How to Make a Baby Imprint
(and Have it Last Forever!)

Making a baby imprint is a great way to slow down the sands of time. They are priceless artifacts of your little one's time as...well...a little one.

There are two popular ways to make an infant imprint at home: ink and plaster. An ink print is simple and relatively mess-free. Choose a good acid-free ink (safe for baby's digits). Roll the foot or hand in the ink and then place the hand/foot straight down on durable paper. Wash up and display in a picture frame.

Personally, I prefer a plaster print. There is something about that 3D image that captures these memories so perfectly. Making a good baby imprint on plaster is also easy - but a little messier.

How to Make a Plaster Baby Imprint

First, locate some Plaster of Paris. They are usually sold in giant tubs. If you don't want to spend all that money for about 1 cup of powder, I recommend purchasing a ready-made kit that will send you all the supplies you need. See one here.
Mix approximately 1 cup of plaster with 1/3 cup water. Mix well, adding water if necessary until you get a pancake-mix type consistency. Pour into a plastic small (6-7 inch diameter) plate and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
Press in your baby's hand or foot (which should you choose?), pressing slightly on all the digits. Hold for 30 seconds and then pull the hand/foot straight up. (Newborn? Here's a good footprint tip).
How does it look? If you're unhappy with the result, simply jiggle the mold to flatten out the plaster and try again.
Once you're satisfied, let the print dry for several hours before popping out of the mold (why a plastic/bowl or plate is so helpful).
Display the print in your baby's room as little reminder of his adorable past.

Handprint? or Footprint? Which Should You Choose?

As a rule, it is best to do handprints on newborns (0-3 months) and children over 2. Babies between 3-24 months are best making footprints. If your baby is old enough to try to grasp the plaster (and ruin the print) and too young to understand directions, try a footprint instead. Of course, if your baby is sleepy, you may be able to get away with a good handprint. It is also best to have two adults making the print. One to hold the squirmy baby, one to direct the print.

A Great Tip for a Newborn Footprint

Newborns (sometimes older babies as well) have a reflex called the Babinski Reflex. In this reflex, a slight stroke on the outside of the foot will cause the toes to open wide like a fan. If you're looking for a toe-defining baby imprint, try stroking the foot on the side before putting it in the plaster. The result should be a toe-defining plaster print.

Displaying Your Baby Imprint

Once you've made the cast, what do you do with it?

I learned the hard way that just placing it the "memory box" for safekeeping is a bad idea. A few years ago, while rummaging through Lauren's Memory Box, I discovered her baby imprint in pieces at the bottom - a casualty of rambunctious children.

I was shattered. That stolen moment, capturing Lauren at 7 months, was forever destroyed.

Prevent this nightmare by placing the print somewhere safe, but yet visual. (Who would think wrapped in cloth at the bottom of a memory box wouldn't be safe!) My choice now is on wall in a quiet area of Lauren's room - where it is least likely to be bumped or knocked off.

You can display your baby's little hands and feet in two ways.

Before the plaster is set, insert a straw at the top. Once it is finished setting, pull out the straw and you have a perfectly round hole for a ribbon. Tie the ribbon on a nail in the wall with a cute little bow.
Glue or hang the plaster baby imprint to a painted plaque to hang on the wall. These hand-painted plaques are my favorite. There are two designs for boys (In the Swamp and Pirates Treasure) and two designs for girls (Rapunzel's Castle and Tea in the Garden). I have both girls designs for Lauren and Elena.

I'm so glad I captured these stolen moments now. With Lauren getting ready to start school, I'm in shock at how quickly they grow up! I'm so glad I have a good baby imprint to share with my children's children some day. It is already one of my most precious keepsakes of these fleeting days.