Necklaces...

My 2 year old loves to play with plastic beads. She only wears them in the daytime, never for sleeping or in the car. Sometimes I let her wear bead necklaces I have made with glass beads. I avoid anything with beads or charms that are big enough to be a choking hazard (pea size or smaller beads, nothing sharp). I'll probably wait until 5 or 6 to give her any real jewelery and even then it will just be for special occasions and I'll keep track of it. I have a few child size items left from my childhood (mom kept them safe until I was 12 or so and old enough to be responsible).

My daughter is 3.5 and wears a medical alert necklace to school/out of the house. She started that this August right after she turned 3. We take it off for naps at home and at night. She wears it during "naptime" at school. She goes to all day preschool (8-230) and has severe food allergies. We figured the necklace would be easier to get her to keep it on than a bracelet jangling around. If she didn't "need" the necklace, I am not sure I would just start letting her wear one for the look until she is around 7 or 8.

I think my daughter started wearing necklaces sometimes around 4 years old. She's 5 now and loves to wear necklaces. She's never worn any of significant value, just kid stuff and mardi gras beads.

I did order her a nice "Daddy's Girl" silver necklace recently (waiting to receive it). Not sure I'd let her wear that one to school yet or not, maybe just when I'm with her so that I can make sure she's going to take care of it.

My daughter started wearing a heart necklace that she got at about 18 months from when she was a flower girl in a family member's wedding. I put it in the ashtray (clean ashtray) in the car one day when we took it off (can't remember why) and it got caught and broke and I never got it fixed. She has since had a couple of necklaces that she wears at her choosing at 5.

My daughter wears her gold cross on Sundays to church and did fairly well with it from about age 1 to 3ish, but she only wore it that one day a week. But then one day I forgot to take it off and she was playing with it while idly watching TV and she broke it. Ugh. It's easy to replace the clasp, but still. Once I get it fixed, I'll let her wear it again, but I'll have to pay more attention! She does wear costume jewelry whenever she wants but usually doesn't wear the necklaces for more than an hour, she just gets tired of it and usually takes it off.

My 7 year old just now started wearing necklaces, only because she got some really nice, grown up ones from grandma for christmas!! I think my 5 year old was BORN wearing jewelry, she wearing fun, kid appropriate, costumey jewelry every day... she won't go to school without it, she's the biggest princess EVER. I only let her wear cheap, easily replacable things to school, not because I don't trust HER with it, but if some kid tries to choke her with her own necklace (god forbid, but this is how I think), I want it to be able to break away easily!! That, and it she loses it or another child takes it, she won't be heartbroken. Her teachers have never commented on it, in fact, last year's teacher thought it was cute that my 5 year old and another little girl used to trade jewels at recess :)

You know your child better than anyone, and whether or not they can handle necklaces. Try a test run on the weekends or when you go shopping and see how she does. I have a tomboy and a son, plus I grew up with 2 little brothers and was quite the tomboy myself, so I really love this princessy stuff!!

Just take a look at your child. You'll know when it's right. Age and maturity are two different things. My daughter has been wearing pretty children's jewelry since about age 3. If your daughter wants to wear a necklace, she will probably take good care of it. If she doesn't show an interest, why even bother?

Sorry to be stupid but LO is little One?? For nice pictures I let my 5 year old wear them. If they are candy necklaces or the $1 store kind they can wear them whenever they want...I think I was 12 before I was given any type of jewelry with significant value to wear. I think age is arbitrary as it depends on the maturity of the kid.

My 2 year old wore a bead necklace a couple times. It was like a shoelace make your own necklace kit and I made her one that said her name and had hearts and flowers on it. I wouldn't have her wear anything too expensive til she's older and at 2 I don't let her wear it without supervision.