Baby Hand and Foot Casting FAQ

Is the moulding material safe for my baby’s hands and feet?

Alginate is completely non-toxic and safe to use on baby’s skin. Alginate is traditionally used by dentists to take moulds of their patients teeth so it actually goes in humans mouths – you cannot get safer than that!

Can you use the alginate mould more than once?

No. Unfortunately alginate is not a reusable material. You can only cast the mould once as when you unpeel the alginate from the set plaster casting you tear it into small bits and this is simply thrown away.

How can i give myself more working time – the moulding alginate is setting too quickly?

To extend the setting time of alginate simply use colder water or use more water(but note this will make the alginate runnier which may not be idea depending on the type of casting/ technique you are using )

How does my child’s hand or foot get out of the mould without breaking it?

Don’t worry! Your baby’s hand or foot will not get stuck in the mould. The set alginate mould should simply slip off the baby’s hand or foot like a rubber glove/ slipper. It is completely safe!

Will it hurt my baby?

No. As long as you use room temperature water so that it is comfortable for you baby then there is nothing in the process which will hurt your baby. Your baby may cry as it is a funny sensation (imagine putting your hand in a bowl of gloop!) but they are not in pain – you are just getting them to put their hand in a sticky mixture and stopping them from moving their hand as much as they may like. Most babies however like the feel of having their hands/feet cast. Older children love it!!

Could my baby be allergic to the materials used?

Alginate (the moulding material) is complete natural (it is actually made from seaweed) and non-toxic, biodegradable and is hypo-allergenic.

Does my baby need to be asleep?

No! Whilst you can cast a sleeping baby’s hands or feet we do not recommend it as it may wake the baby and if this happens they may be more than a little upset!

When is the best time to cast by baby’s hands or feet?

We recommend casting your baby’s hands or feet when they are most relaxed – this is typically after they have just been fed.

Is the casting process messy?

No. Once set, the moulding material sets like rubber-and will peel away easily from the skin so that the baby's hand or foot will emerge from the mould completely clean. Saying this we do recommend casting your baby in the kitchen so that if there are any spillages it will clean off of smooth surfaces easily. WE do not recommend you wearing your best clothes when doing a life casting project but if any mixture does get onto your clothes then it should peel away easily when dry.

Is it easy?

Well there are easier keepsakes you can make but essentially yes! I say it is like baking a cake. There are things that can go wrong, like the alginate setting too quickly or getting air bubbles in a similar way to a cake not rising or tasting funny. However with a few attempts anyone can make a cake and most people get it first time!

What if my baby wriggles?

Don’t worry! While the alginate sets in about 1-2 minutes it actually goes from a runny goo to a solid mould in seconds so even if you baby is wriggling it should not affect the results. The only problem you may have is if you are casting the hands of older children and they fight the setting process by fiercely wriggling and moving their fingers/ toes then they are strong enough to ruin the mould.

How long does it take?

The mould is on the hand/foot for between 2-3 minutes. I would leave yourself a good 30-60 minutes to do the first part upto casting the stone and then a few days after this to let the casting dry out before painting it.

What can go wrong?

You may get a toe poking through the mould which will result in a hole in the mould – this will prevent you from being able to pour your liquid casting mixture into the mould. You may also get an air bubble when casting the stone which could result in a missing finger/toe if you are not careful. Unfortunately air bubbles are the worst thing that can happen and there is no guaranteed way to avoid this.

How can I avoid air bubbles in the finished casting?

Take time over mixing and pouring the plaster into the mould. Tap the mould to dislodge any air bubbles after casting. Just be patient.

I have some air bubbles in the finished casting – how can I make the cast better?

If it is a small air bubble you can get some air dry clay to fill in the holes before painting and finishing. After you paint the finished casting then often you will not even notice the problem area.

If you have any other lifecasting questions then please do contact Victoria at The Keepsake Co. And she will add the response to this list in an attempt to create a complete guide to casting baby’s hands and feet.