Children's jewellery safety
Children’s jewellery can be colourful and fun, but safety should always come first.
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Why jewellery can be unsafe for children
Children often put objects in their mouths, which means they may suck, chew, accidentally swallow or choke on jewellery. Adult jewellery is not designed with children in mind.
In Canada, the Children’s Jewellery Regulations help to protect children.
- Jewellery designed for children under 15 years old must meet strict limits for lead and cadmium.
- It is illegal to make, import, advertise or sell children’s jewellery that exceeds these limits.
- Adult jewellery is not covered by these rules and may contain higher levels of lead or cadmium.
Health Canada monitors products sold in stores and online, but it does not approve products before they are sold.
Unsafe metals
Some jewellery can be made of cheaper metals like lead and cadmium. These metals are dangerous if they get into your child’s body. Lead has a slightly sweet taste, which may make children more likely to suck on jewellery that contains lead.
Even jewellery that is painted or coated is risky, because coatings can contain lead or cadmium or can wear off and expose the metal underneath.
Health risks from lead exposure
There is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for children. Even small amounts over time can affect your child’s health and development. Lead exposure has been linked to:
- damage to the brain and nervous system
- cardiovascular disease
- kidney damage
- reproductive problems
Lead exposure may also increase a person’s cancer risk.
Health risks from cadmium exposure
Cadmium exposure has been associated with a variety of health problems like:
- kidney damage
- lung and breathing problems
- gastrointestinal/stomach issues
Cadmium exposure is known to increase a person’s cancer risk.
Small parts
Most jewellery contains small parts like charms, beads, pendants or fasteners that are detachable or can break off. If swallowed, these pieces can become a choking hazard for young children, especially those under 3 years old. Jewellery that doesn’t break easily can also be unsafe for young children. Items like earrings, pins and chains are often small enough to be swallowed whole or cause choking.
Button batteries
Some jewellery, especially light up or flashing jewellery, may contain button batteries. If swallowed, button batteries can cause severe internal injuries, or even death, in a very short period of time.
Learn more about button batteries.
Safety tips
Follow these tips to help reduce your child’s risk:
- Don’t give jewellery to children under 3. Young children are more likely to put objects in their mouths. Even teething necklaces marketed for babies and toddlers may not be safe. Learn more about baby bottles, pacifiers and teething necklaces.
- Never let young children play with or wear adult jewellery.
- Don’t let children put jewellery in their mouth.
- Look at children’s jewellery closely before buying or giving it to a child. Items that are inexpensive and seem unusually heavy for their size may contain lead .
- Be particularly cautious when buying children’s jewellery online. Buy from reputable online retailers and sites.
- If you own children’s jewellery that you think may contain lead or cadmium, throw it away.
- If buying light-up children’s jewellery, make sure it has a battery compartment that screws shut.
Important
If your child has sucked or chewed regularly on jewellery recently, and you think it may contain lead or cadmium, ask your doctor about a blood test.
If your child swallows jewellery, seek immediate medical attention.
Jequirity beans
Jequirity beans (also known as rosary peas) are small seeds that are orange or red with a black tip. They are found in tropical regions and are sometimes used to make jewellery, artwork, and musical instruments. These beans are extremely poisonous and can be fatal if swallowed. Jequirity beans are banned in Canada. Never allow children to handle, wear or play with any items containing jequirity beans.
Stay informed
For further information:
- Visit the resources below.
- Check for product recalls. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer.
- Subscribe to our electronic newsletter to receive the latest news and information about product advisories, warnings, safety tips, notice of webinars or consultations.
- Contact Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program. Please use our General Enquiries Form, or call us at 1-866-662-0666 (toll-free within Canada and the United States).
You can also report an incident involving children’s jewellery or other consumer products. Reporting injuries, near misses and safety concerns is easy and could save lives.