If you have some extra milk in your stash, you might be wondering what to do with it.
You might choose to save it for a day when your child could benefit from an extra immune boost. Some parents also use leftover milk to make breast milk soap or breast milk lotion.
Another creative idea is breast milk jewelry.
DIY Breast Milk Jewelry as an Option for Preserving a Special Memory
Breast milk jewelry is a type of keepsake jewelry that incorporates preserved breast milk into the design of a pendant, ring, or other small piece.
The milk is typically processed so it hardens into a stone-like material that can be set into jewelry.
Many of the finished pieces resemble opals or pearls, with a soft milky color and subtle shine.
These pieces are meant to serve as a small reminder of the breastfeeding journey, which can be an incredibly meaningful chapter of early parenthood.
There are some beautiful breast milk jewelry pieces available from various online vendors, but I could never quite bring myself to spend $200 to $1,000 on such a small piece.
It turns out there’s another option.
Some sellers on Amazon offer DIY breast milk jewelry kits, which allow you to create your own keepsake at home. Based on product reviews, the results can turn out surprisingly well when the instructions are followed carefully.
One reviewer shared a helpful tip after using a kit:
“The instructions were a little confusing at first, but after reading them several times and looking closely at the pictures, it started to make sense. One important tip is to keep the bag with the melted material in hot water while you’re working with it, because it hardens quickly. Once I figured that out, the process was much easier. I also recommend using a stronger glue than the one included in the kit. I used Gorilla Glue gel and it held the pendant together really well. Take your time and read the instructions carefully, and the final piece can turn out beautifully.”
Of course, there are good reasons to order breast milk jewelry from a reputable company with strong reviews. But making your own jewelry with a DIY kit also has a few advantages.
First, you can save a lot of money compared to purchasing custom jewelry.
Second, your milk doesn’t have to travel through the mail, which eliminates the risk of it getting lost in transit.
You also know with certainty that the jewelry contains your own breast milk. I’ve always wondered how companies ensure that milk doesn’t accidentally get mixed up when multiple orders are being processed.
Another benefit is time. Some breast milk jewelry websites say their turnaround time can be 10 to 14 weeks after they receive your materials. That’s a long time to wait for a keepsake.
With a DIY kit, you can create the jewelry whenever you’re ready.
Why a DIY Breast Milk Jewelry Kit Can Be Appealing
There are certainly good reasons to order jewelry from an experienced company with strong reviews.
But making your own breast milk jewelry with a DIY kit also has a few advantages.
Lower Cost
One obvious benefit is the cost. DIY kits are typically far less expensive than custom jewelry pieces.
No Mailing Your Milk
Another advantage is that your milk doesn’t have to travel through the mail.
That eliminates the possibility of a package getting delayed or lost in transit.
You Know Exactly What’s in the Jewelry
When making the jewelry yourself, you also know with certainty that the piece contains your own milk.
I’ve sometimes wondered how companies ensure that milk doesn’t accidentally get mixed up when multiple orders are being processed at once.
Faster Turnaround
Many custom breast milk jewelry companies list turnaround times of 10 to 14 weeks after receiving the milk.
That can feel like a long wait for a keepsake.
With a DIY kit, you can create the jewelry whenever you’re ready.
Other Ways to Use Extra Breast Milk
If you have milk in your freezer that can’t be used for feeding, there are several creative projects people experiment with.
Examples include:
• breast milk soap
• breast milk lotion
• breast milk baths
• breast milk jewelry
Each of these ideas offers a different way to make use of milk that might otherwise go unused.
Breast milk represents an enormous investment of time and effort, so finding meaningful ways to use it can feel rewarding.
Have You Ever Tried Breast Milk Jewelry?
Breast milk jewelry isn’t something every parent will want to try.
But for those who enjoy meaningful keepsakes, it can be an interesting way to preserve a small piece of the breastfeeding experience.
Have you ever tried making breast milk jewelry yourself?