How to cast your baby's hands & feet

Is this safe for my baby?

A mould is taken of your baby’s hand or foot using Impression Powder called Alginate which is non-toxic and biodegradable and is totally safe to use on the skin. It’s more commonly used in dentistry to make moulds of teeth in the mouth and it has been thoroughly tested by this industry. A Health & Safety data sheet is available on request.

The Impala Impressions Home service is a very friendly and local service provided with care and understanding of your baby’s needs. The process should take no more than 30 minutes of your time and having the moulds done at home means avoiding travelling to an alternative venue with all the paraphernalia needed for your baby.

The Impression Powder is mixed with water and put into a bag to be used for casting then moulded around your baby’s hand or foot. Once set, usually in about 1 minute depending on the temperature of the air and water used, the mould is easily removed. Dabbing the foot or hand with water or rubbing in some moisturiser before-hand will help remove the mould quickly.

The mould will then be taken back to the Impala workshop and the casting process will begin - the casting powder is mixed to a specific measurement and then the mixture is poured into the mould and left to set. After a couple of hours the mould is peeled away and you are left with your plaster lifecast.

Can you reuse the mould?

Unfortunately you have to break the mould to get it off the plaster cast so it is not possible to re-use the mould. If a re-mould is required this can be done from the plaster cast but only with a lot of practice!

The cast is then prepared for painting, cleaned up and left for 2/3 days in a warm place to completely dry out. The cast is then painted in a metallic paint and mounted in a custom made box frame for presentation.

If you have any concerns or questions, or would just like to learn more about how Impala Impressions lifecasts are done, call Justine on 01732 521537 or send an e-mail to justine@impala-impressions.co.uk

“Had such fun doing Georgia’s hand and foot - she giggled and wriggled but we got a fantastic pair of casts and they look wonderful now they are framed.” Kirstina & Jeremy, Kent