Nursing Necklaces

Making your own nursing necklace is quick and easy, even if you aren't the craftiest person in the world. It really only takes two things - some necklace cording, and a pendant. Of course, you can get fancier and add all sorts of beads, but I'm just going to show you how to make the easiest nursing necklace ever.

Just about any type of necklace cording will work. I prefer to use faux leather suede cords with no clasp. This is soft against my neck, and I can easily control the length of necklace I need, since there is no need to worry about a clasp. Faux leather suede cording is pretty inexpensive too, so making extras or replacements, or just one to match every outfit, is easy! Other cording that works well - hemp, silky cording, and cording that has a clasp already attached.

The only other ingredient you really need is a pendant of some sort. You can use a wooden ring (like the sort used with pot holders) or you can use a glass donut pendant (this is the most popular). Because baby will be playing heavily with this part, and may manage to get the pendant into his or her mouth, you will want to make sure that whatever kind of pendant you purchase is non-toxic, not easily breakable, and not painted (paint can chip - even if it's non-toxic).

Have your ingredients? Let's get to work!

Instructions to make a simple nursing necklace (see image)

1. Cut cord to desired length. You need the pendant to dangle close enough to baby that she can reach it, but you don't want it getting tangled up with her when you are adjusting positions. I find that having the pendant dangle right around the top of your cleavage is good.



2. With the cord folded in half, thread the looped end through the hole in the pendant. Make sure you leave enough cord on each side of the pendant so you can complete the next couple steps (you'll be tying knots in the cord). I usually use donut pendant for this necklace because it's so easy to tie them to the cord and they aren't likely to fall off. However, you could use pendants that have little rings to attach them to your necklace. Be aware though, that your baby may yank on the pendant hard enough to break these little rings.



3. Thread the loose end of the cord through the looped end so that you form a knot around the pendant. This is just one way of attaching the pendant to the cord, but I find that it's the easiest method and the most stable. You could just thread the cord through the pendant and let the pendant roam loose, but I think there's more chance for the cord to break that way.



4. For this next step you'll need two beads. I used wooden beads for this necklace. You can use any beads you like, but again, make sure that they aren't going to break easily and don't have toxic materials. You aren't planning for your child to really place any part of this necklace in their mouth (since they should be nursing), but you don't really want them playing with lead paint either.



5. a. Thread the first bead onto the cord and push it all the way to the pendant. You can either leave the bead loose, or knot the cord just above the bead so that the bead stays in place. You could skip this step, but I find that it adds a little more stability and style. Even though the point of the necklace is to keep your baby from mauling you while nursing, you still want your necklace to look good!



5. b. Thread the other bead onto the cord. Knot the ends of the cord together (use any sort of knot as long as the knot is tight - you don't want the cord to come apart easily). Make sure the knot is large enough that the bead won't slide right off. You can also use clasps, but that gets a little more complicated that I like. Knotting is just so much easier!


There you go! You now have a nursing necklace your little one is sure to enjoy (and it's pretty stylish too!). You can get creative with your use of cords, beads, and pendants, but keep in mind that you don't want anything that will break easily or that may poke or cut your baby as she plays with the necklace during feeding.