A piece of gold jewelry for a newborn is an old and lovely custom. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends buy a small gold piece that the parents keep and the child wears as they grow. But jewelry for a baby isn't jewelry for an adult, and there are a few things you must know before buying, and above all before putting it on.
First of all: safety
We'll start with the most important thing. The FDA, the US Food and Drug Administration, has warned parents about necklaces and bracelets worn by babies, after cases of choking and of swallowed small parts. The warning was about jewelry sold to relieve teething pain, but its logic holds for any jewelry on a baby.
What that means in practice:
- No necklace on a baby. A necklace around a baby's neck is a danger, even if it's gold and looks delicate.
- No sleeping in jewelry. A bracelet comes off before sleep too, and isn't left on a small child without supervision.
- Small parts. Babies put everything in their mouths. An earring or a part that falls off can be swallowed.
So what do you buy? A piece the parents keep now and the child wears when older. Or a piece for an older child who already knows how to look after it. And if you're in any doubt, ask your pediatrician.
A gold bracelet for kids
A gold bracelet is the classic birth gift. We have 14K gold bracelets for kids, with a small plain plate or with the figure of a boy or a girl, in different links. They weigh about 1.5 to 2.2 g, so they're light to wear.
On a plain plate you can engrave the child's name or date of birth, and engraving is free. That way the bracelet becomes a keepsake that stays even after the wrist has outgrown it.
You can see the bracelets in the kids category.
Small earrings for girls
In many families girls get their ears pierced at a young age. If her ears are already pierced, small studs are the right choice. A small, flat earring doesn't catch on clothes or hair, and doesn't get in the way when she sleeps or plays.
Our girls' earrings have stones a few millimeters in size, usually cubic zirconia. Every product page says which stone is in the earring. Before you buy for a little girl, ask us what kind of back the earring has, and check at home now and then that it's closed properly.
A pendant for Mom
Often the most moving gift at a birth is actually for Mom. A pendant with the figure of a girl, a boy or several children, for her to wear around her neck. It's a gift husbands buy their wives, and grandmothers buy their daughters.
You can engrave a name or a date on the pendant, and our pendant prices include a chain. More ideas in A gift for her.
For older kids
Kids in kindergarten and school can already wear a small piece, with supervision and some responsibility. A thin bracelet, or a small pendant with a symbol like chai or an anchor, is a gift a child is proud to wear. Choose a light piece without parts that stick out, and explain that it comes off before sport and play.
Why 14K gold for kids
Every piece on our site is made of 14K gold. In kids' jewelry this matters even more: 14K gold is harder than higher-purity gold, so a small bracelet doesn't bend quickly from every game in the sandbox or climb up a slide. We wrote about the differences between gold types in 14K gold.
If someone has skin that's especially sensitive to certain metals, like nickel, tell us before you buy.
A group gift
A gold piece for a baby is a good group gift: a few friends or family members chip in, and instead of more clothes that are outgrown in two months, the baby gets one keepsake that's kept. Write everyone's names on the card, and engrave the baby's name on the piece.
Keep it for years
Kids' jewelry goes through a lot. A few simple rules:
- Take it off before bath time, sleep and sandbox play.
- Keep it in a separate box so it doesn't get scratched or lost.
- Check the clasp and links now and then. Our terms recommend this for all delicate jewelry.
The full details are on the jewelry care page.
Before you order
- Gift wrap and engraving are free.
- Delivery takes up to 14 business days, and usually much less. If there's a date for a brit / naming ceremony or a party, order early and write the date to us.
- You can pick up from the shop in Rehovot, free of charge.
Choose together
Come see the bracelets and earrings at their real size, at our shop at 64 Bilu St., Rehovot. Kids' jewelry is very small, and in your hand you see right away if it's right. You can also write to us on WhatsApp and ask about a particular model, engraving or the clasp.
A 12-year-old girl getting close to her bat mitzvah? We have a separate article on a bat mitzvah gift.
Frequently asked questions
What gold gift do you give a newborn?
The most common is a small gold bracelet for kids, sometimes with a plate you can engrave with a name or a date. The parents keep it, and the child wears it when older.
Is it OK to put a necklace on a baby?
It's not recommended. The FDA has warned about necklaces and bracelets worn by babies because of the risk of choking and swallowing. Never leave jewelry on a baby during sleep or without supervision.
Can a name be engraved on a baby bracelet?
Yes, on a bracelet with a plain plate. Engraving is free.
Which earrings suit a little girl?
Small, flat studs that don't catch on clothes or hair. Check now and then that the back is closed properly.
What do you buy a mother after a birth?
A pendant with the figure of a boy or a girl is a moving gift. You can engrave a name or a date on it, and the price includes a chain.
From what age can a child wear a gold bracelet?
There's no single age. What matters is that the child no longer puts things in their mouth, and wears the bracelet with supervision and not during sleep. Until then, the parents keep the bracelet as a keepsake.
Which gold suits kids' jewelry?
14K gold, because it's hard and keeps its shape even in a small piece. Every piece on our site is made of 14K gold, yellow or white.
