The most personal baby gift is one that uses the baby itself: tiny handprints and footprints captured in the first weeks, before they grow. Parents rarely get around to making these keepsakes on their own, which is what makes a ready-to-use kit such a thoughtful gift. Pearhead is the best-known maker of these kits and sells them at baby retailers and on its own site. These 5 picks cover a first Christmas ornament, a name-stamped clay keepsake, two frames and a mess-free ink set.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for baby shower guests, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends visiting a newborn. These kits suit any family, since they need no names or details at checkout; the parents add the baby's prints themselves. For broader ideas, see our baby shower gifts guide.
The Picks
Pearhead Babyprints Deluxe Wall Frame
Best for A baby shower gift that ends up on the nursery wall
This white wooden shadowbox frame holds a 4 by 6 inch photo beside a clay handprint or footprint, with a reversible pink and blue background board.
The baby-safe clay needs no mixing or baking and air-dries in a day or two. Hung in the nursery, it becomes a record of how small the baby once was.
Check before buying: some owners say the clay can soften the print if it is not pressed firmly, so make the print quickly after kneading and try more than once.
Pearhead Babyprints Ornament Kit
Best for A baby's first Christmas
This kit makes a round clay ornament with the baby's handprint or footprint, finished with a ribbon.
It includes air-dry clay, a shaping ring and a rolling pin, and the finished piece goes on the tree every year after. It is one of the most given first Christmas gifts for newborns.
Check before buying: you need a sheet of aluminum foil to roll the clay on, and the kit has small parts, so keep it away from older siblings.
Pearhead Deluxe Clay Keepsake Kit with Letter Stamps
Best for Parents who want the baby's name on the keepsake
The Deluxe kit makes two 6 inch clay keepsakes and adds letter and number tools so parents can press in the baby's name and birth date, plus gold and silver paint, ribbons and clear easels for display.
It is the most personalized option here and works as an ornament or a shelf keepsake.
Check before buying: let the clay dry fully, 24 to 48 hours, before painting.
Pearhead Babyprints Desk Photo Frame and Impression Kit
Best for Grandparents who want a keepsake for their own home
This hinged wooden desk frame holds a 4 by 6 inch photo in one panel and a clay print in the other, so it stands on a shelf or desk rather than hanging.
It makes a good second gift if the parents already have a wall frame, or a gift from the parents to the grandparents.
Check before buying: Pearhead sells several similar frames, so confirm the color and whether it uses clay or ink.
Pearhead Clean-Touch Ink Pad Kit, 4-Pack
Best for Busy parents, twins and families with pets
These pads press through a clean film onto card stock, so no ink touches the baby's skin.
The 4-pack includes 12 impression cards, enough for hands and feet, siblings, or the family dog's paw. Prints can go in a baby book, a frame or a card to grandparents.
Check before buying: each ink window is about 2.5 by 3.5 inches, sized for newborns, so make prints in the first months.
How to Choose a Personalized Baby Gift
Choose clay if the parents want a three-dimensional keepsake for display, and ink if they want something quick and flat for a baby book or card. For a holiday baby, the ornament is the obvious choice. For a gift that will be on display for years, choose a frame.
Timing matters. Prints look best in the first weeks, so give these kits at a shower or right after the birth rather than at the first birthday. If you are close to the family, offer to help make the prints, since holding a newborn still is the hardest part.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Whether the parents already received a print kit at the shower.
- Frame color to match the nursery.
- Clay or ink, depending on how the parents want to display it.
- Delivery dates if you want the ornament before Christmas.
How We Chose
Shelzy Perkins compared retailer listings, Pearhead's own product pages and owner reviews, and confirmed each kit is sold under the same name by Pearhead or another retailer. We did not physically test these products. Read our editorial policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good personalized baby gift?
A Pearhead Babyprints frame is a good personalized baby gift because it holds the baby's own handprint or footprint next to a photo.
When should you make baby handprints?
Make baby handprints in the first few weeks, when the hands and feet are smallest and the baby sleeps often.
Is clay or ink better for baby prints?
Clay makes a raised keepsake for display, while ink is faster and less fussy for a baby book or card.
Are Pearhead clay kits safe for babies?
Pearhead describes its clay as baby safe, but the kits contain small parts, so keep them away from young children.
Shopping for a baby's first Christmas? The Christmas Gift Finder 2026 links every holiday guide by recipient and budget.