In many cultures around the world, gifts of jewelry have been given to babies for centuries. It is done to welcome them into the world, and also as a sign of affection to the latest addition to the family from other family members.
Giving gifts of jewelry to babies was also done to protect them from bad spirits and bad luck. For example, Italians in the early 1300s put gold or silver bracelets on their babies to ward off “the evil eye”. Similarly, most Latin American cultures believe that by tying a red string or bracelet around your newborn's wrist or ankle, you keep away bad vibes.
Today, name bracelets for babies are particularly popular as baby gift ideas. However, if you have been thinking about getting one of these as a gift, either for your own baby or someone else’s, there are a number of things you need to think about.🔍 This article will tell you everything you need to know about baby bracelets. It will also offer a few helpful tips to help you choose the best baby bracelets with names for that special little one.👶🏻
Name bracelets for babies: why is it a great idea?
Name bracelets make amazing gifts for babies.🎁 A lot of love, affection, and thoughtfulness goes into choosing custom baby bracelets with a baby’s name, resulting in a highly sentimental gift. Although the little one might outgrow the bracelet with time, they can keep it with them forever and think about you every time they see it.
Bracelets also make more convenient baby gift ideas when compared to other name jewelry options like custom name necklaces or name earrings for the baby. Besides being easy to put on, you won't have to pierce your child's ears to get them on. It is no secret that piercings can get quite uncomfortable, especially for babies.
While name necklaces, in theory, might sound like a better idea, they actually aren’t. ⚠️Necklaces are notorious for easily getting tangled up in the baby's shawl and clothes, which might lead to strangulation. Your baby might also be tempted to put the pendant in their mouth, which can be a choking hazard, especially if they are left unsupervised.
Baby bracelets are also great for telling a baby’s gender. For instance, baby boy name bracelets may come with baby blue color accents while baby girl name bracelets might have some baby pink in there.
In some cultures, baby bracelets are important gifts from elders to newborns. Whether or not this is normal in your culture, it’s always special to present a name bracelet to your new relative, godchild, or friend’s child.
What to consider when choosing a name bracelet for a baby
👉🏻Picking a baby bracelet is not as simple as choosing one for a grown-up. Here are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind as you make this choice:
Skin Sensitivity
Babies have very sensitive skin. You, therefore, want to go for a hypoallergenic material like solid gold, sterling silver, or quality plated metal. This reduces the risk of the baby getting an allergic reaction to your thoughtful gift.
Also, make sure that the name bracelet contains no lead because lead can cause lead poisoning.
Size
Babies’ wrists are tiny. Get a name bracelet that is properly sized to fit their tiny hands. Keep in mind that if it is too tight, it will make them uncomfortable, and if it is too loose, it will slip off and might get lost. Even worse, the baby might put a loose name bracelet in their mouth, creating a choking hazard.
Bracelet Design
Ensure that you choose a design that is appropriate for babies. Dangling charms and strings can easily get tangled in the crib or the baby’s clothes. This poses a safety risk. On the plus side, since the baby does not have any special preferences yet, you have all the power when choosing the design.
Small Parts
Aside from being a choking hazard, some small parts can also pose extra dangers. Some bracelets use magnets for their latching system. Avoid these at all costs. If the baby accidentally swallows such a bracelet, the magnets can attract each other and cause tissue damage in the digestive tract.
🏆Top picks: 3 best baby name bracelet styles
Keeping all these considerations in mind, we’ve put together some of the most stylish baby name bracelet designs you can get today:
Name Bar Baby Bracelets
These bracelets are simple and pose no risk to the baby. The baby's name is engraved on a bar made of a hypoallergenic metal of your choice, which is then attached to a chain-link bracelet, usually of the same metal, to form a complete loop.
Sometimes, the metal bar is attached to a string. In this case, you get more options when it comes to choosing the color of the string. Alternatively, you can choose a wax cord string. Wax cord strings can be twisted or woven into intricate patterns, depending on your preference.
Name bar baby bracelets make perfect gifts for baby showers, birthdays, and christenings.
Custom Name Beaded Bracelets for Babies
Name bracelets can also be beaded. These are made by connecting beads that have the letters of the baby’s name through a beaded string. The beads can be made of glass or plastic depending on what your preferences are.
Depending on the design, the letters of the name can be arranged consecutively or have some plain beads between the letters. Regardless of what you choose, make sure that the string is elastic enough so that the baby’s hand can pass through without it cutting and the beads falling off.
Personalized Baby Name Cuffs
Custom baby name cuffs are great gifts for both baby boys and girls. The baby's name is engraved into a small metal cuff that goes around the baby's wrist. The cuff is not a continuous loop so you can choose to add more characters at the ends if you want.
As you choose this design, ensure that the metal used is not lead. If this is not clarified, contact the vendor and ask them to clear things up.
Useful tips and advice
- If you choose name bar bracelets, check to make sure that the corners of the bars are well-rounded and polished
- If you choose beaded bracelets, go for sphere beads over cubic beads. Also, mix things up by making the beads super colorful. Babies love colors!🌈
- If a baby bracelet turns out to be too big for the baby’s hands, you don’t have to get it re-sized. It can be worn as an anklet until your little one’s wrists are large enough to wear it as intended.
- Be extra alert when your baby has jewelry on, especially if they have small components. These can be choking hazards, so try to make sure that they don’t put anything in their mouth.
- When ordering a bracelet, ask if the maker can safely incorporate the baby’s birthstone into its design. This will make the bracelet prettier and give it more meaning.
- While classic script style name bracelets are elegant and beautiful, don’t go for them because they can easily hurt babies.💡
Conclusion
Custom name bracelets make beautiful gifts for grown-ups and babies alike. There are options for every price point, from cheap beaded bracelets to 14K gold baby name bracelets and everything in between.
You can get one made for your little one or as a gift by simply making an order from online marketplaces like Etsy or online stores like Soufeel. Whatever you opt to go for, this quick guide to name bracelets for babies should give you a great starting point in your search.😊
