bodycasting baby tips?

[rollerboi]

does anyone have any suggestions for taking a quick and dirty mold of my 1 year old son's head? I doubt I can get him to hold still, especially if stuff is being put on his face. I'd still like to get as much detail as I can in order to create a casting. It doesn't need to be too perfect.

anyone have any suggestions as to methods, materials, or tricks to placate the kids? I'm basically hoping to find a quick-molding low heat fast setting material, maybe even something that is slapped on and peeled off to harden after taking the headshape and features.

 

[Mole]

Rohypnol?

Seriously, I really doubt you'll be able to with such a young child. Having your head cast is a scary enough thing for an adult, there's no way he'll be able to understand what's happening. Could you not just get a baby mannequin? Or does it actually have to be your son's head?

 

[SlicenDice]

Frankly, this sounds like a very bad idea to me, the child could freak out and try to inhale the mold making material and possibly choke. I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do with your child, just my two cents.

 

[TheNickFox]

About the only think that I could fathom working would be something like this:

3-D Laser Scanner

Then actualized through 3D printing.

But it would have to be modified so that the laser is as low-power as possible as to not damage your son's eyes. I'm with the others in that I'm not sure there is a good, safe way of doing this.

Would it be possible to commission a local sculptor to just make a near-enough representation?

-Nick

 

[kimhikaru]

When my boy was 1 year and about 3month I made him a batman mask as they was going as heroes in the kindergarten he is in.

To get a ruff sculpt of the head I took my son to my local Toys r us, went to the baby doll section of the store, found one with almost same size as my childs head and bought it.

Then I was building with clay on top of that doll head.
When it was finished I even had some extra place for padding and such.

Its the smartest and cheapest way I could think of.

PS: That day when they where suppose to come as heroes, he didnt want to have the mask put on his head anyway even tho he had it on the day before and liked it.
So as someone already said here, its a no go to even think about doing anything like that on your babys head.

 

[JoeR]

My son who is 9 months would flip out big time if I did this, he goes nuts when I try to look at his teeth! I would strongly avoid it.

 

[Garthok]

Rohypnol?

I know it shouldn't have but that really made me laugh.

I did a life cast of my son at 14yrs old and he found that fairly tense, and was fully aware of what was going on. I agree that you could really freak the young guy out.

Can we ask what its for? I remember seeing a link somewhere on the forum to a company that could take a couple of photos you send in and make a 3d head. I think it was so you could make your own head into an action figures, but I am pretty sure they did full size if needed, it could be a better option.

 

[dualedge]

I gotta agree... Despite good intentions, any kind of face, head or bodycast is a very, VERY, VERY bad idea on a small child, much less a baby. You can bet your bottom dollar that many would even view a head or face cast on an infant as abuse and could get you into trouble despite your intentions. They make little kits for casting baby's hands or feet but anything beyond that is definitely a bad, bad idea.

And have you thought about the risk of suffocation?

A one year old still can't really communicate not to mention a one year old also isn't going to sit still.

I've got a daughter that's a week shy of one year and the more I think about it, the more I'm against the idea. It's just way too dangerous and I don't think you'd want to take your child's life in your hands over something as unnecessary as this...

 

[the_batdemon]

I have to agree with everyone on this being a bad idea. I tried one of those hand/feet kits on my 1 year old (or there abouts) niece years ago. She squirmed like the dickens, enve with her dad holding her. I think it had to do with the odd sensation of the alginate.
The laser scanning is a good idea, but even then the subject has to be pretty still or your data cloud won't be correct. Do they allow/recommend use on a child that young?

 

[coofunkcurly]

We own a lifecasting business and our primary purpose is doing little kids hands and feet. We would certainly refuse any business request to do a head for anyone under 3. Between 3 and 12 would even be assessed long and hard before proceeding.

 

[themanwoaname]

When my boy was 1 year and about 3month I made him a batman mask as they was going as heroes in the kindergarten he is in.

To get a ruff sculpt of the head I took my son to my local Toys r us, went to the baby doll section of the store, found one with almost same size as my childs head and bought it.

Then I was building with clay on top of that doll head.
When it was finished I even had some extra place for padding and such.

Its the smartest and cheapest way I could think of.

this one would be the best bet. because a 3d scanner/printer would probably be difficult to find and afford use of.

 

[rollerboi]

Thanks! Yup, there's no way I'm putting something on him and waiting for it to set! :lol I'm well aware of the risks with traditional lifecasting materials, hence this thread.

I was thinking along the lines of something quickly pressed on, like aluminum foil, for the shape, and subsequently strengthened. However, i think aluminum foil would be a very poor substrate for further work.

Thanks for the suggestion on sculpting up from a close doll's head, I just may have to go this route unless anyone has any better ideas.

 

[themanwoaname]

ive tried working with aluminum foil with foam to make casts, its a pain and wasnt worth all the effort i put into it.

 

[Larry Young]

I remember seeing a link somewhere on the forum to a company that could take a couple of photos you send in and make a 3d head. I think it was so you could make your own head into an action figures, but I am pretty sure they did full size if needed, it could be a better option.

ThatsMyFace - See your face in 3D & Buy gifts with personalized faces

I have this bookmarked and keep meaning to do it, but I never seem to have the time to arrange the right sorts of photos, and when I have the time, I can never find the damn camera and then go do something else.

 

[Garthok]

ThatsMyFace - See your face in 3D & Buy gifts with personalized faces

I have this bookmarked and keep meaning to do it, but I never seem to have the time to arrange the right sorts of photos, and when I have the time, I can never find the damn camera and then go do something else.

Ahh that's the one!. Thanks for that.

I think good on you rollerboi for asking about it..sure better than just doing it. If you do try anything that comes up with a good result can you let us know.

 

[stagelife]

its more terrifying to me that you even considered covering you child's head with something that would at best take a few mins to get off if something went wrong... please for the love of god dont do this

 

[rollerboi]

its more terrifying to me that you even considered covering you child's head with something that would at best take a few mins to get off if something went wrong... please for the love of god dont do this

... there's no way I'm putting something on him and waiting for it to set! :lol I'm well aware of the risks with traditional lifecasting materials, hence this thread.

Relax, I have no intentions of putting my kid in danger. That's why I started a thread instead of just experimenting, to see if anyone else has more expert opinions. Brainstorming for workable solutions (of which there pretty much seem to be none).

 

[exoray]

Maybe before you pursue this project you need to replicate the SecureFoam from Demolition Man

YouTube - Securefoam

 

[Trap Joe]

About the only think that I could fathom working would be something like this:

3-D Laser Scanner

Then actualized through 3D printing.

But it would have to be modified so that the laser is as low-power as possible as to not damage your son's eyes. I'm with the others in that I'm not sure there is a good, safe way of doing this.

Would it be possible to commission a local sculptor to just make a near-enough representation?

-Nick

I think Nick had the best Ideas.
I have a lot of experience in bodycasting. But I´d have to agree with the rest. It´s far too risky, and I doubt making a cast of such a young child would be working.

 

[stagelife]

got some friends at Gentle Giant if you are in Ca can have the kid 3D scanned lol