From what age can a baby wear jewelry

[Gangle]

We would like our son to wear a fine gold chain around his neck. Is it safe to do so?
He is 12 weeks old

[user1467619643]

I would say it is a bit early. Not that he won't be watched over 24/7 but if it was me I would be affraid for his safety.

Well if you live in a safe area then again I'd wait for few years.

Good luck with the decision.

[madmuggle]

I think saving it is a nice idea, as it means your son will have a lovely keepsake when he is older.

[christywhisty]

I was christened greek orthodox and part of the ceremony is the priest puts a crucifix round the babies neck. My mum had been so proud as I was the only baby that hadn't cried until the necklace was put around my neck. I then howled. Later my mum found that the necklace had cut into my neck and I had a long scratch.
My mum is english and resisted all the greek relations trying to get her to have my ears pierced. I had to wait until I was 13.

[Twiglett]

"Incidentally though, DH is Jewish and says all Jewish children wear the Chai which is why he wanted DS to wear it, not to deck him out in gold jewellery and other bling. "

tell your DH from me he's a lying little toe-rag .. absolutely not .. and if you think you can get away with that you're very much mistaken

I know many Jewish families .. they are very anti-bling on babies and small children .. possibly at bar mitzvah age they wear the stars or a chai .. but on a baby .. get a life!

[minniedot]

Joke? Right.

[Gangle]

thanks everyone for all the responses. By way of background, DH posted this question using my account because he wanted to put the necklace on DS and I said "over my dead body" which resulted in a big argument over whether or not it was dangerous. DH wasn't convinced by me so i said, lets ask MN, et voila. The necklace is staying in its box until DS is seven or eight. Incidentally though, DH is Jewish and says all Jewish children wear the Chai which is why he wanted DS to wear it, not to deck him out in gold jewellery and other bling.

[charliegal]

mrsphas3-'cheesy necks'- I love it! Ds had cheese ridden neck too.

[cory]

There seems to be a general idea that if you once put a necklace on a baby, they'll have to wear it all the time (strangled in cot etc). But IME most necklaces do actually come off, so you could do a perfectly safe half-way house and let the baby wear a pretty necklace under supervision for special occasions. Even I don't wear my best jewellery in bed or when engaged in rough outdoor activities. Why would you? So baby doesn't have to either.

Lots of cultures put jewellery on babies. As long as safety is ensured, I haven't got a problem.

[MrsPhas3]

I personally wouldn't do it, they can't really be seen presumably so a bit of a waste of time, the benefit is tiny compared to potential dangers. Also, my three have all had quite cheesy necks/sore neck skin, so to wear something hard against it would have really aggravated it.

[Liz79]

DD was bought a silver children's length necklace with a cross on it for her christening. I put it on her as we went in to church and took it off when we came out. I was constantly pulling it away from her throat or had my fingers in between her and it, I was frightened. I thought it appropriate she wore it then though. It'll stay in the box until she is 6-7 and then she will only wear it for special occasions. She was given another necklace too. No bangle though, which I would have liked.

[MERLYPUSS]

There are pendants that are worn in Sri Lanka for religious reasons. They have 5 symbols on them that are supposed to help you through life, depicting food, etc. I suppose it is a bit like a St Christopher? My MIL said nearly all children wear them from day 1. The poorest families hang them on a leather thong and gold chain if richer. I was bought 2 to put in DTS memory box.
They wont be wearing them until they are older but that is no reason to disrespect the fact that she feels they are an important part of their heritage/roots. I dont feel they are chavvy - they are just not for me ATM.

[Takver]

I don't go for jewellery myself (for me or DD), but as per my earlier post, just about every girl baby where we used to live in the south of Spain has her ears pierced within the few days after birth, and we were definitely considered weird for not doing it - so what is normal really depends on where you are IYSWIM.

[LIZS]

I was kind of hoping this was a first thread for op... why? tbh don't see the point from the practical, safety or cosmetic pov but maybe your reasons are religious and/or cultural.

[Mercy]

Necklaces maybe not a good idea.

But hey let's make all MN babies/children/parents one homogenous group.

[used2bthin]

My DD wears a medicalert band and it says on the website no neclaces for under 11s! Probably they are partly saying that due to the length of them but still, I don't think it would be safe at that age.

[misdee]

dd1 was bought a little gold bangle when she was little. she wore it a few times. dd2 had a silver one, again worn a few times. both are back in their boxes, and when i look at them i think 'aww how small were their wrists'

dd3 never got one as was pre-occupied with dh being ill, i might get her one now though

but not necklaces.

[Miaou]

I've just googled degloving injury. Please don't do it. I think I've seen enough to last me a lifetime

Cultural/religious reasons whatever, nothing would justify it to yourself if your child received an injury as a result of wearing a necklace.

And it is easy enough to say "oh we'll only put it on him when he's awake" but he'll doze off when you are not expecting/you'll forget to take it off ... it only takes one time ... why put risk in your baby's way?

[AbbeyA]

It is not safe and they look much better without.

[andiem]

agree with sidge and have also seen horrible injuries and strangulations form things around babies necks
one baby died from having it's dummy round it's neck on a string and it got caught on the cot and strangled her the parents found her when they went in after a nap

[Twelvelegs]

Vile as in bad/unpleasant not morally wicked!!

[paperdoll]

Although I stand by my earlier comment about the chain being unsafe/uncomfortable for the baby, I am inclined to put in a word of support for the traditional silver baby bracelets like this: www.mullsilver.co.uk/celtic-silver-baby-bangle-p-45.html

Not sure if they are a Celtic thing entirely, but I know that we have one somewhere which was mine as an older baby. My mum has always been very disinclined to indulge in anything that isn't strictly vetted as "suitable" - so going by that evidence, I think these are maybe less of a chav phenomenon than the usual ear-piercing/other dodgy baby jewellry.

Anyway, if someone gave one to a hypothetical dd of mine, I would probably be able to take it on board as a thing with some history and tradition behind it ... I think. I know my SIL felt differently though, someone gave one to her dd and she was repulsed.

[Mercy]

"Jewellery on children how ever you dress it up looks vile."

Vile, isn't that ott?