Why is a baby given a silver spoon: signs and features of choice

Why is a silver spoon given as a gift for the first tooth or Baptism?

During the times of Ancient Rus', only recipients who were entrusted with the spiritual education of the child could present a silver spoon. After Baptism, she was placed in the child’s crib as a talisman against the evil eye, a conspiracy. They also believed that the noble metal would attract good luck, wealth and prosperity to the baby. And although today it is considered superstition and has nothing to do with Baptism, many still believe in omens.

Godparents even nowadays give a silver spoon to their godchildren, because it can become not just a valuable souvenir, passed on from generation to generation, like a family heirloom, but also a necessary item in everyday life.

Who gives a silver spoon for a baby's first tooth?

Today, a silver spoon can be given not only by godparents, but also by grandparents, relatives and close family friends invited to christenings. Such a gift, unlike toys and clothes, is practical, durable, and serves as a pleasant reminder of a special event. In addition, the silver spoon can be personalized or engraved with a prayer/wishe.

Most often, a silver spoon is kept as a keepsake, along with other family heirlooms, so for a christening it is better to give a product with Orthodox symbols, and for the first tooth a model with color drawings, a name, and engraving of the child’s metrics (height, weight and time of birth) or with the inscription “For the first tooth.”

Traditional gifts

In many countries of the world, a baby receives a silver spoon as a gift for his first tooth. Such a gift will come in very handy, because this is the time when complementary feeding begins.

According to tradition, the spoon should be given to the one who first saw the erupted tooth. Most often this is the mother, so any relative or godparents can give the gift. It is believed that in order for everything to go well in a baby’s life, and for the rest of his teeth not to bother him, you need to tap the tooth with a silver spoon 3 times.

Our ancestors gave such a gift in Ancient Rus', because silver has always been considered a symbol of well-being, success and material wealth. And in some cultures, silver is protection against the evil eye, so a spoon can become a child’s talisman.

In addition, silver has a bactericidal effect, so feeding your baby with a spoon can protect him from bacteria.

Ordering or buying a silver spoon is not difficult. It is better to choose a personalized spoon - ready-made or engraved.

Spoon on the first tooth

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Recommendations for choosing a silver spoon for children

The range of silver spoons in our store is quite diverse. You can buy a small in size and weight, purely souvenir item. Such models are usually no more than 10 cm in length and about 5 g in weight. The spoon is kept as a symbol of the spiritual connection between the godson and the recipient or as a reminder of the Sacrament (if given by someone else).

A silver coffee spoon will be useful for a newborn as the first cutlery - the mother can start feeding the baby with it. The size of these spoons is 11-13 cm, average weight is 15 g.

A teaspoon is a spoon from which an older baby can eat on his own. These products measure 13-15 cm and weigh 25-30 g. This spoon fits comfortably into a child’s hand and allows you to pick up the right amount of food at a time.

Having decided on the size, you need to pay attention to the quality of workmanship. Children's silver spoons should be well polished, without sharp edges or highly protruding decorative parts. The best option for convenient use is a model with a wide flat handle.

It would be good if the silver spoon had a certificate of conformity. And although in Russia mandatory certification of jewelry has been abolished, and their quality is confirmed by the presence of a hallmark, seal and manufacturer’s name, large manufacturers of silverware certify children’s spoons.

Silver spoon for a girl

For a girl, you can buy a product with openwork weaves, flowers, butterflies, bows, and angels as a gift. These can be spoons made only of silver or additionally decorated with gilding, colored enamel, and stones. Orthodox silver spoons for girls are produced with various shapes of crosses, a vine, a Guardian Angel, and an image of the Virgin Mary.

Silver spoon for a boy

As a gift for boys, you can choose models with images of bears, stars, angels, stars. Spoons with crosses, images of Saints, floral ornaments, church bells and chapels are suitable for christenings. As for girls, discreet, pure silver models are produced and brighter ones in design - with colored, black enamel and stones.

Traditions and signs

Our ancestors had special signs associated with the appearance of the first tooth in a baby.

Early teething meant that another child would soon appear in the family.
Later, it promised that the baby would grow up to be an extraordinary and talented person.
The protracted and painful process of emergence predicted capriciousness of character in the future.

It was customary to check whether a tooth had begun to erupt by tapping the gums with a spoon, often a silver one.

What are the benefits of silver spoons for newborns?

It is believed that a spoon for a baby's first feeding should be made of silver. This is due to the bactericidal properties of the metal - on its surface, most microbes and pathogenic strains that cause intestinal disorders die. Silver disinfects water 5 times more effectively than chlorine and lime. It is especially useful to drink such water during colds, since silver ions entering the body neutralize and remove toxins, improve metabolism, thereby strengthening the immune system.

It is safe to feed a child from a silver spoon - the metal not only saturates the food with beneficial ions, but also destroys bacteria in the baby's mouth.

Who should give a child a silver spoon?

There are no hard and fast rules. Usually a newborn is given a silver spoon from his grandparents . Godparents can give it as a gift for christening or “for the first tooth.”

You can often hear complaints from upset mothers that the child’s tooth has already erupted, and more than one, and no one thought of giving a silver spoon. Well, if it’s not customary for your family to “order” gifts, take comfort. Parents themselves can easily buy a silver spoon for their baby . This will not make her lose her magical power.

The main thing is to give with love and believe that the gift will bring happiness!

Proper care of a silver spoon

When using a children's silver spoon in everyday life, a dark coating forms on its surface over time. They remove it using a special solution or napkins, which are sold in jewelry stores. But frequent use of a cleaning agent can damage the top protective layer of varnish, so it is better to simply rub the product with a cloth and protect it from scratches and the aggressive effects of drugs and juices.

To wash silverware, do not use detergents containing abrasive particles, or clean them in a dishwasher. Ordinary alcohol brightens silver well, but it does not spoil the decor of the spoon in the form of gilding or enamel, nor does it affect specially blackened silver. There is no need to soak the product in it for a long time; just wipe the darkened area with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol.

There is no need to store a silver spoon together with stainless cutlery. Steel is harder than silver, therefore it provokes scratches and abrasions on the product. It is recommended to keep silver silverware in a special box on a soft lining, after thoroughly washing and drying it.

How to choose?

You can buy a silver spoon for your baby’s first tooth in a church shop or in a jewelry store. The range of such products is quite large, so many parents, godparents and relatives have difficulty purchasing. When choosing a product, you need to consider what it will be used for.

If you plan to use it in the future for the first complementary feeding, then you should choose a coffee spoon no more than 13 cm in length.

The tea cutlery is suitable for the time when the baby grows up and can eat on his own. Such a product must have a length of up to 16 cm. If you plan to use a silver spoon for its intended purpose (for eating food), then you need to ask for a quality certificate for the product.

It is important to make sure that the device is suitable for feeding. You also need to pay attention to the coating material of the product. It happens that the device is treated with a composition that is harmful to children and adults. It is not recommended to buy a spoon coated with varnish, gold or rhodium. The varnish is harmful, it is more suitable for souvenirs and rare items.

Gold reduces the beneficial qualities of silver. Rhodium blocks the metal's ability to destroy pathogenic bacteria. It is necessary to choose the correct shape of the spoon handle. It should be comfortable for the baby to hold the product. A handle that is too wide and curly is not suitable. It is better to choose a rectangular shape.

Silver spoon with angel and date of birth

What do you give a girl for her first tooth: TOP 20 good ideas

You can give the girl the following gifts for her teeth:

A silver-plated icon of the Mother of God, which she will keep for the rest of her life.
Fabric angel doll. The recipient will be happy to play with it.
Pink hooded bath towel.
Bedspread with embroidery. It can be used at home or while walking.
A heating toy that smells nice and keeps you warm. It will help calm the child when pain occurs.
Disposable diapers with a pattern. An excellent gift for a child's first tooth from friends.
Earrings that can be given by close relatives. Even if the recipient does not have pierced ears, the gift will come in handy in the future.
A chain for a cross or pendant. The size and metal are selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the recipient (weight, height, allergies to metal).
A set of diaper dresses. The recipient will look beautiful while walking.
An electronic swing that will help put the recipient to sleep.
Canopy. Protects against drafts and insects.
Room thermometer. It is necessary to control the temperature in the room and will tell you when it is necessary to ventilate.
Children's cosmetics: oils, powders, ointments. A good option for giving a girl her first tooth.
Manicure set for the care of children's nails. Rounded scissors and a soft file will make cutting them safe and comfortable.
A set of walking hats.
Frame with embroidered metric.
A set of disposable diapers and napkins. It will come in handy during walks and visits to the clinic.
Set of headbands. They can be decorated with bows, soft beads, ribbons, etc.
A set of socks with multi-colored designs.
A keychain in the shape of a stroller, which indicates when the child's first tooth erupted.

What is traditionally given to a child for his first tooth?

Since ancient times, it was customary for a baby to knock on the first tooth that has erupted with a silver spoon, so that the baby grows healthy, happy, rich, and the rest of the teeth grow painlessly. This custom gave rise to the tradition of giving a child a silver spoon “for a tooth.”

In Europe, it is customary to give a box for storing the first tooth as a gift; usually it is paired with a case for the first cut curl. Such boxes can be porcelain, silver or simply made of a shiny alloy, often engraved with the child's name.

TOP 15 silver gifts that can be given to a child for his first tooth

Ideas on what to give a child for his first tooth made of silver:

A cup from which drinking is healthy and safe for the body.
A fork decorated with a pattern or engraving.
Rattle.
Pin with pendant.
A pendant in the shape of a zodiac sign or the first letter of a name.
Coin with metric.
Commemorative medal in a case.
A bell that can be hung above the crib.
Sippy cup with a pattern.
Knife in a case. Suitable for use by children.
Photo frame.
A plate with handles that is comfortable to hold. A great gift for a boy or a girl.
A music box decorated with a figurine.
Water ionizer designed for disinfection.
Bracelet with pendant.

How much does a silver spoon cost, price

Knowing about the healing properties of this metal, it has become popular to give newborns a spoon made of silver. In Tsarist Russia, from the first days of life, children were given a silver present, which accompanied them throughout their entire journey of growing up. Usually it was a coffee spoon so that the child could easily put it in his mouth.

On the first day of school, the gift was already larger - a dessert spoon, and at the end, for graduation - a dining room. Children who received a gift from this noble metal were successful in all their endeavors. Prices for such cutlery vary.

What does the cost depend on:

from metal sample;
on the size of the device;
from exclusive execution (engraving, insertion of precious stones, decoration);
from the price category on the silver exchange.

The higher the standard, the higher the price, because there is more metal in the alloy. The best option for a tableware is 875 standard. Compared, for example, with 830 sample, alloy 875 oxidizes less in air, that is, the metal darkens less.

Silver spoons can be decorated as desired. You can buy a simple one, then engrave it or order your own design. Also, when doing handmade work, silver is often combined with gold or bright enamel.

Interesting!

When darkening, a silver spoon can be easily cleaned with chalk or soda!

In terms of price category, tableware ranges from 1800 rubles and above. All this depends on what and how the product is made.