Lincoln High Students Create NICU Halloween Costumes
Local fashion design students help neonatal intensive care unit infants at Sanford Health celebrate their first Halloween.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Babies
Lincoln High School fashion design students crafted handmade felt costumes for infants at the Sanford Health neonatal intensive care unit in Sioux Falls. The annual initiative provides families with a traditional holiday experience despite their infants' medical stays.
Why it matters
The program supports parents by offering a festive way to mark milestones while their children are in the intensive care unit. It bridges the gap between medical necessity and the desire for normalcy during significant family moments.
One infant named Maren was born at 28 weeks gestation. The felt costumes were specifically designed and assembled by students at Lincoln High School.
The players
Sanford Health
An integrated health system that provides pediatric and neonatal care across the Sioux Falls region.
Lincoln High School
A local educational institution that operates a fashion design program for high school students.
The details
Students from the school's fashion design program selected fabric colors and embroidered details onto felt to create costumes for the hospitalized infants. The project transforms the hospital environment as part of an ongoing annual tradition.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Halloween celebration for NICU patients.
Culture Shift
This event follows a common pattern established by hospital-based NICU holiday celebration traditions across the country. Such initiatives represent a shift toward prioritizing emotional well-being and family-centered care within intensive medical environments.
The effort provides families in the Sioux Falls area with a sense of normalcy and joy during their time in the neonatal intensive care unit. Residents may view this as an example of community collaboration between local students and medical facilities.
The takeaway
Maintaining holiday traditions can provide families with meaningful memories during challenging medical stays. Finding ways to participate in cultural milestones helps foster connection and support for those navigating time in neonatal care.
Further reading
For more information on infant care in the region, visit the Babies section.
