EL PASO, Texas — The smallest patients in El Paso, Texas, got into the Halloween spirit this weekend, as neonatal intensive care staff at two hospitals dressed babies in tiny costumes and shared the photos with families and the community.
The Hospitals of Providence posted pictures of NICU patients at Providence Children’s Hospital wearing outfits that ranged from tiny superheroes to magical pumpkins. One baby was shown in a Superman costume, tucked in for the night before Halloween.
Another photo marked a milestone: one infant has now spent 100 days in the Level 4 NICU at the hospital, the highest level of newborn intensive care. Staff said the infant has been getting stronger every day.
Across town, El Paso Children’s Hospital shared its own set of NICU photos on its Facebook page. Babies there wore Spiderman, Batman, Hulk and Superwoman onesies, with staff noting that the infants are superheroes in their own right even if they are too young for candy.
Dressing up newborns for holidays has become a yearly tradition at El Paso hospitals, and NICU teams do it throughout the year, not just in October. For families spending long weeks beside an incubator, the photos offer a lighter moment and a keepsake from a hard stretch.
The Hospitals of Providence described the costumed babies as proof that the sweetest treats come in the tiniest packages, and the posts drew a wave of attention from El Paso families online over the holiday weekend.
Parents with a baby in intensive care can ask the unit’s nurses about holiday photo days and other family support programs the hospitals offer during a NICU stay.
Filed under: El Paso TX Health News
