Occasions & traditions
Matching a baby’s outfit to a birthday party theme
Dressing a baby to match a birthday theme such as dinosaurs, moon and stars, sailing, cars or teddy bears, using prints and small details rather than costumes.
Print, not costume
Themed birthday parties are popular for first and second birthdays, from dinosaurs to space to little sailors. It is tempting to buy a full costume, but costumes for babies tend to be hot, scratchy and awkward for nappy changes, and are worn once.
A better approach is an everyday outfit with a print or detail that matches the theme. It looks right in the party photos, the baby is comfortable for the whole event, and it gets worn again afterwards.
Theme by theme
- Dinosaurs: the Sky Blue Dinosaur Sweatshirt & Grey Jogger Set has a dinosaur-print sweatshirt and grey joggers with pockets.
- Moon, stars or space: the Navy Moon & Stars Henley & Jogger Set has a moon and star print on navy, which looks lovely against silver or gold decorations.
- Sailing, boats or the seaside: the Sky Blue Sailboat Polo Romper has a white polo top and a bubble bottom with sailboats.
- Cars and transport: the Cream & Blue Striped Car Polo Romper has sky-blue and navy stripes and an embroidered car.
- Teddy bears: the Oatmeal Teddy Ribbed Top & Jogger Set has an embroidered teddy, and the Grey Bear Hooded Jumpsuit has bear ears on the hood for a cooler day.
- Baseball or sport: the Ivory Pinstripe Baseball Footed Sleepsuit has “Little 01” embroidery, which suits a younger baby’s party.
Check the season
Match the outfit to the weather as well as the theme. A sweatshirt set is right for a December party in Lahore but too warm for a June party in Karachi, and a short-sleeved romper suits summer but needs a cardigan in an air-conditioned hall or a winter garden. If your theme outfit is the wrong weight for the season, keep the theme through colour instead: navy and silver for space, blue and white stripes for sailing.
In spring and autumn, when days are warm and evenings cool, a short-sleeved romper with a cardigan in a theme colour covers both.
Adding the name or age
A name embroidered in a thread colour taken from the theme ties everything together: green thread for a dinosaur party, gold for moon and stars, navy for sailing. You can also add a small motif, such as a star or an anchor. Custom embroidery starts from Rs 500 through custom orders.
Costume touches that still work
If your child loves the theme and you want a little more, small costume-like details work without the drawbacks of a full costume. A hooded jumpsuit with bear ears suits a teddy theme on a cool day, a bib in the theme colour protects the outfit during cake, and a small motif such as a star, an anchor or a car can be embroidered next to the name. These add character, but they are still clothes the baby can nap, crawl and be changed in.
Coordinating with the decorations
Photos look best when the baby stands out from the backdrop rather than disappearing into it. If the balloons and banners are sky blue, a navy or cream outfit will show up better than a matching sky blue. Pick one colour from the decorations for the outfit and let the rest contrast. For the photos, place the baby beside the cake rather than in front of a busy balloon wall.
For more on the types of baby clothes mentioned here, see our guide to rompers, sleepsuits, jumpsuits and dungarees.
Quick answers
Should I buy a costume for my baby’s themed party?
A themed print is usually more practical. It is comfortable, easy to change and gets worn again, while costumes tend to be hot and awkward for babies.
What should a baby wear to a dinosaur birthday party?
A dinosaur-print set, such as a sweatshirt and joggers, works in cooler weather. In summer, pick a light outfit in green and add a small embroidered dinosaur or the baby’s name in green thread.
How do I make a plain outfit fit the theme?
Use colour and a small detail: a name or motif embroidered in a theme colour, or an outfit in the main colour of the decorations.
Can siblings match the party theme too?
Yes, and it often looks best when each child wears the theme differently, such as a dinosaur print for the toddler and a plain green top for the older child.
