A good handprint is one that includes the child’s whole hand (every finger, the palm, and knuckle details). You want your baby’s handprint to be a sharp print or stamp of the baby’s hand. Not only are you looking to preserve the basic shape of the hand but also the little details that can be found on the finger tips and knuckles. Such small features are worth preserving. A few tips to keep in mind to ensure that your baby handprint craft turns out the way that you would like include:
- Making sure that baby’s hands are clean – Before attempting to collect your baby’s handprint, you will want to make sure that there are no loose particles of food or other debris on your child’s hand that could distort the finished image.
- Use baby oil to avoid sticking – If you are planning on making a handprint craft out of a material that may stick to the skin such as plaster or clay, it is best to first coat your baby’s hands with baby oil.
- Prepare child to hold still – A handprint is always better if you can get your child to hold his hand still enough to get a clear print. Avoid doing handprint crafts when your child is unhappy and therefore less willing to cooperate.
- Keep fingers separated – When making a print, it is important to try to keep baby’s fingers separated. You want as much definition in each individual finger as possible.
- It is better to start over than to try to re-stamp a print – When working with handprint crafts involving plaster or clay, it is almost better to smooth out your clay and try to do the handprint again.
- Be sure that you use a paint or ink that will easily wash away if perchance it happens to get on your clothes or anywhere on your baby.
- For getting the handprint of a child who is constantly putting his hand or fingers in his mouth, be sure that you are using a non-toxic paint. Ideally you can make your own paint by using natural dyes and edible ingredients. Such paints can reduce parental concern and avoid an unpleasant conversation with poison control should your child become too curious about the taste of the paint you chose to use.
- You can find handprint craft materials at many of the craft supply stores. Be sure to ask a sales associate if there are any materials that can be used safely with babies to get the same effects as the other handprint craft methods. Of course, you want to make sure that the materials that you get are not going to irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.
Your baby’s handprint crafts can be among the most cherished crafts that you will ever make for your children so make sure that you remain patient with the process. If you do, you will be able to preserve the memory of your small baby in a way that can never be replaced. You may also want to keep a record such as making an etching in the handprint craft so that you remember exactly what day you made your craft.