BBC News | A first Halloween for some tiny babies
William Behnke dressed as Captain America. Image copyright: SCHAUMBURG PHOTOGRAPHY AND MARCH OF DIMES.
A first Halloween for some tiny babies
By Annie Flury, UGC and Social News Team
Premature babies and their families generally miss out on celebrating holidays and big events like everyone else because the focus is just on getting big enough and well enough to go home.
So staff and volunteers at St Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, decided this year to find a way for their smallest patients to mark their first Halloween.
They decided to get their sewing kits out and made pint-sized outfits for each of the 35 babies in their care at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Fritz and Jennifer Behnke, proud of their "little fighter" William. Image copyright: SCHAUMBURG PHOTOGRAPHY AND MARCH OF DIMES.
The mini dressing-up box includes outfits for Superman, Captain America, Batman, Wonder Woman, butterflies and the local baseball team, the Kansas City Royals.
Parents go to pick a costume which they feel suits their baby best and for Jennifer Behnke and her husband Fritz, Captain America was the only choice for their son William.
"He's our superhero and we call him Warrior William because he's such a little fighter," said Mrs Behnke.
William was born on 15 August at 25 weeks weighing just 1lb 1oz (481g). Ten weeks on and he has grown to a much healthier 4lb 11oz (2.1kg).
"You're in your own world for 12-16 hours a day when you're in the NICU and you don't know what's happening outside," said Mrs Behnke. "So it's great with Halloween coming up to be able to celebrate even though we're still in St Luke's."
The costumes included a Batman outfit. Image copyright: SALLY MORROW AND MARCH OF DIMES.
One baby was dressed as Wonder Woman. Image copyright: FACES YOU LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND MARCH OF DIMES.
Michelle Manuel, a spokesman for the hospital, said US charity March of Dimes had come up with the idea of the Halloween costumes.
The charity focuses on raising awareness about premature babies and its local volunteers joined forces with the NICU nurses to make the little outfits out of felt.
Eleanor and her twin sister Abigail were both dressed as butterflies. Image copyright: SCHAUMBURG PHOTOGRAPHY AND MARCH OF DIMES.
"It's so positive to be able to mark Halloween which is their first milestone," said Ms Manuel.
"Being in the NICU can be a stressful and emotional time so to be able to provide the families with something normal and a way to make a good memory is great."
The costumes included the Kansas City Royals baseball kit. Image copyright: SALLY MORROW AND MARCH OF DIMES.
As well as the costumes each baby received a gift pack with a "Trick or Treat, smell my feet" card featuring their baby's footprints, a hand-crocheted pumpkin filled with sweets and a Halloween book.
The families also got special Trick or Treat gifts. Image copyright:MARCH OF DIMES.