Baby Jewellery and First Earrings

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear any jewellery, because of the risks of choking and strangulation. Necklaces and bracelets are the clearest concern, above all during sleep or whenever a baby is unsupervised, and jewellery should never be used to relieve teething pain.

Ear piercing

Practices around ear piercing differ between families and cultures (see the answer on when a baby's ears can be pierced). As a general guideline, the AAP advises postponing it until a child is mature enough to care for the piercing. Discuss timing, individual risks, suitable materials and aftercare with a qualified health professional. A metal's suitability does not by itself make an earring suitable for an infant. In the EU, posts inserted into pierced ears must meet a nickel-release limit.

Jewellery to keep

Many traditions mark a birth with a precious jewel that is kept for later rather than worn by the baby. Store it out of the baby's reach; the answer on luxury baby gifts covers hallmarks and provenance.

At SUOMMO

In SUOMMO High Jewellery, the memory of infancy finds different forms. Dodo Dummy is a gift for the baby that the mother can wear close to her heart as a pendant; Doll Bottle is a jewel to keep within the family's story. Both are made to be treasured rather than used every day.

Baby Earrings express high jewellery at the scale of a first keepsake: gold and diamonds in delicate proportions, made as a baby girl's first earrings. A personalised matching pair for the mother gives the same design a meaning shared between them. They close with a French screw-back and a double lock. The back is threaded and opens only when it is pressed on both sides at once.

Our Concierge can explain sizes, personalisation and care.

Gold is one of the metals discussed for a first piercing, but whether a baby should wear earrings at all is a separate question. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear jewellery, and its general guidance is to wait until a child is mature enough to care for a piercing (see the answer on babies and jewellery).

If a baby's ears are pierced

• Timing. For families who choose to pierce earlier for cultural reasons, paediatrician Alyssa Swick, quoted by Riley Children's Health, suggests waiting until at least two months. This is one specialist's view, not a general recommendation.
• Metal. Ask about the complete alloy, including the post and back, and discuss suitable materials with the professional performing the piercing. Gold's fineness alone does not establish that the complete earring will suit your child. In the EU, posts for pierced ears must meet a nickel-release limit.
• Fastening. The Riley Children's Health article suggests discussing a screw-locking back to reduce the risk of a loose fastening.
• Aftercare. Have the piercing done by a qualified professional and follow their aftercare plan. If you suspect an infection, seek urgent medical advice. Let a doctor decide whether the earring should be removed.

Gold earrings to keep

A pair of gold earrings can also be given at birth and kept until the child is older; store them out of the baby's reach.

At SUOMMO

SUOMMO's Baby Earrings express high jewellery at the scale of a first keepsake: gold and diamonds in delicate proportions, made as a baby girl's first earrings. A personalised matching pair for the mother gives the same design a meaning shared between them. They close with a French screw-back and a double lock. The back is threaded and opens only when it is pressed on both sides at once.

Our Concierge can explain sizes, personalisation and care.

Begin by establishing who the jewel is for and how it is intended to be used: worn by the mother or child, or kept as a memento. Then ask about metal, stones, craftsmanship, provenance and care; the guidance on jewellery and infants is set out in the answer on babies and jewellery.

What to ask

• Metal. Is it hallmarked? In the UK, a hallmark identifies the sponsor, the fineness and the assay office, subject to statutory exemptions (see the answer on luxury baby gifts).
• Stones. Who graded them, and through which channels were they sourced? The Kimberley Process covers rough diamonds; the World Diamond Council's System of Warranties carries assurances further along the chain.
• Intended use. Is the creation meant to be worn, by whom and from what age, or kept? Ask for care and safety instructions.
• Craft and personalisation. Where is it made, how is it set, and can a name, date or motif be added?

At SUOMMO

A beginning can be remembered through the hand of a goldsmith. In SUOMMO High Jewellery, the familiar forms of infancy become creations whose meaning can remain within a family.

Dodo Dummy, made and set in Switzerland in eighteen-carat gold refined by Argor-Heraeus and eighty diamonds of D colour and Flawless clarity graded by the Gemological Institute of America, is a gift for the baby that the mother can wear close to her heart as a pendant. Doll Bottle, created by Swiss goldsmiths, is a keepsake jewel. Both are made to be treasured rather than used every day. Our Concierge can explain the personalisation and presentation of each creation, including Baby Earrings.

The AAP does not recommend jewellery for infants. If you are considering earrings for a child whose ears are pierced, discuss the material, fit, shape and fastening with the professional responsible for the piercing. The answer on babies and jewellery and the answer on gold earrings explain the guidance on timing.

What to discuss

• Shape and fit: a simple stud without dangling parts, fitted without squeezing the lobe and checked as the professional advises. Spanish consumer guidance favours flat or ball-shaped studs rather than hoops or drops.
• Metal: the complete alloy, including post and back; gold's fineness alone does not settle suitability.
• Fastening: a secure back; the Riley Children's Health article suggests a screw-locking back.
• Care: follow the professional's aftercare plan. If you suspect an infection, seek urgent medical advice. Let a doctor decide whether the earring should be removed.

The sources cited here do not establish one earring as the safest for every baby. Material, fit, fastening, timing and aftercare all need consideration with a qualified professional. A screw-locking back is a feature discussed in paediatric advice; it does not make an earring risk-free. As a general guideline, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear jewellery.

Points to discuss

• Fastening: how the back is secured and how to check it.
• Shape and fit: a simple stud without dangling parts, fitted without squeezing the lobe.
• Material: the complete alloy, including the post and back; in the EU, posts for pierced ears must meet a nickel-release limit.
• Care: If you suspect an infection, seek urgent medical advice. Let a doctor decide whether the earring should be removed.

Timing and aftercare are covered in the answer on gold earrings.

Families choose different ages, and customs vary between countries and communities. The AAP's general guidance is to wait until a child is mature enough to care for the piercing. Discuss timing and individual circumstances with a qualified health professional.

In Spain, piercing a baby girl's ears in the first weeks or months is a long-standing tradition, and earrings are often a christening or grandparents' gift, according to The Local Spain, which also describes the practice as traditional in Latin America and in parts of India, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

What health professionals say

• For families who pierce earlier for cultural reasons, paediatrician Alyssa Swick, quoted by Riley Children's Health, suggests at least two months.
• In Spain, Victoria de la Rúa, a paediatrician interviewed by Consumer, describes it as a family decision and stresses that the piercing must be done correctly and watched as it heals; midwife Maite Navarro suggests a few weeks after birth, within the first six months, once the paediatrician has confirmed the baby is healthy. The same Consumer article also quotes family doctor Juan Bravo, who favours waiting until the child is older and can choose.

Whenever you choose

Have it done by a health professional or an experienced technician, with sterile equipment rather than a home kit, and follow the aftercare. Small gold studs with a secure back are covered in the answer on the best earrings for babies.

A secure fastening is intended to keep the earring in place. If a small back comes loose, it may be swallowed or inhaled. The mechanism and fit still need checking; the term ‘safety back’ does not mean risk-free.

Types of back

• Push or butterfly backs are held by friction.
• Screw backs are threaded onto the post and need to be turned to come off; the Riley Children's Health article suggests discussing one to reduce the risk of a loose fastening.
• Other designs vary by maker: ask how each one locks and opens rather than relying on its name.

Checking the fastening

Check the back as the professional advises, during healing and afterwards, and keep spare backs out of the baby's reach. If you suspect an infection, seek urgent medical advice. Let a doctor decide whether the earring should be removed. More on choosing earrings is in the answer on the best earrings for babies.

No earring makes jewellery risk-free for a baby: the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear jewellery. What reduces the risk is a combination of design, material and use.

• Design: a simple stud without dangling parts, fitted without squeezing the lobe.
• Fastening: ask how the mechanism works, how it should fit and how to check that it is properly secured. See the answer on safety backs.
• Material: the complete alloy, including post and back, discussed with the professional; in the EU, posts for pierced ears must meet a nickel-release limit.
• Use: a professional piercing, the recommended aftercare, regular checks of the fastening and supervision. If you suspect an infection, seek urgent medical advice and let a doctor decide whether the earring should be removed.

Timing is covered in the answer on when ears can be pierced.

Baby earrings can be a choking hazard. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that jewellery on infants carries risks of choking and strangulation, and an earring or its back that comes loose is small enough for a baby to swallow or inhale. Spanish consumer guidance also notes the risk of suffocation if an earring falls out and is swallowed.

Reducing the risk

• A small stud; ask how the fastening works, how it should fit and how to check that it is properly secured.
• Regular checks that the back is fully fastened.
• Supervision, and asking the professional what to do if an earring is loose; if you suspect an infection, seek urgent medical advice.
• Spare backs and earrings stored out of the baby's reach.

If your baby cannot breathe or cough effectively, start infant choking first aid immediately and get emergency help. If you suspect an earring or back has been swallowed or inhaled, seek medical advice promptly, even if breathing seems normal. More detail is in the answer on safety backs and the answer on what makes baby earrings safe.

Diamond quality does not establish whether an earring is suitable for an infant. The AAP does not recommend jewellery for infants. If choosing a first pair, discuss fit, the complete alloy, the setting and the fastening with the professional responsible for the piercing, and ask what grading and sourcing information is available for the diamonds.

• Setting: ask how the stone is secured, how the setting is finished and how it should be checked and maintained. A grading report describes the diamond; it does not assess the safety of the complete earring for a baby.
• Stones: ask for the grading and for how they were sourced; the Kimberley Process covers rough diamonds and the World Diamond Council's System of Warranties carries assurances further along the chain.
• Fastening and use: see the answer on safety backs and the answer on babies and jewellery.

Look for a house that explains the materials, craftsmanship and intended use of each creation. Ask about the precious metal, any applicable hallmark, the stones and their provenance, the setting and the scale of production. Establish whether the jewel is for the child, for the mother or to be kept as a memento.

The questions to ask are set out in the answer on baby jewellery brands; safety is covered in the answer on babies and jewellery.

Ask the jeweller to identify which creations are intended as first earrings and explain their materials, setting, fit and fastening. Do not infer infant suitability from size alone. The guidance on timing and individual circumstances is set out in the answer on when ears can be pierced; see also the answer on earrings for babies.

Jewellery worn by a baby carries real risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear any jewellery, because of choking and strangulation, and the US Food and Drug Administration warns against teething necklaces and bracelets. Necklaces and bracelets are the clearest concern, above all during sleep.

Jewellery as a keepsake or for the mother

• Choose creations meant to be kept, or worn by the mother, and store them out of the baby's reach.
• If a baby girl's ears are pierced, follow the guidance in the answer on piercing and the answer on safe earrings.
• Never use jewellery to relieve teething pain.

More detail is in the answer on babies and jewellery.

For a new piercing, follow the cleaning method and schedule agreed with the professional and your baby's healthcare team; for a baby, that plan comes first. Do not remove the earrings to sterilise them while the piercing is healing; a hygiene routine is not sterilisation. If infection is suspected (for example swelling, pain, heat, redness, pus, or the child seems unwell), seek urgent medical advice and leave removal to the doctor's instructions. Once the piercing has healed and a change is agreed, caring for the jewel is a separate matter: heat, chemicals, steam or ultrasonic cleaning can affect some gems and treatments, so ask the jeweller according to the material and setting. See the answer on safe earrings and the answer on earrings for babies.

Bracelets carry real risks for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that infants wear jewellery, because of choking and strangulation, and the US Food and Drug Administration warns against teething necklaces and bracelets. A bracelet given at birth or a christening can be kept as a keepsake, outside the baby's reach. Any later decision to wear it needs a fresh assessment of its fit, design and the child's stage. See the answer on babies and jewellery and the answer on whether jewellery is safe.

A gold necklace or bangle is not recommended for a baby to wear. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend jewellery for infants because of choking and strangulation, including during sleep, and the US Food and Drug Administration also warns against teething necklaces and bracelets. A gold necklace or bangle given at birth or a christening can be kept as a keepsake, outside the baby's reach; any later decision to wear it needs a fresh assessment. See the answer on baby bracelets and the answer on babies and jewellery.

There is no single best caratage for a baby's jewellery. Caratage describes the gold content: pure gold is soft, while alloying changes its properties and colour. Ask about the full alloy and the finished design rather than inferring suitability for a baby from the caratage alone. For earrings, what matters most is the complete alloy, including post and back, and a secure fit that does not squeeze the lobe, discussed with the professional responsible for the piercing. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend jewellery for infants. Ask for the hallmark where it applies in your market. See the answer on gold earrings and the answer on safe earrings.

At SUOMMO

Gold takes different forms within the house, according to the work it is called to become: the intimate scale of a jewel, the surface of a sculptural creation or the substance of a unique work.

Eighteen-carat gold is the published standard for Dodo Dummy and for the hand-applied finishes of our three Gold Edition cribs. Dodo Bassinet Solid Gold is made in 999.9 fine gold. Bespoke commissions open the choice of caratage, materials and finish in conversation with each family and our Concierge.

Gold given at a birth can carry cultural and family meaning; wishes for protection do not establish a health benefit for the baby. In many cultures it is kept as a family keepsake. Gold jewellery may be made from pure gold or from an alloy, so ask about its full composition rather than relying on caratage alone. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend jewellery for infants, so gold given to a baby is best kept, out of reach, for later. See the answer on the full-month gift and the answer on babies and jewellery.

A good gold gift for a baby is one the baby can keep rather than wear now: a coin, a medal or a small engraved object, or jewellery set aside for later, since the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend jewellery for infants. Look for a recognised hallmark or assay mark where one applies, ask about the caratage and full composition, and keep small items out of the baby's reach. See the answer on gold and babies and babies and jewellery.

A GIA report is an independent assessment of a gemstone by the Gemological Institute of America, a non-profit institute. It records the characteristics assessed for the particular type of gemstone and report, under a unique report number that can be checked online. Diamond reports can include colour, clarity, carat weight and cutting information; an overall cut grade is not supplied for every shape. The report is not an appraisal of the stone or finished jewel. See the answer on genuine certificates.

At SUOMMO

Dodo Dummy holds the memory of a beginning in the intimate language of high jewellery. Gold and diamonds give lasting presence to a familiar silhouette, conceived as a gift for the baby that the mother can wear close to her heart as a pendant.

SUOMMO presents it as the world's most expensive dummy, published at €300,000 (checked on 11 November 2026). It is made in eighteen-carat gold, refined by Argor-Heraeus, with eighty diamonds of D colour and Flawless clarity, graded by the Gemological Institute of America and set by hand in Switzerland. It is made to be treasured rather than used every day.

A baby ring is a small commemorative ring given to mark a birth or another family occasion, often engraved with the date or name. It can be kept as a keepsake, out of the baby's reach; giving a ring does not mean it should be worn by an infant. See the answer on the first-birthday gold ring and babies and jewellery.

The best gold gift for a newborn is one the baby can keep rather than wear now, with a recognised hallmark where applicable and clear composition. See the answer on a good gold gift for a baby.

Ask independent goldsmiths or fine jewellery houses whether they can make a commemorative ring. Look for a recognised hallmark, clear information on caratage and composition, engraving options and a box or certificate for keeping it. See the answer on what a baby ring is.