Their feet will never be this small again. That's the whole reason footprint art exists, and the reason it's worth getting right. Lots of ideas look lovely on Pinterest for a week. Fewer still look lovely on the landing wall when they're all grown up.
Here are the baby footprint art ideas we see families come back to, a few honest words on the ones that don't last, and how to take the prints at home without ink or paint.
Hands and feet together on one print
The classic, and for good reason. One handprint and one footprint side by side shows how tiny they were at both ends. With our baby hand and footprint kit, a finished keepsake can carry one hand and one foot, two feet, or two hands.
If you're starting with a newborn, do the feet first. Their hands tend to stay curled, but feet open easily. Our post on handprints or footprints first explains why.
Two little feet
Two footprints, left and right, is simple and striking, especially in gold or rose gold foil on black card. It suits a nursery, and you can take it while your baby sleeps.
Sibling prints
A big brother's or sister's hand next to the new baby's is a very popular choice. The older child's hand shows just how small the baby is. Two handprints on one print works well for siblings, as long as each hand or foot fits on the reactive paper.
Handprint ideas for grandma and grandad
A copy of the same print for the grandparents is a gift that brings a tear. You can order extra copies when you approve your proof, so every household gets the same print. There are more ideas in our gifts for grandparents from baby.
A first Christmas print
Prints taken in December become a Christmas tradition: one each year, and you watch their feet grow. Our baby's first Christmas keepsake ideas has the dates to order by.
Canvas and frame ideas
Footprint art earns its place when it's on the wall rather than in a drawer. Our Framed and Premium kits come with a solid wood frame, and you pop the finished print in yourself. Pick a frame finish that suits the room, and see our frames for the options. The Foil Print Kit is the print alone, ready for a frame of your own.
A few to skip (or at least think twice about)
Paint straight onto the skin. It's the first idea most of us have, and it rarely goes to plan. Paint smudges, gets everywhere, and can irritate a baby's skin. Our post on using paint for baby handprints goes into it.
Salt dough. Lovely to make, but it's fragile. It chips, cracks and can soften in a damp room, so it's rarely the keepsake you still have years later.
Clay and casting. Beautiful, but more work, and bulky to display. If you're weighing them up, our foil, ink, clay and casting comparison sets them side by side.
How to take the prints at home
- Choose a calm moment, after a feed or while they're asleep.
- Wipe their hand or foot with the inkless wipe.
- Press it gently onto the reactive paper and lift straight up.
- Take a few goes. Each kit has two wipes and four sheets, so there's room for a wriggle.
- Photograph the best print with all four corners of the paper showing, and send it through our upload portal with your order number.
The step-by-step is in how to take your baby's handprints neatly.
How a foil print is made
We send you a free digital proof within one working day, by WhatsApp or email. Nothing is foiled until you're happy with it. Once you approve, we foil the print in gold, silver or rose gold using Foil Fusion Technology™, and post it back free within five working days.
Quick answers
What are some creative ideas using baby footprints?
Hands and feet together, two feet side by side, sibling prints, a yearly Christmas print, and matching copies for the grandparents.
What can I use to get my baby's footprint?
An inkless wipe and reactive paper, so there's no ink or paint on your baby's skin.
Can I take footprints while my baby is asleep?
Yes. It's gentle enough to do while they sleep.
Can I put two children on one print?
Yes. Two handprints, usually siblings, is one of the combinations we offer.
Ready to start? Our baby hand and footprint kit has everything you need.
