What happens at the Casting Session?

Creating baby hand casts or baby foot casts is a simple, comfortable process for parents and babies alike. To make the experience as straightforward as possible, casting sessions can take place within your own home, where your baby will feel relaxed amongst their own familiar surroundings.

If you live within the London area, this is included in our usual prices, with an additional charge to cover travel costs for those living further afield.  From arriving in your home to the finished mould, the casting session is a quick, simple process for everyone involved.

Why it’s better to have the casting session at home

Everyone feels better in their own home, and this is true of babies too: during a casting session at home your baby will be in a familiar environment, and will therefore be more relaxed. Toys and food are at hand to keep your little one distracted, and there is minimum disruption to your day – not only does a home casting mean that new mums don’t have to venture outside if they’re a bit anxious about doing so, but we can even fit in around baby’s routine to offer both new parents and babies a minimum of disruption – whether your little one needs a nap, a feed or winding, casting sessions at home mean that we can work around it!

How a home visit works

The first step in any casting session involves one of our friendly casting artists bringing a selection of samples for you to see and feel. Photos just don’t do a baby hand cast or baby foot cast the justice they deserve; they are tactile products which need to be seen to be truly appreciated. And don’t worry, a decision on the finish, frame or base doesn’t have to be made beforehand; our casting artist will answer any questions you may have, and you can decide upon the rest once the mould has been taken. Our casting artist will talk you through the mould taking process, as time is of the essence once the casting mousse is mixed and before it sets. We’ll take down any personalisation details which can be as simple or as quirky as you like, from the baby’s actual name to a beloved nickname.

The casting process

At this point, it’s on to the moulding!  This is best done in the kitchen, as warm water is needed, as well as somewhere to mix the casting mousse (and we can work in the smallest of spaces, so there’s no need to worry if your kitchen is bijou).

Once the mousse is mixed, it’s important that baby is comfortable. It’s often best if baby can be fed either before or whilst the cast is taken, as your little one will be totally relaxed and supple.  Then the hand or foot is placed within the casting mousse! And this is where the magic is created: the wriggliest of tiny fingers and toes will be captured.  It takes about a minute for the mousse to set. Some babies manage to sleep through the whole process, although most don’t.  It’s a strange sensation after all, but it doesn’t hurt, and most are just intrigued by the process.

Once the mousse is set to a rubbery texture, the hand or foot is gently removed from the cast to leave a perfect impression, capturing every little wrinkle and nuance of your baby’s fingers or toes. The whole session, from talking through your finish options to creating the mould takes about half an hour, although the casting itself is done in a matter of minutes. We’ll even clear up your kitchen afterwards, to leave it looking exactly as we found it!

What if a home casting session isn’t an option?

If a home casting session isn’t an option for you, don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways for us to create beautiful baby keepsakes for you.  You can visit our workshop in Battersea, or one of our casting venues in Clapham.  And our baby casting kit allows you to take the mould at home and once it’s been taken, we’ll create the same adorable, finished product as we would if we came to visit you at home, to preserve a perfect piece of your family’s history forever.