Whether it’s a first child or the sixth, each new bundle of joy is a celebration. While diapers are practical, and outfits are cute, sometimes you really want to give something personal or unique. Combine that with a gift that’s also useful, and you have an absolute gem.

While it’s wonderful to bring home a new baby, every mom knows it can also be an exhausting time. Suddenly, a solid 3-hour stretch of sleep at night feels like a spa treatment. And feeding this tiny person instantly becomes one of the most important priorities. So why not give a gift that can help mom identify why her baby is fussy (by knowing if he might be hungry yet), set her mind at ease, and even benefit her own health?

Let me introduce you to the nursing bracelet. Take it from a mom of four with 10+ years of nursing under her belt: this bracelet can help a new breastfeeding mom by making life with a newborn so much easier.

It’s worn like a watch, but instead of telling time, it helps a sleep-deprived mother remember when her baby last ate. It can be switched from one wrist to the other with every feeding, identifying which side the baby started nursing on and reminding mom to begin on the opposite side next time. (You nursing mamas out there know what I’m talking about.) Also, if you feel tender or suspect you might be getting mastitis, the bracelet can stay on one wrist to help you remember to always start with that side … which may stop a nasty ailment before it gets worse.

So now you know how convenient and useful the nursing bracelet is, how exactly does it work? Each bracelet has the numbers one to twelve for the hours in the day. Each number is followed by three beads. Each of those beads stand for fifteen minutes. The bracelet also has a movable charm to represent when the baby ate. Say baby starts feeding at 3:10. You would round to the nearest quarter hour, and place your charm after the first bead following the number 3, which stands for 3:15.

If your new mama friend has twins, or even more, multiple charms can be added. My best friend recently gave birth to triplets, and I added three charms engraved with the babies’ names to her nursing bracelet. She is quite the Wonder Woman fan—and now Mama Wonder Woman, as far as I’m concerned!—so that was the theme I used.

To make your own nursing bracelet, you will need:

• 22 gauge bracelet wire approximately 14-18” long, depending on the size of your beads.
• 39 beads. I like to use approximately 6mm beads. These can be all one color or a variety of coordinating beads. Pick any style of beads you think the recipient will like—the bracelet doesn’t have to simply be useful, it can be a beautiful piece of jewelry as well!
• Number beads 1-12
• One movable charm (per baby)
• A pair of round-nose pliers to bend your ends (needle-nose pliers can do the trick if that’s all you have)
• Optionally, you can add non-movable charms with words or figures that have significance to the gift recipient (like the Wonder Woman charm above).

Once you have gathered your supplies, lay the bracelet beads out in order before beginning to string them. I’ve strung my number beads on backwards and had to restring the whole bracelet more than once.

Curl one end of your wire, so the beads don’t fall off, and begin to string your beads.

Start by stringing on three beads then the number 1 bead, followed by three more beads, and the number 2 bead, repeat this pattern all the way to the number 12 bead. Finish up by stringing three more beads. (While your “clock” doesn’t exactly need three beads before your one and after the twelve, since they would stand for the same time, it just makes the nursing bracelet look better.)

Be careful to leave a little bit of extra space between beads on your bracelet. They will need to move back and forth to accommodate the charm, so you don’t want it too snug.

Once all the beads are strung, cut off your excess wire, leaving enough to curl back toward your last bead to keep the beads from slipping off.

The finished length will circle around a wrist more than once, but because there is no clasp at the ends, the nursing bracelet can adjust to fit anyone.

Another use for this type of bracelet is for someone who has to take a lot of medication. My sister and I made one for a family member who was undergoing chemo and having a hard time remembering when she had taken her pain medication. On a bracelet for this purpose, a symbol of faith—maybe a charm that said faith, hope, or peace—would be a thoughtful addition.

That’s it, easy-peasy. You have a unique and beautiful piece of jewelry, tailored for your loved one, that will be a gift to be treasured.

 

Bridgitt created this beautiful nursing bracelet, pictured below,
to give away to one of our lucky subscribers!

The drawing is now closed.
Congratulations to our winner!

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