Last week many newspapers and telecasts reported on the use of cadmium in children's jewelry. Cadmium is a bluish-white metal that is found naturally in the earth's crust. Manufacturers started using cadmium in jewelry as a replacement for lead.
Walmart said it would pull any children's jewelry that was questionable. The health concern is that cadmium is a carcinogen (can cause cancer) and can interfere with brain development. Children especially at young ages can suck on jewelry and there is uncertainty about skin contact and what may possibly happen over a period of time.
Hearing all this once again had my ten year old daughter and me going through her fashion jewelry. She did not have many pieces as I happen to make jewelry. She did have about four items including the best friend's bracelet where the girls each have a bracelet with half a heart on it.
She was very good about just throwing it all away once I explained it could be dangerous to her. This was a good reminder for me to stay with my earlier conviction that sticking with gold and sterling silver (.925) is the best way to go when purchasing jewelry as it eliminates any uncertain feelings about the purchase and those precious metals have never had a health concern related to it.
I have been in a store and have said no even when it was hard to those pleading faces and the price was right and they even had their own money. I am strengthened and resolved once again in this matter.
As parents we are concerned for our child's health and well being. We continually learn and look to be informed as we help navigate the best possible course for our children. Another fact worthy of mentioning is Canada Health was inspecting jewelry trinkets from China and discovered a plastic bracelet with dangle charms that said lead free on the package but were actually loaded with lead when tested.
This is another indication that we need to be careful and alert our children when age appropriate to these real concerns. Hopefully, my girls have learned from our fashion jewelry discussion and will make wise jewelry purchases in the future. A great guideline to follow for many reasons is to only purchase jewelry that is made with gold or sterling silver.
Check out my other guide on Gold Horse Jewelry
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