Baby Jewelry Buying Guide @ Jewel Info 4 U
By: Basundra Mitra
JEWELRY FOR THE NEW-BORN PRINCESS -
BABY JEWELRY
With the advent of the little
princess into the household, there
is also born a radiant sparkle and
joy which envelops the parents and
indeed, everyone in the family. It
is the dream of every mother to
adorn her little Highness with every
bit of finery that she can afford.
Therefore baby jewelry today has a
substantial market spanning across
countries and continents.
 Although
there are items of jewelry for the
male baby such as chains, rings and
buttons in countries like India, the
focus of the baby jewelry industry
in predominantly on the female baby.
The ideal time for the mother to
venture into any kind of jewelry
would be after the first couple of
years. Prior to that age, jewelry
could be a dangerous proposition -
earrings could snag in clothing,
chains could strangle and rings
could be swallowed.
After the child is two years old,
some safe items of jewelry can be
tried out. The bangle or bracelet is
very popular child jewelry. Bangles
are used in Asian countries while
charm bracelets are more favored by
the western countries. While a
bangle or wristlet can seldom be a
health hazard, care must be taken to
see that there are no sharp edges or
points which can scratch skin or
snag in clothing. Baby bangles may
be of gold, silver or sterling
silver. Costume or imitation jewelry
should never be used on baby skin as
it could lead to allergy. Small
bangles are usually kept open with
rounded ends so that it is easier to
wear and take off. Bracelets may
have letter blocks spelling the
child's name or little jingles or
beads which can be appealing to the
child. Baby bracelets may have
rounded Swarovski crystals, glass
beads and pearls. Excessive care
should be exercised when the
bracelet is worn so that the baby
does not pull, bite or swallow the
small parts. At the time of purchase
one must ensure that the charms on a
bracelet are tightly woven in and
clasps are safe. Pin latches or
sharp clasps should necessarily be
avoided.
Baby earrings are also very popular
as these are the only items of
jewelry that the baby is unaware of
and therefore the baby is usually
very comfortable wearing them. The
best time to have the child's ear
pierced is between one to three
years. The pierced area has to be
monitored daily for about a month
after the piercing to check for
signs of infection. Earrings for
very small babies are mostly of a
single metal. The shape has to be a
rounded, edgeless one and ball
shaped studs are the most preferred
variety. Tiny gemstones may also be
worn - rubies, emeralds, diamonds
and freshwater pearls being the
chosen ones. If the baby tends to
fiddle with the earring, rings
should be avoided and studs should
be used. The back push of the stud
should also be rounded to avoid skin
injury. It should not be too tight
as it may cause discomfort but must
be clasped securely. Long or heavy
earrings should never be used on
small children as they are neither
functional nor aesthetically suited
to babies. Rings or hoops are also
worn by many babies but extreme care
has to be taken to see that the loop
is not large enough for the baby to
put in a finger and tug.
Chains can be worn by babies only on
occasions and under strict
supervision. Since they pose a
threat of strangulation, care must
be taken to see that babies do not
play with or pull the chain.
Children should never go to sleep
wearing chains. Gold or silver
chains are good choices for
children. Chains may also be
interspersed with colored beads to
brighten them up. "Meenakari" work
is popular in India and looks
colorful on chains. In this craft,
paint is embossed on gold and silver
giving it the look of a precious
stone. It is a good substitute for
gems which are too expensive to be
invested in where children's jewelry
is concerned. Cross pendants and
religious lockets are popular
christening gifts. Heart-shaped and
teddy bear lockets make charming
newborn girl gifts. Cute, light
necklaces are great for special
occasions but must be securely
fastened when worn. Baby necklaces
are usually items of sentiment and
are attached to memories of special
occasions. These are often passed
down generations.
In India, the anklet (payal) is a
huge favorite for baby girls. It is
catching favor in the other eastern
and European countries, too. Anklets
are usually made of silver or alloys
and has tiny tinkling bells
attached. They are also interlaid
with colorful beads and make very
well-liked baby ceremony presents.
Baby jewelry must at all costs be
hypoallergenic. Baby skin is too
delicate to take risks with. Jewelry
with lead should never be used on
children as it can lead to lead
poisoning. Items of children's
jewelry should also be bright,
visually appealing and stimulating
to the child. It is a great idea to
match baby jewelry with the mother's
jewelry. It lends a cute touch and
adds a sentimental dimension.
However, exorbitant jewelry need not
be purchased for children as they
could be accidentally spoilt, lost
or damaged through wear and tear.
Baby jewelry (except the earring) is
best for occasions and not everyday
wear.
It is a fact that children's jewelry
ranging from baby to teen has become
so popular that retailers of kids'
jewelry see a golden future ahead.
Companies like Jewelcor, Balfours
and Josten's and even Wal-Mart are
carrying separate display counters
for 10 karat and 14 karat fine gold
juvenile jewelry. The variety and
range of products are also seeing a
burgeoning trend.
From babyhood through pre-teens to
their young adulthood, little girls
will always love dressing up. So go
ahead - invest in beauty and
sentiment that is precious; let the
golden aura of her baby jewelry
adorn the priceless gem of your
heart. Let her baby jewelry remind
her of all the special moments of
her childhood and be an expression
of your boundless love for your
little bundle of joy.
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