Baby Groot

Groot has been around much longer than most people think. He first showed up in Tales to Astonish #13 in November 1960, created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, as a tree monster from Planet X who wanted to take humans back to his world for study. It took another 54 years for him to become lovable. In Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, Vin Diesel voiced him with just three words, "I am Groot," and at the end of the movie, a tiny sprout of him started dancing in a flowerpot. That little sprout became Baby Groot, who danced through the opening of Vol. 2 in 2017, got his own Disney+ shorts, I Am Groot, in 2022 and stole a lot of scenes along the way. If you have a toddler, you already know why. Toddlers and Baby Groot are basically the same thing: small and chaotic, mostly nonverbal, and impossible to stay mad at. HalloweenCostumes.com sells a Boy's Toddler Marvel Groot Costume under its own FUN Costumes label, priced at $44.99 to $49.99.

Here's what's in the bag, how the sizes and prices work, what to check before you order and how to make it work for a toddler on Halloween night.

Which Groot this is

There are a few versions of Groot. There's the big, grown-up Groot from the first movie, the dancing Baby Groot, the moody Teen Groot from Infinity War and the bigger, leafier Groot from Vol. 3.

This costume is styled after the grown-up Groot. The listing describes "Groot's barky, leafy look," and the suit has padding in the chest and shoulders and stuffing in the arms, so your toddler gets the big, strong tree build. On a 2-year-old, though, that look turns into something else. A tiny kid in a muscular tree suit is Baby Groot in spirit, even if the design is based on the full-size hero. And honestly, that's part of the joke.

What's in the bag

The Toddler Groot costume (item FUN96411TD) is officially licensed by Marvel and part of the site's "Made By Us" line. It includes three pieces: a jumpsuit, a headpiece and a pair of gloves.

The jumpsuit is 100% polyester jersey knit with sublimated graphics. That means the bark and leaf design is printed into the fabric, not stuck on top, so it won't peel or crack. The chest and shoulders are foam-backed, which gives the suit its broad, sturdy shape, and the arms have fiber filling for that muscular look. The jumpsuit closes with a zipper down the center back.

There are foam foot covers built into the bottom of the pant legs. They go over your kid's shoes, so Groot's feet look like roots instead of sneakers.

The headpiece fastens with hook-and-loop, and it's open-faced. That's the most important detail for a toddler costume, and it gets its own section below.

The gloves are jersey knit with elastic bands at the wrists.

The listing sums it up with a line that's very hard to argue with: your "tiny hero will love becoming everyone's favorite tree guardian."

Why the open face matters

Toddlers and masks don't mix. Most 2- and 3-year-olds will pull a mask off within a minute, and some won't let you put one on at all. Masks also block vision and make it harder to breathe and eat candy, which are two of the main activities of a toddler on Halloween.

An open-faced headpiece solves all of that. Your kid's face stays clear, they can see where they're going, and you can see their face in photos. Groot's look comes from the bark texture and the shape of the head, not from covering the face.

If you want a little more Groot on the face, a bit of brown face paint on the cheeks and nose works well. Test it on a small patch of skin a day or two before Halloween to make sure it doesn't cause a reaction. And if your toddler hates face paint, skip it. The headpiece does the job on its own.

The padding and the foot covers

The foam padding in the chest and shoulders is what makes this costume look like Groot instead of a kid in brown pajamas. It also adds a little warmth, which helps on a cool night.

But padding takes up room. A padded suit feels a bit tighter than a plain one, so keep that in mind when you choose a size.

The foam foot covers are a nice touch. They slip over your kid's shoes and make the costume look complete from head to toe. Before Halloween, have your toddler walk around in them for a while, especially on stairs. Covers over shoes can change how a small kid walks, and you want them steady on their feet.

How the sizes and prices work

The costume comes in three sizes: 2T, 4T and Small. Small is a kids' size, usually around ages 4 to 6, so the costume can also fit a lot of preschoolers.

The pricing is a little odd. The 2T and Small are on sale for $44.99, down from $49.99. The 4T is $49.99, full price. So right now the biggest size costs $5 less than the middle one.

There's no 3T. The sizes jump from 2T to 4T. If your toddler wears a 3T, you'll be choosing between a snug 2T and a roomy 4T. For a padded jumpsuit on a growing kid, the 4T is usually the safer choice. A little extra length is easy to deal with. A torso that's too short will pull every time your kid sits down or bends over.

The size chart

When I checked the product page, a full size chart with measurements wasn't showing. The listing names the three sizes and suggests comparing your child's measurements to the chart and sizing up if they fall between sizes. That's good advice, but it's hard to follow without the numbers.

So here's what to do. Before you order, look for the size chart link on the product page, since it may show up on a different device or after a refresh. If you still can't find it, contact the store's customer service and ask for the chest and torso measurements for each size, plus the inseam. It takes a few minutes and can save you an exchange in late October.

In the meantime, go by the size your toddler wears in footie pajamas or one-piece sleepers. Those fit closest to a jumpsuit like this. And if you're unsure, go up.

How to measure your toddler

Three numbers help the most for a jumpsuit.

First, the chest. Wrap a soft tape around the widest part of the chest, just under the arms.

Second, the torso. Start at the top of one shoulder, go down the front, between the legs and up the back to the same shoulder. This is the most important number for a one-piece suit.

Third, the inseam. Measure from the crotch to the ankle remains.

Write them down, and compare them once you have the chart.

Making it toddler-friendly

Do a test run at home. Put the costume on a few days before Halloween, let your kid play in it for a while and see how it goes. If they're fussy about the gloves, that's normal. Gloves on for photos, off for candy is a good plan.

Plan for bathroom breaks and diaper changes. The suit closes with a zipper down the back, and the listing doesn't mention snaps at the crotch. So a diaper change means unzipping the back and sliding the suit down. Practice once at home, so it's not a surprise in someone else's bathroom.

Think about the weather. The padding adds some warmth, but jersey knit is still a thin fabric. On a cold night, a thin long-sleeve shirt and leggings underneath will help if you sized up. A jacket on top for the walk between houses works too.

And keep them visible. Groot is brown and green, which blends into a dark street. A glow bracelet on each wrist, or a small light clipped to the candy bag, helps drivers see your little tree.

Teach the line

Groot only says one thing, so this is the easiest costume line in history. "I am Groot." Practice it with your toddler a few times, and let them say it at every door. If they're still working on talking, that's even better. Groot's not much of a talker either.

Making it a Guardians family

Groot is better with his team. The site has several Guardians of the Galaxy costumes for the rest of the family.

For a sibling, the Boy's Toddler Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe Rocket Raccoon Costume Jumper costs $49.99, and there's an Infant Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Deluxe Rocket Raccoon Costume Jumper for $44.99. Rocket and Groot are the most famous pair in the Guardians, so a Rocket-and-Groot sibling set is a perfect match.

For older kids, the Boy's Deluxe Marvel Groot Costume costs $79.99. It's from the same FUN Costumes line, with a jumpsuit and gloves, plus a hood and a molded foam mask. There's also a Boy's Guardians of the Galaxy Star Lord Costume for $49.99 and a Boy's Deluxe Marvel Drax Costume for $49.99 to $59.99.

For parents, there's a Men's Deluxe Marvel Groot Costume for $99.99, if Dad wants to be the big Groot next to the little one. And there's a Men's Guardians of the Galaxy Star Lord Costume for $59.99, a Women's Deluxe Marvel Gamora Costume for $79.99 and a Women's Marvel Mantis Costume for $79.99.

A big Groot holding the hand of a little Groot is about as cute as a family costume gets.

What it costs

The toddler costume costs $44.99 for a 2T or Small and $49.99 for a 4T. Since the headpiece and gloves come in the bag, along with built-in foot covers, you don't need to buy anything else. A glow bracelet and maybe a little brown face paint are the only extras worth adding.

For a toddler pair with Rocket, you're looking at $94.98 to $99.98. And for a Dad-and-toddler Groot set, it's $144.98 to $149.98.

Summary

The Boy's Toddler Marvel Groot Costume from FUN Costumes is a three-piece set with a padded jersey knit jumpsuit, an open-faced headpiece and gloves, for $44.99 to $49.99. It has printed bark and leaf graphics, foam padding for Groot's broad build and built-in foam foot covers. It comes in 2T, 4T and Small, with no 3T, so measure your toddler and size up if they're in between. Since the full size chart wasn't visible on the product page, ask for the measurements before you order.

So, is it worth it?

Yes, for toddlers who love Groot, or for parents who think their toddler already is one. At $44.99 to $49.99, it's a fair price for a licensed, padded costume with the gloves and foot covers included. The open-faced headpiece is the best part. It means your kid can actually wear the costume all night, and you can see their face in every photo.

I'll admit the missing 3T and the size chart are what I'd want sorted before ordering. They're not deal breakers, but with a padded suit on a growing toddler, getting the size right matters more than usual.

So measure your kid's torso, get the size chart and size up if you're unsure. Do a test run in the living room. Then add a glow bracelet, practice the one line and head out. At every door, your little tree will say "I am Groot," and nobody will be able to resist handing over an extra piece of candy.