It was the stuff of sugarplum dreams.

Babies, families and staff tending care at the Tufts Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit enjoyed a special visit recently by the Nutcracker Bear, one of the beloved characters from the Boston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.

The visit coincided with this year’s theme at the NICU, “Tufts NICU presents The Nutcracker,” which saw many of the little ones dressed in Nutcracker-themed holiday garb.

The costumes for the babies were made by a volunteer group, Project Sweet Peas — a national non-profit organization providing support to families with infants in Boston area NICUs. Outfits included Dancing Bear, Mouse King, Mother Ginger, Nutcracker Prince, Clara, Snow Queen, and Ballerinas.

Stephanie and David Choi with their son Miles, dressed as the Mouse King, as the Nutcracker’s Dancing Bear visits babies in costume in the NICU at Tufts. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Cayden Johnson is dressed as a soldier in the The Nutcracker during a holiday celebration at NICU at Tufts Medical Center. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Ariella Perry, dressed in a tutu, poses with the Nutcracker’s Dancing Bear. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Isabel Polonia is dressed as Clara during a visit by the Dancing Bear from Boston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the NICU at Tufts Medical Center. Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Brittany and Greg Long with their daughter, Emerson, wearing a tutu, enjoy a visit from the Nutcracker’s Dancing Bear in the NICU at Tufts. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)