Teething Necklaces

 

Amber teething necklaces have become popular with parents over the last decade, with proponents arguing that wearing the necklaces will release a substance—succinic acid—into the infant’s skin and ease the discomfort of teething. Does it actually work? Should you give it a shot?

Competing Opinions

Perspective #1: Any claim that wearing an amber necklace will relieve teething pain simply by lying against a baby’s skin is nothing more than pseudoscience.

Perspective #2: It might sound crazy, but parents who have tried out the necklaces have found that their infants experience less teething pain and experience longer periods of calm.

What the Science Says

THIS IS ONE of those subjects where there’s not much ambiguity. Avoid the amber teething necklaces.

For one thing, there’s no science that actually supports that they work, and the supposed science that proponents point to in support of amber beads’ analgesic qualities has been shown to be false. Beyond that, authorities are virtually unanimous that the necklaces present a significant suffocation hazard because a baby might swallow the beads and choke, and there’s a risk of strangulation because the clasp of the necklace might not easily release.

As a result, organizations such as the AAP, the Canadian Paediatric Society, and the FDA have warned parents not to use teething jewelry such as amber necklaces.

The Bottom Line

WHILE SOME PARENTS swear by them, amber teething necklaces (along with any other type of necklace) should be avoided for babies. I know you don’t like seeing your little one suffer, but there are better ways to offer relief. Find alternatives, like rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger or offering something safe to chew on, like a cool, wet facecloth or a teething ring made of firm rubber.