How To Make Baby Footprints and Handprints At Home
Here's how to get good baby handprints and footprints at home, plus creative ideas for turning them into DIY art prints.
Kids grow up faster than you can say "diaper change." But making baby handprints and footprints at home is a great way to remember just how tiny and precious they once were (we highly recommend checking out these creative at-home newborn photoshoot ideas while you’re at it, too).
During the first year, you might want to make monthly baby handprints and footprints. After that, it can be fun to make it a yearly tradition on their birthday when they’re toddlers, or even little kids. It’s like having an adorable growth chart that you can see and touch! (Not to mention print all those photos of baby you’re taking every month in a super easy baby book.)
The real challenge is getting those tiny, wiggly hands and feet to cooperate—especially if you’re working with a newborn.
This step-by-step guide has you covered with advice on supplies (whether to use ink pads or paint) and techniques (the best methods for wrangling your baby's hand or foot into position) for a smooth process and good, smudge-free baby handprints and footprints at home. Plus, explore creative ways to turn them into fun DIY baby art and treasured mementos (hello, baby book!).
Usually, babies get their footprints taken at the hospital (or birth center or at home) on the day they're born. It's like their first official autograph, marking their grand entrance into the world! So you can do them anytime from day one on.
Creating baby footprints can be a meaningful and memorable activity. Here are some tips to help you get the best results:
Ink Pad: Mess-free ink pads are great for avoiding a big cleanup, but they’re small and have limited uses. Large washable ink pads are messier but can be used multiple times and by older kids. While you could use non-toxic finger paint to make your little darling's footprints, it can get pretty messy, plus ink creates the clearest high-quality prints.
Clipboard: This is optional, but using a hard surface like a clipboard can help provide stability.
Feed your little one first so they’re relaxed. Make sure their feet are clean and ready for action—time to capture those tiny prints without any fuss!
Cradle the baby in your arm like you’re going to nurse them, then raise your elbow so they are a bit more vertical and legs are dangling so you can grip their knee/calf/ankle area with your hand that extends from underneath their body, allowing you to easily maneuver baby's foot while taking their print.
With your other hand, gently grasp your little one's ankle and firmly press their foot into the ink, making sure that there's good coverage over the whole foot. Then, press it onto the paper from the heel to toes for a nice clean print. Alternatively, you can try to get the print while your baby is sleeping.
Removing the ink is easy. Just use a wet wipe!
If you're thinking about getting a newborn handprint, you may want to reconsider.
Babies have a grasp reflex that makes their hands little fists for the first few months—perfect for grabbing your finger, not so great for handprints. If you are determined to attempt a newborn handprint, some people claim to have been successful doing it when the baby was asleep. Try gently pressing the top of the wrist to open the hand.
By about five or six months old, your baby’s grip will have relaxed, making it the perfect time to capture those tiny hands with less of a struggle. So, we recommend holding off a bit and saving yourself some frustration!
Whenever you decide it's time to make your baby’s handprints at home, here's how to do it without turning your house into an art studio disaster.
Since you’re working with a bit older baby, making handprints together can be a special bonding activity. These tips will help you get the best results:
Ink Pad: Just like with footprints, as the name implies, mess-free ink pads are the neatest way to go, but smaller and can only be used a few times. Large washable ink pads are messier, but last longer and are more versatile. And yes, you could also use non-toxic finger paint to make your sweetie’s handprints, but it really depends on what you’re making. Again, ink works best for the clearest, high-quality prints.
Clipboard: This is optional, but using a hard surface like a clipboard can help provide stability.
Getting a good handprint from an older, curious baby who loves to wiggle can be a little tricky. To make it easier, ensure your baby has recently napped and eaten, and choose their calmest time of day. Catch them when they're relaxed and less likely to turn the print-making into a tiny tornado! It can help to put them in just a diaper, just in case, to avoid getting ink on their clothes.
If you can, ask someone to help you keep baby happy and distracted, or hold them on your lap while sitting at a table or desk, while you maneuver their hands (one at a time) onto the paper. To get a smudge-free print, press baby's hand onto the paper from the heel of the hand toward the fingers and be sure to press each finger down to capture its print on the page.
Alternatively, you can try to get the print while your baby is sleeping. Try gently pressing the top of the wrist to open the hand.
Removing the ink is easy. Just use a wet wipe!
Now that you know how to capture your little one’s paws on paper, it’s time to make some art! Here are some easy ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
This one is a no-brainer, but that doesn’t make it any less special. Simply take pictures of your baby footprints and handprints and include them in your baby book with other baby pics, and voilà!
Take pics of your prints and turn them into art you can hang in your home with Canvas Wall Tiles. Choose between 10x10” and 8x10” landscape, square and portrait canvas print sizes, then stick and re-stick to your walls up to 50+ times without nails or any damage. Plus get free shipping when you order four or more.
Mom blogger Ashley Izikson loves to add painted kids handprints and/or footprints on the inside of the cover along with their handwritten names and drawings. This is one of those times you’ll want to get out the non-toxic finger paint and let go of perfect results.
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