Baby Jewelry and Beyond - Gifts for Girls at Every Age and Stage

Add-A-Pearl jewelry makes the perfect gift for any age, from baby girl to grown woman. However, that doesn't mean that our pearl necklaces should be worn in the same way by a toddler versus a teenager or a mature adult woman.

In this blog post, we'll be talking about general safety and security practices related to wearing jewelry - and how you can share the perfect gift for a girl at every age and stage of her life. Be an informed gifter and keep reading this post for the details.

General Safety and Security

For safety reasons especially, fine jewelry like bracelets and necklaces should not be worn by a child until she's old enough to enjoy it carefully. Every child is different, so a parent or caretaker should judge the individual's level of responsibility. The age of 12 is typically a time when children can be trusted to wear jewelry on their own without careful supervision, but that's not a "hard and fast" rule.

Giving a baby or toddler a baby necklace can present a potential choking or strangulation hazard to the child. It's also putting the jewelry at risk of being broken or damaged. If you're set on everyday baby jewelry for your little one, then you may want to consider child-safe teething jewelry as an option that also serves a practical purpose.

Definitely don't purchase jewelry made from harmful substances like nickel, lead, and cadmium, which are absorbed more readily by babies than by adults. Cheaply-made jewelry should be avoided at all costs. Jewelry with sharp or pointy edges should obviously be kept out of reach.

Stud earrings, however, are safe for babies more than two to three months old, according to most pediatricians. The only appropriate baby earrings are 24-karat medical-grade, gold-plated studs to prevent allergic reactions and infections. If you have questions about piercing your child's ears, you should definitely speak to your pediatrician. You'll need to follow strict piercing after-care procedures that include cleaning the piercing and turning the studs.

For Baby and Toddler

The tradition of babies wearing jewelry dates back to ancient times, since some jewelry pieces were believed to ward off evil spirits. For example, in Cambodian culture, there's a tradition of tying silver strings with bells on children's ankles.

Add-A-Pearl necklaces are high value and dainty, and they can be easily broken if they get caught in chubby baby fingers. A baby necklace can be a lovely accessory for a supervised photo op, but parents or guardians should remove them promptly to protect the baby as well as the jewelry. Whenever we post a photo of a baby or toddler wearing an Add-A-Pearl necklace, the child is being fully supervised with her safety as a top priority.

Toddlers are more aware of objects than babies, but they wouldn't be able to distinguish a fine pearl necklace from a toy. Again, toddler jewelry can be great accessories for photo shoots, but they shouldn't be worn for extended periods of time without any supervision.

For a Young Girl

Some young girls may see their moms or other women in their lives wearing jewelry and also want to wear something pretty like sparkling earrings or a fine pearl necklace. For many children, wearing jewelry is a sign of sophistication and feeling "grown up". But the parent may see that the child hasn't demonstrated enough personal responsibility to be trusted with childrens jewelry.

To compromise with a young girl who has shown interest in jewelry and some level of responsibility and maturity, you can let her know that you'll be in sole possession of the jewelry but that she'll get to wear it on special occasions like her birthday and other holidays. A fine pearl necklace would not be appropriate for a session of "dress up", which may involve too much rough-housing. For children who are old enough to understand it, you'll want to share the meaning behind the jewelry and why it's so special.

It's not always easy to shop for young girls. Since their personalities are still forming, their tastes and preferences are changing every day. If you're trying to decide whether or not a pearl necklace would be a good gift for your little girl, then you'll want to read our blog post "What Gifts Do Most Girls Like?". But in general, Add-A-Pearl is a great gift idea because girls can grow into loving and appreciating their pearl necklace, fondly remembering the traditions and memories associated with it.

At this stage of life, some young girls may be asked to be flower girls in their family members' weddings. An Add-A-Pearl pearl necklace is a great gift to give a flower girl, especially since she can wear the necklace during the ceremony. To learn more about giving Add-A-Pearl and other gifts to the darling flower girl in your life, check out our blog post "Gifts for Girls: Celebrating Your Flower Girl".

For a Teenager

Between the ages of 13 and 19, a teenager is typically more responsible than a girl and has possibly worn jewelry before. She may have never owned fine jewelry or real gold and gemstone jewelry, but you can explain its value and help her understand why it's so special. She'll be less forgetful and clumsy than a younger girl.

At the same time, she'll still need some guidance around proper care and cleaning of pearls, so you'll want to share our "Complete Guide on How to Clean and Care for Pearls" with her. Teenagers are curious about the world and hungry for new information, so going through this guide could be a fun activity that you enjoy together, making a new memory.

To summarize, pearls should be put on after everything else, including perfume, makeup, lotions, and hair products. In addition, pearls should be wiped with a soft chamois cloth to remove oils and perspirations. Pearls should never be worn in water or wet environments, and pearl jewelry should never be submerged in water. Furthermore, pearls should not be worn to bed, even if your teenager never wants to part with her pearls!

For the Bride

A bride is an adult who most likely has worn jewelry in the past and understands how to care for it. Even though she won't need guidance about how to wear pearls, she may want to know how to clean and care for her Add-A-Pearl pearl necklace, since pearl care is not intuitive or commonly known. For tips and guidance, you could share with her our "Complete Guide on How to Clean and Care for Pearls" the same way you would with a teenager.

She may also be interested in understanding how to style her pearls in a modern way. You could share our blog post "How to Style Pearl Jewelry with Other Jewelry Pieces", which shares some easy-to-follow tips for incorporating your pearls into your existing jewelry and accessories wardrobe.

For more ideas about gifting your favorite bride, you'll want to check out our blog post called "Trending Wedding Gift Ideas". If you're stuck on wedding gift inspiration, we love the idea of giving "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue".

For the Caretaker of Pearls

If you're caring for pearls on behalf of a small child, then you'll also want to know tips for care and storage. As mentioned above, if you do allow a child to wear pearls for a short period of time, then you'll want to keep them in good shape by wiping them with a soft chamois cloth and keeping the jewelry out of water. Pearls do best when they're worn often, so you may want to wear them occasionally on her behalf to keep them looking their best.

When it comes to storing pearls in between the occasions when they're worn, you should follow these tips, which will preserve the longevity and beauty of the necklace:

1. Don't store them in plastic bags or jewelry boxes. Plastic can damage or erode the surface of pearls, while the other metals and gems in a jewelry box can scratch pearls.
2. Pearl necklaces should never be hung. Instead, lay them flat in a place where they won't get tangled with other necklaces and jewelry.
3. Store your pearls away from excessive heat or cold. In addition, make sure the pearls are never in direct sunlight. Extreme temperatures and UV rays can lead to discoloration and cracking.
4. Don't keep your pearls in a safety deposit box, which will prevent them from getting moisture from the air, which they need to stay beautiful for many years to come.

Do you have any other questions about gifting Add-A-Pearl pearl jewelry to someone special, whether she's a baby, toddler, young girl, teenager, or grown woman? We'd love to help. Many of our customers purchase baby necklaces and successfully keep them safe and in great condition for years to come. It just takes a little thoughtfulness and common sense. Please visit our Contact page to reach out with specific questions.