Having a newborn baby in your home can be as exhausting as it is wonderful—so sometimes, it’s easy to let precious moments go by without commemorating them. If you’re looking for a keepsake that new parents will love and children will appreciate as they get older, a hand and footprint picture frame kit is a quick and easy way to make a memory that’ll last a lifetime. This kit, from the husband and wife-owned baby care company Bubzi Co, is a top seller online. We sent it home with one of our testers, who used it with her 3-month-old son to see if it really lived up to its hundreds of five-star ratings.
Materials: Clean, sleek-looking designs
This baby hand and footprint kit includes a white wooden frame that holds two photos and the clay prints; non-toxic, air-drying clay made from calcium carbonate, vegetable oil, and silica; an acrylic cover, which is safer and more durable than glass; and double-sided tape to secure the two photos. Our tester thought that the frame and other materials were “sleek and clean-looking.”
Process: Easy instructions but tougher to get a print
“This product would be easy for anyone to use,” our tester declared. However, although she felt that this kit’s instructions were “very clear,” she wished there was more guidance for smoothing the clay: “I was unable to achieve a smooth finish after rolling the clay for five minutes, as instructed, and flattening with a mug,” she explained. “It would be nice if the manufacturer provided a tool, or additional instructions, to create a smooth surface before getting the handprint.” Also, while she said that the overall process was easy to understand, she had a word of advice for users with infants: “You might have trouble getting a clean handprint or footprint,” she said. “I tried to open my son’s hand but he moved way too much. I found that it was just easier to get a footprint, though that took a few tries, too.” Once our tester got her footprint and set her clay out to dry, she noted that it took “about a day” to do so, which was less than the 48 hours recommended by the manufacturer. She also said that the clay “shrunk a bit” once it dried fully: “It actually fell out of its place when I tipped it forward to add a photo to the frame, but the mold went back into the frame with no problem and wasn’t an issue once I put the frame together.”
End Result: A beautiful keepsake
Ultimately, even though the surface of the clay was slightly uneven, our tester loved her end result: “The footprint looks beautiful,” she said. One last note, she added, was that because of the weight of the mold in the frame, the frame stand “seemed a little flimsy,” so she decided to prop it up against a book for extra stability.
Price: Very affordable
At around $20, the price of this picture frame kit is very similar to most of its competitors. And, at under $30, it’s still a very reasonable price for a baby shower present or a gift for a new parent.
Bubzi Co Baby Hand & Footprint Picture Frame Kit vs. MyMiniJoy Newborn Baby Handprint and Footprint Picture Frame Kit
MyMiniJoy, another online retailer selling baby products, also offers a hand and footprint kit. Both of their frames come in a similar white color, use non-toxic air-drying clay, and include double-sided tape to help mount your photos. Also, the photo portions of both frames have the same dimensions: 2.75 x 2.75 inches. There are a few notable differences, though: MyMiniJoy’s frame kit costs a few dollars less. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee with a two-year free replacement warranty; Bubzi Co’s kit has an option on the website to sign up for a VIP Lifetime Product Warranty. MyMiniJoy’s kit also includes a mini rolling pin to help smooth the surface of the clay. Bubzi Co’s kit, on the other hand, does not include such a tool but the company donates a portion of every sale to Postpartum Support International, an organization that raises awareness about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum. Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best baby boy gifts and best baby girl gifts. This kit is a quick, easy, and affordable way to make a memory with your baby that’ll last a lifetime. Even though it was a little difficult to get a completely smooth surface on the clay, the end result was still beautiful.
