For a toddler, a great bear costume is a soft hooded jumpsuit sized by age, with the ears on a hood that leaves the face clear and room for a warm layer underneath. Our Kids Baby Bear Costume is exactly that: brown plush with a yellow gingham bowtie, on a size selector that runs from 6-12 months to 4-6 years. Our Toddler Bear Costume is a hooded all-in-one with a bear face on the hood, in 1-2 and 3-4 years.
Our own search data points to the smallest bears first. Between April 22 and October 24, 2026, more than half (about 58%) of the US Google web-search impressions our site earned on searches containing the word "bear" came from searches that named a toddler or an infant, a toddler size such as 2T, or an age in years or months (leaving out character, film, and celebrity searches, and panda and polar bear searches). So we start with the smallest bears, take on five bear-costume myths, and finish with a Goldilocks set for the grown-ups. The full range sits in our kids animal costumes, and our best animal costumes for kids guide covers the rest of the zoo.
Does a bear costume need a mask to look like a bear?
No: round ears on a hood make the bear, and the face can stay clear. The American Academy of Pediatrics' Halloween safety tips suggest non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks, and say hats should not slide over the eyes or block vision.
A dot of non-toxic brown face paint on the nose finishes the bear, no mask needed.
The cuddly bear for babies and toddlers
The Kids Baby Bear Costume is a hooded jumpsuit in brown 100% polyester plush. The ears sit on top of the hood without covering the face, and the yellow gingham bowtie is attached at the neckline, so there is nothing loose to lose. Easy closures make dressing and diaper changes quick. The fit is relaxed, with room for a warm layer underneath. Shoes and the honey pot in the photo are not in the pack.
Should you buy a toddler bear costume a size up?
Buy the size for your child's age, and go up one only if your toddler is between sizes or on the tall side. Buying two sizes up "to last" is the myth: a long costume trips small feet, and the AAP says costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping, with a costume and shoes that fit well. Every costume goes through over 30 measurement checks. Measure your toddler and compare against the size guide on the product page before you pick.
| Costume | Sizes (product page) | In the pack | Fit notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Baby Bear Costume | Four sizes, 6-12 months to 4-6 years | Hooded plush jumpsuit with ears, attached bowtie | Relaxed fit, room to layer, easy closures for changes |
| Toddler Bear Costume | 1-2 years, 3-4 years | Hooded all-in-one with a bear face hood | Size up if between sizes or tall |
| Kids Giant Panda Inflatable Costume | One size for kids; check the height and chest chart | Inflatable suit with built-in fan, black gloves | Close-fitting clothes underneath; needs 4 AA batteries |
Toddler sizes such as 2T, 3T, and 4T run roughly by age, not height, so a tall two-year-old can need the next size. If your child wears 2T, start at 2 years in the Baby Bear or Small (1-2 years) in the Toddler Bear, and go up one if they are tall for their age.
Is a plush bear costume warm enough for trick-or-treating?
Not on its own: the warmth comes from what your toddler wears under the plush, and the Baby Bear's relaxed fit has room for it. Put a long-sleeved top and leggings under the jumpsuit, then try the size on over them; the Baby Bear's product page says there is room to layer warm clothing underneath.
Brown plush also disappears into the dark after sunset:
- Stick reflective tape on the back of the jumpsuit and on the candy bag; the AAP recommends reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark elements on costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
- Bring a flashlight; the AAP encourages everyone to use one after dark.
- Check the label for "flame resistant", which the AAP also advises.
All of our kids' products are safety tested by accredited labs.
Does a panda costume count as a bear costume?
Yes: the giant panda is a bear. Smithsonian's National Zoo describes it as a black-and-white bear with a body typical of bears, in the bear family, Ursidae. That makes a panda the easy pick for a bigger brother or sister who wants to match a toddler bear without wearing the same brown.
The giant panda for a bigger sibling
The Kids Giant Panda Inflatable Costume is an all-in-one suit with a built-in fan that keeps it full, plus a pair of black gloves. It gives over 4 hours of wear on one set of 4 AA batteries, which are not included, and has a pocket for small things. It is one size for kids, so check the height and chest chart on the page before you buy. Pair it with our Panda Ears Headband and Tail Set for the grown-up walking alongside.
Is a bear costume only for Halloween?
No: a bear costume works for a storybook day as well as Halloween, and next to a Goldilocks it turns into a family group from one story. Goldilocks and the Three Bears needs one person in yellow and up to three bears, so a toddler in brown plush is already Baby Bear.
The story is older than its heroine. In the best-known early version, published in 1837, the uninvited guest is an old woman, according to the National Park Service. Twelve years later, in 1849, a retelling turned her into a young girl, says the University of Leicester Library, and the golden-haired name came decades after that.
Goldilocks for the parent
Our Women's Goldilocks Costume is a yellow dress with an attached white pinafore printed with three little bears, plus a yellow headband. It comes in five adult sizes, Small to XX-Large; check the size chart on the page before you order. Pair it with our Long Blonde Wig for the golden hair. An older daughter can be Goldilocks too in our Girls Goldilocks Costume, sized 4-6 to 10-12 years.
Papa Bear for the other grown-up
The Men's Teddy Bear Mascot Costume is new this year: a brown fleece jumpsuit with attached mittens, shoe covers, and a padded plush bear head with mesh eye panels. It comes in Large and X-Large with a relaxed fit and room to layer underneath. Wear the head for the photos and carry it for the walk between houses, so you can see the curb.
For more ways to dress the whole family, see our matching family Halloween costumes, and for storybook days, our book character costumes for kids.
Can you put a bear costume in the washing machine?
No: our Kids Baby Bear Costume and Toddler Bear Costume are both 100% polyester and hand wash only, then air dry, and the Goldilocks dress takes the same care. The inflatable panda gets a gentle wipe by hand with the batteries and fan pack removed, and the mascot is spot cleaned following its care label, with the padded head stored so it keeps its shape.
Lay the Toddler Bear and the Goldilocks dress flat to dry, as both product pages say.
Frequently asked questions
What should a toddler wear for a bear costume?
A soft hooded bear jumpsuit sized by age, with ears on the hood and the face left clear, over a long-sleeved top and leggings for warmth. Our Kids Baby Bear Costume comes in sizes from 6-12 months to 4-6 years, and our Toddler Bear Costume in 1-2 and 3-4 years. Skip the mask: the AAP suggests non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks.
What size bear costume does a 2T toddler need?
Start at 2 years in the Kids Baby Bear Costume or Small (1-2 years) in the Toddler Bear Costume, and size up if your child is tall or between sizes. A 2T label goes by age, so measure a tall toddler against the size guide on the product page before you order.
Is a bear costume warm enough for trick-or-treating?
Only with a layer underneath: the warmth comes from a long-sleeved top and leggings under the jumpsuit, so try the size on over them. Brown plush is hard to see after dark: the AAP suggests reflective tape on costumes and trick-or-treat bags, and encourages everyone to use a flashlight.
What is a good Goldilocks and the bear costume for a family?
Put a parent in our Women's Goldilocks Costume, a yellow dress with a pinafore printed with three little bears, and the toddler in a brown hooded bear jumpsuit. Our Men's Teddy Bear Mascot Costume makes the biggest bear, and an older daughter can be a second Goldilocks in our Girls Goldilocks Costume.
Is a panda a bear?
Yes. Smithsonian's National Zoo describes the giant panda as a black-and-white bear in the bear family, Ursidae. Our Kids Giant Panda Inflatable Costume is a one-size inflatable for kids (check the height and chest chart on the product page), a black-and-white match for a sibling next to a toddler bear.
