Our Favorite Breastmilk Jewelry Gifts for Moms
As any experienced mama can tell you, nursing a baby is not as simple as it sounds. No matter how easy or challenging it is, it's certainly a rite of passage and a special and unique time in a woman's life. Breastmilk jewelry is a unique way to honor this time.
Breastfeeding is recommended as the sole source of nutrition for the first six months of a baby's life by both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). But there are many challenges that come with it, especially at the start. Moms deal with sore and painful nipples and some make not enough milk while others have an oversupply that soaks shirts. Nursing in public takes some time to figure out, and nursing through the night can be exhausting.
More: The Best Baby Shower Gifts for Moms-to-Be
Any way you spin it, feeding her baby becomes the center of a new mom's life throughout the early months. She plans her schedule and her wardrobe around nursing sessions. Newborns nurse 8-12 times per 24-hour period and some babies rely on a feed to fall asleep for their naps. In other words, new moms nurse pretty much all the time.
Missing a feed affects supply and can cause painful swelling, so the new mother strives to always nurse on time. Whether she stays home and holds her infant through the day or she pumps during the workday, breastfeeding is always on her mind.
Some women love it while others are more than ready to wean, but regardless, the nursing relationship is both special and ephemeral. At what other time can you sustain another human's life entirely with a substance produced by your own body?
Breast milk jewelry is a meaningful way to commemorate a woman's breastfeeding journey. Whether she had a rocky start, she is proud of how long she was able to nurse her baby, or whether she lost a child and the milk you made for him is all she has left, breast milk jewelry is a unique and beautiful keepsake to pay tribute to this part of the motherhood journey.
What Exactly is Breast Milk Jewelry?
Breast milk jewelry puts breast milk through a chemical process that turns it into a stone that lasts forever and can be used to make jewelry.
Breast milk stones are made with about an ounce of a woman's own breast milk, which goes through a heating and cooling process that solidifies it. Handmade breast milk stones or breast milk beads can be made into various kinds of jewelry, like breast milk rings, breast milk earrings, or breast milk pendants or lockets. The stones can be set alongside one's birthstone on metals like rose gold or sterling silver. Sometimes they can be combined with other keepsakes, like a preserved umbilical cord or a lock of baby's hair.
How Can I Have Breast Milk Jewelry Made?
If you want to gift a new mom a breast milk necklace or other type of breast milk jewelry, take a look at DIY kits on Amazon or through Etsy sellers. If you get a DIY kit, you may also need a jeweler to set the stone into the piece of jewelry.
Should I Use a DIY Kit or Go Professional?
DIY Kits are fun and can make the process of making breastmilk jewelry even more special for some new moms. Others would prefer to send an ounce of milk off to the experts. Think about the mother to whom you are gifting this keepsake jewelry to and consider her preferences. Either way, make sure that a preservative is used in the process to prevent spoiling or curdling.
We put together a list of resources to help you choose the best way to give this special gift to a new mom in your life.
Our Top Picks
- Best Breast Milk Ring: Breast Milk Jewelry Oval Gemstone Ring by Mama Milk Fairy at Amazon
- Best Breast Milk Necklace: Keepsake Breast Milk Preservation Kit Three Necklaces at Amazon
- Best Breastmilk Pendant: Breastmilk Jewelry DIY Crystal Pendant Kit by Mama Milk Fairy at Amazon
- Breast Milk Jewelry For the Mama Who Loves Fancy Details: Breastmilk Jewelry Kit Pendant Heart Crown by Mama Milk Fairy at Amazon
- A Good Choice for Having It Done Professionally: Breast Milk Stone for Setting at Amazon
Best Breast Milk Ring
This kit makes a gorgeous ring that a nursing mother can wear every day and that will last forever. It comes with very detailed instructions so you can't miss anything. Everything included is nontoxic and safe to use at home, which matters to moms of infants! If you are buying this for yourself, it comes with several settings so you can keep one and gift a few to the members of your mom tribe.
Best Breast Milk Necklace
We love this necklace kit because it comes with two necklaces that can be worn separately or together in a set. The whole process is straightforward and all you need is a pan--the kit provides everything else. One necklace has a heart-shaped locket and the other holds a pearl.
Best Breast Milk Pendant
We are in love with this beautiful and unique breastmilk pendant making kit. It is shaped like a long crystal and it comes with coloring options so that the possibilities are endless. It comes with everything you need, including preservative and detailed instructions that are easy to follow. This pendant will definitely stand out for its simplicity and unique shape.
For the Mama Who Loves Fancy Details
This DIY kit comes with another beautiful pendant. This pendant differs from the one above because it is lined with heart-shaped crowns, offering a more detailed and fancy look. This is a great choice for that mom in your life who loves all the frills.
A Good Choice for Having It Done Professionally
DIY is not for everyone! You can sometimes save yourself a headache by hiring a professional. Whether you're worried about it looking off or you don't feel comfortable with the preservation process, go for this choice if you want to leave it to the pros. The kit includes everything you need to pack and ship back the milk (it even has prepaid postage!). All you need to provide is one ounce of breast milk. After this, the company sends a perfect stone back to you.
Be sure to also check out our Gift Guide for New Moms and Moms-to-Be.
