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Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the special mom in our children’s lives—and for infants and toddlers, creating a handmade gift is a fun, memorable way to make Mother's Day extra special. Whether it’s a first Mother’s Day keepsake or a playful art project made in class for the mother figure in the child's life, these sweet crafts are perfect for babies, toddlers, and young preschoolers.
Join our early childhood education team from Primary Beginnings in Raleigh as we share six simple and creative Mother’s Day craft ideas for babies and toddlers.
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Why Infant Mother’s Day Crafts Are Important
Creating Mother’s Day crafts with infants and toddlers is more than just a fun activity—it’s a meaningful way to bond with your baby while supporting early development. These projects encourage fine motor skills, sensory play, and early language exposure, all while producing adorable keepsakes for moms and mother figures.
Benefits of Mother’s Day Crafts for Infants
These crafts are designed to be simple, safe, and meaningful, supporting both creativity and development.
6 Easy and Adorable Mother’s Day Craft Ideas
Explore these simple crafts designed for infants and toddlers to create heartfelt gifts for moms.
1. ‘From the Bottom of My Heart’ Footprint Craft
Infant Mother’s Day crafts like this one are easy to make with a little help from adults. Combining a footprint and handprint into a heart shape, this craft makes a cute keepsake that’s ideal for a first Mother’s Day or a classroom project.
With safe paint and a simple layout, this print-based project creates something both sentimental and display-worthy.
Materials Needed
- Baby-safe craft paint (any color of choice)
- Construction paper
- Pen or marker
- Disposable tablecloth or wax paper
- Frame (optional)
Instructions
Cover your work area to prevent mess. Help your child stamp both hands onto the paper in a heart shape. Then, paint one foot and assist them in making a clear footprint below the heart. Add a short phrase like “From the bottom of my heart—Happy Mother’s Day!” and sign their name. Let it dry completely before framing.
Ideal for: Mother’s Day infant art that makes a heartfelt, frame-ready gift.
2. Handprint Flowers in a Frame
Baby Mother’s Day crafts need to be completed with the help of dad, teachers, caretakers, or other kids in the household. With guided support, even the tiniest hands can create something heartfelt and beautiful. This handprint flower craft is a perfect way to involve infants and toddlers in a keepsake gift that any mom will treasure forever.
Using baby-safe paint and a little creativity, you can transform simple handprints into a bright, colorful bunch of flowers—a sweet and personal gift for Mother’s Day.
Materials Needed
- Baby-safe craft paint (variety of colors)
- Paintbrushes
- White construction paper
- Green paint (for stems)
- Ribbon (optional)
- Heart stickers (optional)
- Frame (optional)
Instructions
Paint your child’s hands in different colors of blue, purple, pink, and red paint, or other colors of your choice, and help them stamp handprints in a fan shape. Paint green stems coming from each flower, then add hearts or ribbons as decoration. Finish with a “Happy Mother’s Day” message and your child’s name.
Ideal for: Mother’s Day art ideas for infants with supervised paint play.
3. Clay Handprint Candle Holders
This is one of those Mother’s Day craft ideas for babies that doubles as a functional keepsake. With just a few simple materials, you and your child can make a beautiful handprint impression that holds a candle—making it the perfect gift for moms who love sentimental keepsakes.
Even young toddlers and babies can participate with gentle guidance from adults.
Materials Needed
- Air-dry clay
- Baby-safe paint
- Small tea candles or LED candles
- Paintbrushes
- Fine-tip Sharpie or paint marker
Instructions
Form the clay into a flat circle large enough for a baby’s hand. Gently press the hand into the clay, then press a tea candle into the center. Let dry completely. Paint the handprint in your choice of colors. Add your child’s name and the date along the edge before placing or gluing the candle into the holder.
Ideal for: A Mother’s Day memento that combines form and function in a beautifully crafted gift.
4. ‘Thumb-Body Loves You’ Card
Simple and sweet, this thumbprint card is one of the best Mother’s Day infant crafts for families who want something playful and easy. Using baby-safe ink or paint, you can create thumbprint characters that deliver a meaningful message.
This is a low-mess project that’s great for at-home crafting with infants or preschoolers.
Materials Needed
- Non-toxic ink pads or baby-safe paint
- White or colored cardstock
- Fine-tip marker
- Googly eyes (optional)
Instructions
Help your baby or toddler stamp thumbprints across the front of the card. Once dry, turn each print into a character using a marker—draw arms, faces, or stick on googly eyes. Write “Thumb-body loves you, Mommy!” on the front, and sign the card with your child’s name inside.
Ideal for: Quick and easy Mother’s Day craft ideas for babies with minimal prep.
5. Heart-Shaped Sponge Stamping
This is a great project for babies and toddlers just beginning to explore textures and colors. Sponge stamping is simple, sensory, and ideal for Mother’s Day art for babies when guided by an adult.
This art activity creates a bright, pop-art inspired page that’s frameable, fridge-ready, or made for hanging.
Materials Needed
- Sponges cut into heart shapes
- Washable red and pink paint
- White paper or cardstock
- Paint tray or paper plate
- Wipes for cleanup
Instructions
Pour a small amount of paint into a tray. Help your child dip the sponge into the paint and stamp it onto the paper. Repeat with different colors and patterns. Once dry, add a “Happy Mother’s Day” message and your baby’s name. Optional: glue on a ribbon or cut the page into a heart shape.
Mother’s Day art senior infants can enjoy with full adult support, without getting too messy.
6. First Mother’s Day Handprint Poem
Nothing says “first Mother’s Day” like a baby handprint next to a heartfelt poem. This will become a cherished gift that brings a smile to any mom’s face, while making construction simple and the gift ideal for display.
Even if your baby can’t grasp the moment yet, this art will become something both parent and child will appreciate in years to come.
Materials Needed
- Printed or handwritten handprint poem
- White cardstock
- Baby-safe paint
- Frame
Instructions
Print or write a short Mother’s Day poem near the top of the cardstock. Underneath, help your baby make a clean handprint using paint. Let it dry completely, then frame it for gifting on the Mother’s Day holiday. Add the date and your baby’s name to the corner for a personal touch, or even an image of your child on one half of the card, with the poem on the other side.
Ideal for: A first Mother’s Day craft that creates a lasting memory that new moms will never forget.
Helpful Tips for Creating Mother’s Day Art for Infants and Toddlers
Creating Mother’s Day infant crafts is more than just a fun activity—it’s a meaningful way to bond with your baby while supporting early development. These moments encourage fine motor skills, sensory play, and early language exposure, all while producing adorable keepsakes for moms and mother figures.
Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when working on Mother’s Day art ideas for infants and toddlers, keeping in mind these can also be used to create craft ideas for Father’s Day as well:
- Use non-toxic, baby-safe paint and materials to keep your little one safe
- Keep wipes or a damp cloth nearby for quick cleanup
- Embrace the mess — smudges and imperfect prints are part of the charm!
- Narrate the process using simple words like “press,” “paint,” “stamp,” and “dry” to build vocabulary
- Allow plenty of time for the artwork to fully dry before framing or gifting
Most importantly, remember that it’s the experience—not perfection—that makes these crafts special.
Celebrate Creativity at Our 5-Star Raleigh Preschool
At Primary Beginnings, we believe creativity should be nurtured from the very start. From infant care that includes art activities to hands-on projects for toddlers, our classrooms are filled with opportunities for children to explore, create, and express themselves in meaningful ways.
Learn more about our nurturing, 5-star Raleigh preschool by contacting us today to schedule a tour at one of our three convenient locations. Get started by calling our Spring Forest location at 919-790-6888, our North Hills location at 919-785-0303, or our Falls of Neuse location at 919-615-0752 or filling out the contact form below.