Safety Follow-Up about Nursing Necklaces
After reading How to Make Your Own Nursing Necklace, The Mommy Blawger posted a comment asking:
Do you have any more information about what kind of thread and clasps should be purchased for nursing necklaces? I understand that they should be strong enough not to break when the little ones are tugging on them, but I am not at all familiar with jewelry making. Also, any guidance about any types of beads to avoid since they may be chewed on. Thank you!
Good questions! I’m a novice too but I gathered some safety information about nursing necklaces. The first and foremost safety warning is that the beads are a choking hazard and children under age three should not be allowed to play with them unsupervised. A nursing necklace is intended for a baby to play with it when it’s around your neck and the baby is nursing, and not for putting in the baby’s mouth. While it shouldn’t be used as a separate toy, it’s best to design the necklace as safely as possible. Some things to keep in mind:
Beads. The two safest choices seem to be non-toxic plastic beads or polished gemstones. Plastic has the advantages of being inexpensive, colorful and varied in texture. Personally I avoid plastic in any baby-related items and would prefer the more expensive (and prettier!) polished gemstones. If you buy gemstone beads, read their labels and make sure that any treatment of the beads is safe (some are dyed). Avoid painted beads and beads made of wood, porcelain and glass due to the risk of splintering or chipping.
Cording. Nursing necklaces available on the web generally use nylon beading strand, stainless steel cording, professional grade beading wire or some combination of those and a crimping bead in between. You can read more about the properties of various cording materials here. There is a concern that nylon-coated stainless steel cording is susceptible to wear and that after the nylon coating rubs off the steel is sharp, fine and vulnerable to breaking. Tickled Pink Designs suggests that Spectra Fiber Cord–white polyethylene–is the safest. Avoid string, yarn, hemp and leather which are problematic if they get wet. Also avoid any metal that would rust if it got wet.
Length. Nursing necklaces can be anywhere from 26-34 inches long, but the standard length seems to be 30-32 inches.
Safety clasp. Consider using a safety clasp that pulls apart if the child tugs too hard on the necklace or gets entangled in it. A safety clasp ensures that the necklace comes apart at the clasp and does not break at another point and scatter the beads. Most safety clasps are made of plastic. You can see samples and find more safety tips at Mommy Necklaces or Booby Beads. There are magnetic safety clasps available but their safety has been questioned–it’s possible for the small magnet to fall out of the clasp and be swallowed by the child.
About.com offers a comprehensive page on beading basics and free beading designs. Keep in mind that you can browse pictures of necklaces for sale on-line for inspiration but their designs are copyrighted and should not be reproduced in their entirety. There are many sites offering free beading tips and designs.
One fun way for a novice to get started is to have a beading party hosted by a more experienced beader or a professional (much like the old Tupperware parties)! The bead store in my hometown offers private group sessions for a girls’ night out.
Experienced beaders, please share your safety and design tips with us in the comments!
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6 opinions for Safety Follow-Up about Nursing Necklaces
Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » How to Make Your Own Nursing Necklace
Nov 12, 2006 at 11:18 pm
[…] Nursing necklaces retail on the web anywhere from $13.50 to $125 plus shipping, but it would be a fun project for a mother or even a mother and her older children to make bead necklaces at home. There are several bead stores on-line. Your local bead store will carry beads for every budget including high-end beads, while craft stores such as Jo-Ann Fabrics and Michaels will offer less expensive choices. For beading techniques, design ideas and projects, visit one of the many jewelry craft sites available. I’ve added some safety tips for nursing necklaces as well. […]
Tammy
Nov 17, 2006 at 9:51 am
Personally, I wouldn’t concern myself so much with worry that leather or hemp might get wet. In fact, I would opt for those over monofiliment line, which can distort and grow brittle over time.
angela
Nov 17, 2006 at 9:59 am
I think the concern is that babies will put the leather or hemp in their mouths (even though they shouldn’t be using it as a teether), and it will start to get pretty yucky over time! I like the natural look of those materials though.
Jewelry & Beading » Nursing Necklace
Dec 1, 2006 at 1:01 pm
[…] No, this is not a necklace for nurses. It’s a necklace for those who nurse. b5media’s breastfeeding blogger, Angela White, author of Breastfeeding 1-2-3, has written a few posts about these popular mommy-type necklaces (one on how to make a nursing necklace and another on safety issues), and she asked me to see what I could come up with. So here goes. Oh, and to cover myself, I’m not a nurse, nor nursing, nor a mommy to humans, so don’t let your little ones stick any of this in their mouths. […]
Marie Lay
Nov 13, 2007 at 10:12 am
I found a good page about nursing necklace at this page http://www.nursingnotions.com/nursing-necklace.htm
I like the information that it contained. When I was searching for one it was so confusing. I wasn’t sure what to get and what not to get. Thanks for giving the confused this blog to search through.
Stacy
Feb 24, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Where can you buy spectra fiber cord? The link didn’t work and I have tried searching for it on different search engines and haven’t been able to find it anywhere.
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