Congratulations, you are having a baby!!! This will definitely be the most exciting time of your life. Your brain will be filled with so much information in the upcoming months from friends, family, coworkers, and just random people that notice you are pregnant. Maybe you love the attention, or maybe you don’t…but what you do have is a beautiful body for pregnancy belly painting.
One item that many women want to check off for their “during pregnancy” list is a maternity photo shoot to show off their baby bump in celebration of becoming a mom! There are so many fun options for photo shoots, but one idea that is gaining in popularity is a photo shoot with your belly (and possibly the rest of your body) covered in body paint. So the question is, what is safe to put on your baby belly and what isn’t?
Pregnancy Belly Painting: What is safe, What is not, and tons of Fun Baby Bump Painting Ideas
- What body paint is safe for pregnancy?
- Water-based paints that DO NOT contain solvents, contain zero VOCs, FDA approved, non-toxic, paraben free (think most children’s face paint)
- Henna (will stay on for days or weeks)
- Always speak with your doctor before using any product on your skin while pregnant
- Also remember that your skin is more sensitive now that it is so stretched — paint a “Test patch” before doing your entire belly or body
- If you are going with a professional painter, please make sure they know you will be providing your own paints and brushes to insure your experience is safe. I would suggest getting someone who has experience painting bellies. You might want to try looking up henna artists (even if you don’t want henna) because of their experience with body painting.
Click here for my favorite henna gel
Click here for my favorite water based belly paint set
- What body paint is not safe for pregnancy?
- Oil paint
- Latex paint that contain solvents (also this is difficult to get off!)
- Acrylic paints that contain chemicals (also this is difficult to get off!)
- Many spray paints
- Lead based paint (no longer sold, but FYI in case you come across old paint)
Click here for a safe option for body paint
- Are there any specific ingredients to look out for as bad ingredients for belly body paints? DO NOT USE:
- Ethylene glycol ethers
- Biocides
- Toluene
- Formaldehyde
- Acetone
- Benzene
- Other solvents
- Anything that has lead in it (avoid old paints if you are not certain)
- Anything with VOCs (volatile organic compounds
- Spray paint
- If you have any allergies from fragrances in other products like detergent, perfumes, etc, you may want to avoid those on your skin
- Here are some FDA approved body paints that are considered safe for your baby bump (click for more info):
Gold Body Paint and Glitter Included ^^^
Not convinced on Baby Bump Painting? Try Belly Stickers Instead!
Fun Baby Bump Painting Ideas for Your Maternity Shoot
- Sunflower or other floral designs
- These are generally simple and don’t require a professional painter to make them look beautiful. You could paint this yourself with a mirror or have a loved one help.
- Halloween designs
- Pumpkins are easy and belly shaped
- You could also do a black background with a white baby skeleton growing in your tummy that has the words “let me out” underneath
- Mandala
- Mandala designs are beautiful and could be used for regular body paint or henna
- Happy face
- Easy, simple, and fun!
- Sports themed
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Soccer ball or your favorite team logo for your pregnant belly painting
- Words
- Something like “Coming Soon”
- Or maybe just the word “Love” with footprints would be a great idea for a body paint maternity shoot.
- Baby Yoda
- The Child from The Mandalorian is very in right now 🙂 and would be a great pregnancy body paint idea.
- Ribbon
- Ribbon or bow around the belly with due date and/or baby name for a pregnancy belly paint idea
- Other Fun Ideas
- Watermelon
- Easter Egg
- Handprints (yours, your partners, and or your other children)
- Four Leaf Clover
- Kinder Surprise
- American Flag
- Glitter Body Paint Maternity Shoot
- Gold Body Paint Maternity Shoot – Click Here!
- Couple Body Paint Maternity Shoot
What to Avoid If You Are Doing a Painted Baby Belly Photo Shoot:
- What to AVOID when doing a painted baby belly maternity shoot:
- Wearing any piece of clothing that you wouldn’t want to get stained with paint (Maternity clothes are expensive! You might want to use a button down shirt or your husband’s big shirt that you can tie behind you for a more ethereal look)
- If your clothing is too “loud” and would take away from your beautiful pregnant belly (stay away from crazy colors or designs)
- Wearing uncomfortable clothing (make sure it’s loose and allows you to move around during your photoshoot — it’s already difficult enough to move around with a pregnant belly)
- Wearing anything that might reveal more than you want to – make sure you specifically are comfortable with what you are wearing (or what you aren’t wearing); if you aren’t comfortable going topless/braless for a more “natural” look, than don’t.
- Not making sure whoever is taking the photos (whether a photographer or someone you know) knows what you want to take photos of — all belly, you and the hubby, a few cute shots of your belly but then some regular shots of just you or you and your partner.
- Not using a mirror if you are painting yourself or even if you are having someone else paint you. You want to be happy with the whole result and should be able to see the painting through the entire process.
- Not using a brand new, soft brush — it makes a difference.
Click here for some super soft, quality paint brushes that are perfect for body painting!
Time for Belly Painting!
So hopefully now you have the information you need to plan your fun painted baby bump maternity photo shoot. Again, always check with your doctor if you are doing something different with your body while pregnant (including painting it). You might want to bring the paints in to your next appointment so they can look at them, or you can call the nurse’s line to verify that they are safe if you are planning the painted baby bump photo session before your next doctor’s visit.
Hopefully I was able to give you a ton of fun belly painting ideas pregnancy. Pregnancy belly paintings are all the rage now — and are so cute!!!
Also, most importantly, you were able to see what body paint is safe during pregnancy and body paint options that you can use on your baby bump that are available online.
Click here for my favorite belly painting kit!
Well now that you have your maternity shoot planned, you should check out our fun post about affordable, modern nursery decor so you can get your nursery finished for your new baby.
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