How do you Make a Baby Hand Cast and is Baby Casting Safe?

I am often asked, what is 3D Hand Casting, what do you need for Hand Casting and is Baby Casting Safe, therefore, I will aim to answer all of these questions and more within this short article.

What is 3D Hand Casting?

3D Hand and Feet Casting is a Life Casting Technique which originally started and began to gain popularity, when Queen Victoria enlisted artists to cast moulds of her childrens hands and feet.  In fact, following Queen Victoria's death in 1901, a collection of fourteen marble hands and feet, cast from the limbs of her infant chidren, were sent from her private appartments at Buckingham Palace to be kept at Osborne House.  These have, in later years, been put on dispaly in Buckingham Palace.

How do you make a Baby Hand Cast?

If you want to know how you make a Baby Hand Cast or how you hand cast a baby, the process of 3D Baby Hand and Feet Casting, involves taking a mould of the baby's hand and feet, using a moulding material, called alginate, which is then filled with plaster to create an exact replicat of the baby's hands and feet.

Is Baby Casting Safe?

Yes, Baby Casting is completely safe. The moulding process, involves using algiante to create a mould of the baby's hands and feet. Alginate is a completely safe, pant based derivative of Seaweed, which is also used by dentists to take moulds of the teeth.  It is therefore completely safe and non toxic. However, if you are looking to have a cast made of your Baby, I would always recommend that you seek a Keepsake Artisan who has completed the appropriate Baby Casting Training.

What do you need for Hand Casting?

If you want to know what you need for Hand Casting, the good news is you don't need very much at all.  You will require alginate to take the mould and fine casting power to create the cast.  Therere are of course other tools, materials and equipment you will need for mixing the moulding and casting materials and for decorating the casts.  However, I provide a full inventory of all of the tools, materials and equipment you will need for Hand Casting in my Baby Casting Course and my wider series of Life Casting Courses.

How long does it take to Cast a Hand?

A typical Baby Hand and Foot Casting Appointment will take around 30-45 minutes.  However, the time that the baby's hand or foot is submerged in the alginate and being moulded is far less. Most types of alginate sets in 1-2 mintues, therefore the actual moulding process doesn't take very long at all.  The process of then casting plaster into the mould, takes a little longer, but this is not something that the baby needs to be present for.

When can a Baby Start Casting?

Baby Hand and Foot Casts can be made from birth upwards, but the older and more wriggly a Baby gets, the more challenging it can be. Whatever age of baby you are intending to cast, choose a good time of day, preferably when the baby is due a feed, as this is a great time to take the mould, when they are busy feeding and nice and relaxed. When the baby is asleep is another good time, because Newborns often sleep right through having their moulds taken.  However, older baby's generally tend to wake.

How do you Cast at Home?

Making a Baby Hand and Foot Cast at home doesn't need to be difficult, but as with everything it takes practice.  Whilst there are many companies that sell Baby Hand Casting Kits online, the process of casting baby's hands and feet isn't always so easy for the inexperienced.  This is why if you're looking to have a cast made of your baby's hands and feet, I would recommend that you find a professional Life Caster, who has completed the approrpriate Baby Casting Training or more advance Life Casting Training.

How do you Start Hand Casting?

Alternatively, if you are interested in learning how to Start Hand Casting yourself with a view to starting a Baby Hand & Foot Casting Business, we offer a wide range of Life Casting Training Courses that will teach you everything you need to know.

> Download our FREE Guide on Starting a Baby Casting Business 

> Browse our Baby Casting Course 

> Browse our Advanced Life Casting Courses