Is it safe for a toddler to wear a necklace? There’s something about a toddler wearing jewelry. It’s not only about complimenting the outfit, but it also brings out a child’s personality.
A girl wearing a pearl necklace and earrings gets you thinking they are mature for their age. A boy wearing a thick golden chain has you thinking that he’s a ladies’ man despite being young.
No matter how they look, many parents or guardians are typically concerned about a toddler’s safety around jewelry, particularly necklaces. Are they safe or not? Let’s explore.
Is it safe for a toddler to wear a necklace?
Toddlers tend to have a mind of their own, especially those keen on exploring the environment around them. As a parent or someone caring for a toddler, you have to keep a close eye on them.
If you look away, something fatal might happen. While that sounds ominous, it’s the same when it comes to necklaces. Sure, your toddler might look gorgeous or dapper in their chain, but it too can be a hazard.
That’s why you must keep an eye on your toddler when they have a necklace on. Look at their environment and determine what factors put them at risk, no matter how small. Are they in a playpen?
Is there anything around that would hook onto the chain and cause strangulation? Is the toddler always tagging at the necklace until there’s a red line around their neck?
Necklaces are mostly harmless on a toddler, but you have to watch their behavior to determine if they are safe.
The concern mainly comes in when the toddler is sleeping. Unlike grownups, toddlers aren’t entirely conscious of how they sleep, and it might not register in their minds that they are choking while in their sleep.
Therefore, you must take off the necklace before the child goes to sleep to avoid strangulation. It’s not only necklaces that pose a challenge; pacifier clips, strings, and ribbons can be dangerous for a sleeping toddler.
The other safety worry present is lead poisoning. The effects include, at best, irritability and fatigue. From there, things go downhill. Lead poisoning can cause developmental delay, seizures, learning disabilities, weight loss, and other issues.
For a toddler to experience all this is painful for any parent to watch.That’s why you should purchase children’s jewelry from a trusted store.
Please don’t take chances by purchasing them from an unauthorized dealer as they are under no obligation to be honest about the metals a necklace contains.
When purchasing a necklace for your toddler, ensure the material is compatible with sensitive skin. Children’s skin is delicate, so opting for hypoallergenic or biocompatible materials is best.
Look for these descriptions, along with the guarantee that no lead, or nickel, is present. Nickel is also another culprit that threatens the safety of your child. Reactions to nickel include contact dermatitis, which includes rashes, redness, dry patches, and at its worst, blisters.
At what age is it safe for a child to wear a necklace?
Children of all ages can wear necklaces, all under the watchful eyes of their adults. What you do need to keep in mind, though, is the length.
You don’t want the necklace to be too tight that it makes the child uncomfortable, but you don’t want it to be too long in case it gets stuck to something and causes the child to choke.
Sizing is what matters. Let’s look at the length suitable for two age groups.
Babies and toddlers (1-3yrs): the recommended length for children in this age bracket is between 10 inches and 14 inches. What you settle for depends on how big or small their body is. If you want something more custom, use a tape measure to mark out where you’d like the necklace to fall. If not, use yarn in the same way, make a mark and measure it out with a ruler.
Children under 12yrs: Your toddler will eventually outgrow the necklace, which is to be mindful of. What once fit when they were three likely won’t fit the same when they are six. As the child grows, keep an eye on how the necklace fits.
Safety tips for toddler wearing a necklace
Let’s now look at some things to keep in mind when your toddler is wearing a necklace:
I. Ensure that the necklace is a comfortable fit for the child. Watch how they react to the necklace. If they are continually tagging at it and being fussy, they aren’t fans of the necklace and want it taken off.
II. Keep an eye on the child while playing, for example, at an event, where they prefer to explore the environment.
III. When the toddler is playing in a kids’ area or any other place, it’s advisable to take off the necklace, especially if you can’t keep an eye on them the entire time. You don’t want it getting stuck on something and become a choking hazard.
IV. Take off the necklace anytime the child goes to sleep, whether day or night.
Conclusion
Getting toddlers into fashion at an early age is a fun idea, but also one that requires you to keep a watchful eye on them.
There are plenty of dangers lurking around for a child, only that you wouldn’t want to have brought harm to a child in the name of looking good.
For more useful tips, please visit here or here. See you guys in the next post!
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.