With fall arriving in just a few short weeks, I thought I would share with you some of the top Halloween costumes for kids. (From Pricegrabber, of course.)

Baby Nemo Clown Fish: How cute is this? It’s perfect for a chilly October night, as it acts like a bunting and fastens snugly in the back to keep your baby cozy and warm.

Peter Pan: I like costumes that are different and original and let’s face it, kids won’t let you pick out their costumes forever! (For babies’ eighteen to twenty four months)

We like Pirates in my house, and this is about as classic as you can get.  What’s great about this costume is that it really is gender neutral.

Baby Ice Cream Cone: So yummy you’ll want to take a lick. They’ll probably get extra treats for wearing this winner. (Back closure makes diaper changing a snap.)

Princess White Velvet Native American Princess: Pre-teen girls will appreciate this costume, especially if they are into the American Girl dolls or books.

Cherokee Warrior: This impressive costume will complement Princess White Velvet beautifully. (That is, if your daughter will let her brother trick or treat with her!)

Ben Franklin Historical Halloween: For the intellectual child that wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a pirate costume.  This unique costume could win your kid a prize!

Chewbacca: Star Wars is still popular after all these years and again, it’s gender friendly.

Cowgirl: For the tomboy (girl), there’s nothing like the wild, Wild West!

Finally, a Princess:  Every little girl who dreams of being one. (I might be one myself this year!)

As I was strolling around a music festival the other day, I happened upon some very artsy vendor’s selling beautiful handmade clothing, jewelry, etc.

Over in one little corner of one of the artist’s booth was a very whimsical display of her handmade finger puppets, each one cuter than the next.  This is not a toy you’ll see around much these days I thought to myself and I promptly picked out a half dozen to take home with me. I checked Pricegrabber to see if they offered any puppets, and here are the ones that I loved.

The Cirque Du Soliel Finger Puppiezes from Manhattan Toy is a set of finger puppets based on the very popular musical and includes four puppiezes for little fingers to enjoy.  They can stand on their head like real acrobats or walk down the stairs with the help of some little fingers!

Make a stage out of a shoebox, and have your kids put on their very own show.  They can decorate the stage and even add a tightrope for their new friends with a bit of string and some glue. Add some music to the production and watch their personalities shine!

Manhattan Toy  makes some other great toys for babies too. ( Biggles Ball.)

I fell totally in love with this outfit when I saw it. We have a rule in our house when it comes to kid’s clothes – why wear real clothes when you can wear a costume instead?

And so, going out in costume is a regular affair. I like it for a number of reasons. First, it encourages pretend play. Second it causes people to stop and tell you how adorable your child is. What parent doesn’t enjoy that?

This Penguin Infant Costume is perfect for a winter’s day. The body suit is lined with an attached tail and includes snaps for quick diaper changes. The hood and top hat are separate, so they can be removed in case of excessive squirming.

The booties are non-skid and marked for indoor use only, but really, how many 6-12 month olds are ready for scrambling around outside in winter? So, this seems just right to me.

The whole costume is considered rental quality. To me, that means it can take some wear and tear and isn’t made of that almost paper thin material we so often see in kid’s costumes.

And of course, penguins are so in these days. I’m not exactly sure why, but they just keep growing in popularity. And I’m a fan!

The absolutely best time to dress a child for Halloween is during the first few years of life. Why? Because you get to pick the costume!

Prior to the years of arguing about the appropriateness of various costumes (too sexy; too scary; too commercial) are sweet times carefully selecting an adorable outfit guaranteed to elicit ohhs and ahhs.

Unlike in later years, when laboring weeks over a costume results in a one-day wearing, for at least the first 5 or 6 years, Halloween costumes can double as dress up or even everyday wear. I try to look for costumes for infants and toddlers that are both cute and practical - no itchy materials or fussy accessories that parents need to hold or rearrange and can be used at least through the winter months before being handed down or lovingly packed away.

This snuggly Sock Monkey Costume fits the bill. This sweet costume is one piece with a detachable tail and tiny warm hat and, importantly, under leg snaps for easy diaper changes. Rather than promoting children’s TV shows movies which you’ll certainly get enough of in the ensuing years, this sock monkey costume is for the enjoyment of, well adults!

There are only a few years when you get to choose the costume…so make the most of it!

Of course, now that September has barely started, we’re thinking about Halloween. If you, like me have a child that constantly changes his mind about what he wants to be for Halloween, September and early October are filled with pep talks and constant urging to make a decision.

Clearly this is inconvenient.

But, if you have a bit more malleable or even focused child, you may be actually able to buy a costume before the end of October. If so, there are some great ones out there. Toddlers, with their focus on their immediate community are fun to dress in traditional costumes. The letter carrier, the fire fighter, a pilot or chef are all great choices.

In our internet, buy on line society, I think this one is an even better choice – The UPS man or woman. What child of the 21^st Century doesn’t see that familiar brown truck pulling up everyday to dispense packages, bought through PriceGrabber of course, to every house in the neighborhood.

Available in toddler sizes, your child is sure to be happy to pretend to be delivering all of those boxes…of which I’m sure you have a few…to all the neighbors. Adults will love it too and be happy for the opportunity to chide their family member with the online shopping habit when they see your toddler coming.

I just wish it came in adult sizes!