We love keepsakes and have lots of baby craft ideas for you to take a look at, taking newborn footprints is just the start! Salt dough keepsakes are always popular and I totally love our clay baby footprint.
While your baby is tiny it is the perfect time to take their footprints so you can create a memory of how little they are. Below are our top tips for taking newborn baby footprints. We have included tips from what ink you can use for a baby footprint to ideas for creating a smudge free baby footprint.
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Top Tips for Making Baby Footprints
Baby Footprint Supplies:
- Baby safe ink
- OR Inkless handprint and footprint kit
- OR Paint
- Paper/card
1. Make sure baby is comfortable
This is one of the most important things. If your baby isn't settled it will be almost impossible to make clear footprints as they will be too wriggly, even trying to take footprints will result in a very upset baby.
For young babies taking prints while they are asleep might be your best option, but if your baby is awake and alert most of the time make them comfortable and have a few items nearby that might distract them.
I find that making baby cosy on a blanket or distracted on a baby gym works perfectly. Your baby will need to be lying down in a position which gives you easy access to their feet and they will need to be wearing just a baby vest.
You don't want to start taking your baby's footprints and find that you don't have everything you need to hand. There are a few different products that you can use to take baby footprints.
Inkless footprint kit -For newborn babies the inkless wipe print kits are amazing as there is no ink or paint involved and they are non-toxic and safe to use on babies. If using one of these kits you simply wipe your baby's foot with the wipe supplied instead of using ink and press it onto the paper provided to create a footprint.
Baby safe ink - If you prefer to use ink choose a baby safe ink pad (like the one we have linked to above) and make sure that it is large enough to fit the entire foot. You will need a piece of paper or card larger than your baby's foot to print onto.
Paint - Paint is the more messy option, but for some projects (like our footprint heart) it works well. If using paint you need to make sure you only apply a thin layer of paint and you need to be extra careful to avoid smudging. Again for this option you will need paper to print onto. 2. Get your supplies ready
You don't want to start taking your baby's footprints and find that you don't have everything you need to hand. There are a few different products that you can use to take baby footprints.
Inkless footprint kit -For newborn babies the inkless wipe print kits are amazing as there is no ink or paint involved and they are non-toxic and safe to use on babies. If using one of these kits you simply wipe your baby's foot with the wipe supplied instead of using ink and press it onto the paper provided to create a footprint.
Baby safe ink - If you prefer to use ink choose a baby safe ink pad (like the one we have linked to above) and make sure that it is large enough to fit the entire foot. You will need a piece of paper or card larger than your baby's foot to print onto.
For all 3 baby footprint options you will also need something hard to put under the paper that you are printing onto. A clipboard, hardback book, chopping board or even a pile of card would all work perfectly. If you are using ink or paint make sure you have some baby wipes to hand for a quick clean up after each print.
3. Position yourself
4. Make the footprint
Now you have everything prepared it is time to make the footprint. Place the paper that you are printing onto under your baby's feet so that the area you want to print onto is within easy reach of their foot. Don't forget that you must have a hard surface under the paper.
Hold your baby's foot firmly by the ankle. If you are using an ink pad press your baby's foot into the ink pad making sure the foot is entirely covered or if you have opted for an inkless print kit wipe the bottom of your baby's foot with the wipe. If you are using paint apply a thin layer of paint using a soft brush.
Now you ready to make the print. When your baby seems relaxed hold their foot by their ankle over the paper and then press the foot heel first onto the paper. You may need to use your spare hand to gently press your baby's toes down. Remove your baby's foot straight away and take a look at the little print you have created.
5. Clean up
Clean the first foot with a baby wipe before attempting the next foot or you will end up with ink or paint everywhere (including on your paper) as your baby wriggles about!
If you are using inkless wipes there is no worry about any mess, but you do need to be careful to make sure that your baby's foot doesn't touch the special paper again after the print has been taken.
Take a look at all our baby activities. We have lots of fun play ideas as well as keepsake crafts. As your baby gets a little older you might list to try out a few different painting ideas for babies.
If you want some ideas of what to do with your babies footprints check out this list of baby footprint art ideas:
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