Testimonial

"I just wanted to say thank you very much for your help with casting my sons feet. I followed all your advice and was able to cast a successful foot first time. Thank you for taking the time to help me sort it out."
Angharad Coleman, Staffordshire
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Baby Casting How To

The Baby Casting Process

Baby casting creates incredibly detailed 3D plaster casts. We provide detailed instructions with over 100 step-by-step images and plenty of materials for you to achieve a good result. However, baby casting does take practice. We recommend making just one cast from start to finish so you can familiarise yourself with the materials and learn from any mistakes you make. 

When to make your casts
Casts can be made from birth upwards. Newborns should be well and not premature. Choose a good time to make your casts, preferably when your baby is due a feed but not a nap or distracted by another familiar person. Distracting them with an app on your phone or by feeding them is often a good trick especially if they are moving their hands and feet a lot. It is not advisable to make a cast when your baby is unwell, tired, unsettled after jabs or needs a nappy change. Some newborns can sleep right through having their moulds taken but in general an older baby will wake. If your baby has dry skin, apply some baby oil. If your baby has eczema or any other skin condition, please seek advice from a medical professional before proceeding. You will need to do a patch test.

Pots to make the moulds in

(we no longer use bags)
You will need to provide the pots to make the moulds in. These can be common household food containers such as plastic milk bottles, soup, yoghurt, grape or spreadable butter pots.

   

Steps to follow:

1. Make the mould - We use a safe impression material (alginate) widely used for decades by dentists and lifecasters worldwide. It is safe and designed specifically for use on skin. This material must be mixed quickly with COOL (not tepid or warm) water and sets fast, in about 2 minutes, to form a rubbery, flexible mould. The mixture will change colour from pink to pale grey as it sets. 

2. Pour the plaster - Mix our specialist stone plaster with water and pour it into the mould.
3. Reveal the casts - Once the plaster has set, after a couple of hours, tear away the mould to reveal the cast.
4. Tidy the casts - Tidy and fill faults in the cast ready for painting. The more time you spend on this step, the better your finished casts will be.
5. Paint the casts - Once the casts are bone dry, after 5-7 days, paint your casts.
6. Frame the casts - if you have purchased a frame with your kit.
 

Your casts are ready to hang on the wall and admire!