Making Children’s Jewelry

Little girls love to wear jewelry, and even the smallest infant can safely wear jewelry if you follow just a few simple guidelines. Here are some safety tips and general information to keep in mind when designing children’s jewelry.

Bracelet size guidelines are usually 5 ½” for infants, 6-6 ½” for toddler through preteen, 7″ for preteen. Always check the wrist/ankle size of the wearer to ensure proper fit.

Any components that contain lead should not be used, and lead is a common material in many pewter and craft-quality metal beads. I generally avoid anything except sterling unless it specifically states that there is no lead contained in the material. Stones, crystals, natural materials, plastic, resin and sterling are safe to use.

Watch those edges! Remember that infants in particular may be in a carrier or stroller for long periods of time — so anything with a sharp edge or abrasive material can get uncomfortable.

Safety counts in stress points. Use oval jump rings for closures instead of split rings. Jump rings will give if they get pulled, and in a situation where a child gets a bracelet or necklace caught on something, this could be a lifesaver! Oval jumps are less likely to allow the beading wire to slip out during daily wear, so I recommend them over round jumps. Also consider using stretchy material, which should hold up under normal wear, but will break if it gets caught.

Another plus with stretchies, especially for older children, is that they can put it on themselves…if you’ve ever had an independent toddler, you know how important that can be to them!

Necklace length should be considered too. Necklaces should be long enough not to choke during wear, but not so long that they will get caught in play situations.