All about children's silver cutlery

A children's silver spoon is a great gift for a baby and parents for christening, “for a tooth” and for a birthday. Silver has an antimicrobial effect and is safe for babies. Such a spoon can not only feed the child, but also disinfect the water by dropping it in a mug.

Usually a silver spoon is presented to a child when the first tooth is cut. It is believed that if a child knocks a spoon on a tooth and wishes health, prosperity and well-being, then they will come true. According to the mystical version, such a spoon becomes a talisman for a child for life. In tsarist times, it was decided to give the child dessert spoons when they entered a school or gymnasium and a canteen when they graduated from school.

According to another version, the child is greatly weakened energetically during the period of teething. Such a spoon becomes a protective amulet. And from the standpoint of Christianity, the silver spoon was one of the gifts of the Magi to the infant Christ.

On the practical side, silver has a number of useful properties. It disinfects water and food, saturates with useful ions, non-toxic and safe. Teething itself coincides with the period of introduction of complementary foods. In ancient times, sanitary conditions were worse, and silver reduced the risk of catching an intestinal infection. In addition, this gift will remain with the baby, as a memory. Toys break, go out of age, money can be spent for other purposes, but the spoon will remind you of a donor all your life, it may become a family relic.

According to tradition, godparents should give a silver spoon "on a tooth".

• Baby spoons have some characteristics that must be considered when choosing.
• On average, the length of a spoon is 12-14 cm, and the weight of 10-20 grams. For a child of 3-5 years old, it is better to choose a larger spoon, 14-16 cm long. The scoop should be round, without sharp edges, deep enough so that you can eat soup, but at the same time comfortable. For a child up to a year, a tea room is suitable, from year to year - dessert.
• Special attention to the handle. It is better to choose the relief, smooth can slip out of hands. The stalk must be thick enough, because the child can put it in his mouth. Here the design can be absolutely anything. The spoon can have an unusual shape, with a carved ornament, be made in the form of some kind of animal, often bears, decorated with ornament and engraving. A bright pattern of enamel will additionally attract the attention of the baby, making the feeding process more interesting. But the enamel should be only on the handle! Blackening silver also looks beautiful and will not cause any harm.
• At the same time the decor of the handle should not be massive. It is important to understand that the needs of the child, the skills of handling the device differ from an adult person. He just has to learn everything. Spoon should be comfortable. Too massive handle can outweigh, and volumetric decor to deprive of ergonomics.
• Engraving can make a special gift. You can specify the date of birth, height and weight of the newborn or write a memorable congratulation wish. The spoon itself can be ordered from a jeweler. The lead time usually ranges from a week to three. But such a gift will be exclusive.In addition to a spoon, you can give a set, for example, by adding a fork or a cup to the spoon.
• The cost of the product depends on the weight of the spoon, sample and design. For beauty, a gold plating can be applied to the handle of the spoon, which will make the product even more expensive. In any case, a spoon of silver is an expensive pleasure. However, children's cutlery is not the case when you can save at the expense of quality and safety.

Silver cutlery are household and souvenir. The latter can not be used in everyday life, as they may have additional impurities and alloys that are harmful to health if they get inside the body. For example, various spraying of rhodium, special varnish, wax or enamel to preserve the beauty and brilliance of the product. Such protection perfectly rescues from mechanical damage, oxidation, but these products are absolutely unsuitable for food intake. They serve only as decoration. For a gift, you should look for household cutlery with a hygienic certificate.

Under the guise of silver can sell products with a coating. On these devices must be factory stamp with 925 or 999 sample. It is laser cut and should be clearly visible. The higher the sample, the less impurities in the metal is present, it will not darken. In Russia, the USA and Europe, a warranty certificate is attached to the cutlery. The cheapest silver devices are made in China, Turkey and India. The quality of such products may be questionable. Therefore, before buying it is necessary to ask the seller to present a hygienic certificate.

Next, you need to pay attention to the shape and convenience of a spoon and fork. If it is not convenient to hold the device in your hand, it will be difficult to use it. Particular attention to scoop spoons. It comes into contact with the child’s mouth, so spraying is extremely undesirable. On the handle you can, on the scoop itself - no. There should also be no delicate elements near it that could cause injury to the child. Sometimes silver spoons are covered in gold. It looks beautiful, but this coating completely blocks the effect of silver. In terms of benefits, let the spoon be simpler, but healthier and safer for the baby.

Look at the silver spoon "on the first tooth" can be further.