Can you make oobleck with baby powder

Don’t have cornstarch in your pantry? Don’t worry, you can still make Oobleck with your children. Learn how to make oobleck without corn starch.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

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What is Oobleck Slime?

Oobleck refers to a green substance from Dr. Seuss’s book, Bartholomew. Therefore, if you want to add a literary component to this science experiment then you could always read that book first!

And don’t worry this Dr. Seuss is not one that is being questioned for being appropriate for children in this day in age.

  • 1 cup of Baby Powder or Tapioca Powder
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Optional: Food Coloring
Can you make oobleck with baby powder

What type of baby powder do you need?

So I guess you can’t say this is completely free of cornstarch because you need a baby powder that has cornstarch in it. See the end of the post with a few suggestions about two other recipes you could try.

What is so cool about Oobleck?

Oobleck is both a solid and liquid because it is a non-newtonian fluid. You can get kids to observe these characteristics as they are playing. We love learning through play!

Before You Begin

We recommend playing and making Oobleck outside. It makes it so much easier for clean-up if you make this fun activity an outdoor one.

Please also note that this is not an edible recipe. Therefore, make sure you are watching your little ones and encouraging them to keep their hands away from their faces.

How To Make Oobleck Using Baby Powder

Step 1: Add powder to the bowl.

Add 1 cup of baby powder to the bowl.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

Step 2: Add water.

Carefully pour in a 1/2 cup of water.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

Step 3: Carefully mix your oobleck.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

An adult may need to help to scrape the bottom of the bowl to fully mix the powder and water together.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

Optional Step: Add food coloring.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

You can always add a different primary color to change your oobleck as you play. We ended up adding yellow food coloring eventually to our red oobleck to get a yellow-orange.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

Step 4: Have fun exploring.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

This non-newtonian fluid is super fun to experiment with and play with.

How long does Oobleck last?

We have only been able to use it that day. We have let the water evaporate so that we can reuse the powdered material.

You may be able to use it the next day by sealing it in an air-tight container and adding a little water.

Activities To Do With Homemade Oobleck

  • My daughter loves to add toys to the Oobleck. On this particular day, we a playdough cookie cutter was fun to pull out of the oobleck.
  • Give your child small utensils to dig out toys. Or even better, hide small items in the oobleck and see if he or she can find them.
  • Push your hand in and see how easy it is to pull it out (just be careful the bowl may go flying).
  • Add different elements like coloring or glitter to get a different feel.

Tip For Clean-Up

We played with our oobleck outside. When we were done, we rinsed our hands in a bucket of water and used a towel to dry off. The baby powder instantly came off my daughter’s hands.

Can you make oobleck with baby powder

Homemade Oobelck FAQs

Is oobleck a solid or a liquid?

Oobleck is considered a non-newtonian fluid or a liquid and solid. You can experiment with what happens when you squeeze the oobleck or just hold it. You will notice that when pressure is added it be

Is Tapioca powder and flour the same thing?

Yes, pretty much. It just depends on the marketing and packaging from different companies.

What happens if it is too watery? Or too thick?

If it is too watery, slowly add more baby powder until you see it clump on the spoon. If it is too thick add a little water and stir to get the right consistency.

Are there any other powders you can try to use to make Oobleck?

Arrowroot powder can be used instead of Tapioca or baby powder.

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If you like this easy tutorial, be sure to give us 5-stars below and have fun being creative with your family.

Learn how to make oobleck using baby powder or tapioca powder.

Prep Time5 mins

Active Time5 mins

Total Time10 mins

Keyword: oobleck recipe, oobleck recipe without cornstarch

Cost: under $5

  • Bowl

  • Plastic Spoon

  • Measuring cup

  • 1 cup Baby Powder or Tapioca Powder
  • 1/2 cup Water

  • Pour baby powder or tapioca powder into a bowl.

    Can you make oobleck with baby powder

  • Add water.

    Can you make oobleck with baby powder

  • Mix slowly and scrape the bottom of the bowl.

    Can you make oobleck with baby powder

  • Optional: Add food coloring.

    Can you make oobleck with baby powder

  • Play with your fun oobleck.

    Can you make oobleck with baby powder

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What can you use instead of cornstarch for oobleck?

Cornstarch swaps.
Arrowroot Flour..
Tapioca Flour also called tapioca powder..
Potato Starch..

Can you replace baby powder with cornstarch?

Like baby powder, cornstarch helps dry out the skin and provides some slip to reduce the possibility of chafing. However, cornstarch also spreads through the air and can irritate a child's lungs if inhaled. Plus, cornstarch may potentially worsen yeast infections and yeast-related diaper rash.

What else can make oobleck?

If you don't have cornstarch, you can make oobleck with another starchy flour, such as corn flour, arrowroot flour, or potato starch. What is this? Corn flour and arrowroot flour can be substituted 1:1 for cornstarch.

What happens if you mix baby powder with water?

The talcum powder doesn't dissolve in the water, and it doesn't sink; it lies on the water surface, supported by surface tension.