re into natural materials, this one’s a lovely, earthy Halloween craft to try with your little one.

Benefits of Halloween Crafts for Infants

Doing Halloween crafts with infants is more than just a fun activity—it helps support their growth and learning in many important ways. These simple crafts provide babies with new experiences that boost their development while also creating joyful moments with parents.

• Enhances sensory development: Crafts let babies explore different textures, colors, and shapes, which helps develop their senses like touch, sight, and sometimes smell.

• Encourages creativity and curiosity: Even at a young age, infants start to learn cause and effect by seeing how paints and materials change when they touch or move them, sparking their natural curiosity.

• Strengthens parent-child bonding: Craft time is a special chance for parents and babies to connect, share smiles, and enjoy close interaction, which builds a strong emotional bond.

• Introduces seasonal themes in a fun way: Crafts help infants become familiar with holidays and seasons like Halloween, making these celebrations exciting and meaningful from early on.

These benefits make Halloween crafts a wonderful way to support your infant’s growth while sharing happy holiday memories.

FAQ

Are Halloween crafts safe for infants?

Yes! As long as you use non-toxic, baby-safe materials and avoid small parts that can be choking hazards, Halloween crafts can be safe and fun for infants.

What materials are best for crafting with infants?

Use washable, non-toxic finger paints, large paper, soft sponges, fabric scraps, and baby-safe glue or tape to keep crafts safe and mess manageable.

How long should craft sessions last with infants?

Keep sessions short—around 10 to 15 minutes—since infants have short attention spans and can get tired quickly.

How can crafts help my infant’s development?

Crafts promote sensory development by allowing babies to explore different textures and colors. They also encourage creativity and help strengthen bonding with parents.