Amber Teething Necklaces?

[bearbaby]

I'm desperate (obviously).  Thoughts on the amber teething necklaces?  Personally I've always thought they're ridiculous, but if something will legitimately help with DS's molar pain, then maybe I can deal with him wearing an unattractive (IMO) accessory? Or is the whole amber thing just a bunch of hooey? 

[IrishBelle]

I had one for DD2 and it seemed to help her. I think its one of those things that can't hurt so why not.

[dbsk8dance]

They're cute.

[irish]

You could always put it around his ankle under socks if you don't like the look of it? I don't have one but some people I know swear by them

[Brie]

Mar 10, 2014 8:43:14 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

I had one for DD2 and it seemed to help her. I think its one of those things that can't hurt so why not.

It can hurt though. It's a choking hazard.

mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2013/10/11/amber-teething-necklaces-pose-choking-hazard/

I bought one in a moment of desperation but couldn't bring myself to use it. I just use Advil and Babyganics teething gel liberally.

[cilantro]

Hippy nonsense. Sorry.

[Deleted]

I'm with Brie. The choking hazard seemed like a much greater risk that the negligible (if any) benefit the necklace might provide. I CERTAINLY would not have felt comfortable leaving it on while he was asleep, which is when he would have needed it the most. So I didn't do it. Liberal acetaminophen and ibuprofen use instead.

[IrishBelle]

The necklace we had was short enough that she couldn't get it in her mouth while wearing it. At night, I looped it around her ankle twice before putting her pyjamas on so she couldn't get at it.

[schrodinger]

Mar 10, 2014 9:21:02 GMT -5 cilantro said:

Hippy nonsense. Sorry.

Pretty much.  I tried one, it never did anything to help DD out.

[Deleted]

Mar 10, 2014 9:25:21 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

The necklace we had was short enough that she couldn't get it in her mouth while wearing it. At night, I looped it around her ankle twice before putting her pyjamas on so she couldn't get at it.

I'm not trying to single you out but the overcautious mommy in me just has to comment. She could still stick her finger between the necklace and her throat and get freaked out that she's stuck and choke. Or another kid could pull on it. Around the ankle, it could come unwound and she lifts her legs and it falls out of the pajama's neck hole.

ETA: or it could break and LO could eat one of the beads.

bearbaby i just don't think it's worth the risk. Too risky IMHO.

[bearbaby]

@brie , @supergreen - you're reinforcing all of my gut feelings about it - particularly with choking (even if he can't bite it, he gets into EVERYTHING - how likely he gets it caught? And no way could I let him sleep with it on). If it works for some, I'm have no problem with that - but I think I'm going to personally skip it. I was just curious if there was some sort of huge unanimous "YES YOU MUST HAVE THIS IT SAVED MY LIFE" message I'd missed.

Motrin and gel it is. And wine - lots of wine.

[purplecow0206]

My SIL swears by them for her kids, but I've always thought that the choking hazard outweighs the benefits.

[toesie]

To each their owns, but the choking hazard does not worth it to me. I'll just dose her with teething peels and motril.

[geek96]

Mar 10, 2014 9:18:00 GMT -5 Brie said:

Mar 10, 2014 8:43:14 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

I had one for DD2 and it seemed to help her. I think its one of those things that can't hurt so why not.

It can hurt though. It's a choking hazard.

mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2013/10/11/amber-teething-necklaces-pose-choking-hazard/

I bought one in a moment of desperation but couldn't bring myself to use it. I just use Advil and Babyganics teething gel liberally.

The Babyganics teething gel has been a lifesaver this week.  DS tries to lick the q-tip he loves it so much.

[pugz]

there is no science to back them up

[mdana]

Mar 10, 2014 14:03:46 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Mar 10, 2014 9:16:05 GMT -5 swizz said:

You can, but technically they're supposed to work better close to the site that's the energy is needed (i.e. around his neck is closer to teeth than an ankle). 

Well, um, energy? They work through...energy? Maybe I should be leaving this thread.

Yes and you can put them in the sun to "recharge" them.

...... Clearly (I hope) I do not buy any of the hype either.  I am a bad earth mother.

[bearbaby]

Haha - ok - so general consensus is that I'm not alone in thinking this is *possibly* utter nonsense.

Or, as DH said when he saw I bought pouches with barley and millet in them "Is this stuff just all made up of hippie farts and hemp queefs?"

Charming.

[Deleted]

Mar 10, 2014 14:16:47 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

Mar 10, 2014 14:15:11 GMT -5 mdana said:

Yes and you can put them in the sun to "recharge" them.

Like Superman?

Giggle SNORT

[MadamePresident]

Its not "energy". They work as a mild analgesic, the oils from the baltic amber rub against your skin and are slowly released into your body.

Nods wore one for a while. I didn't notice a huge difference, but it had no ill effects either and people thought she was "so cute with her necklace".

Honestly, I didn't see it as a choking hazard. There was a knot tied between each bead, and it was short enough that she couldn't put it in her mouth. She never messed with it, only once or twice did she even realize she was wearing it and that would be right after I put it on. There was nothing in her crib that it could have caught on.

[elcjet]

Oh, bad mother here. DD is nearly 18 months old and wears it during the daytime hours, but it comes off during naptime and at night.

I see a difference when she wears it. The teething rash on her cheeks disappears and she doesn't drool at all. She seems less grumpy. She's working on her canines and they are the worst, so once they all come in we'll be done -- at 2, she will have to deal with those molars sans necklace. It's kind of a PITA.

[ny96]

I knew a mom who said her pediatrician didn't have an opinion on them until one of her patients died from choking while wearing one. Regardless of the circumstances after hearing that I've steered clear.

[smilee1079]

DS wears one and has since about 3 months when he started his teething journey. I was just saying to DH recently that I need to get a new one because I think I read after 6 months, they get weaker, and recently, DH seems to be in more pain with teething than his first couple of teeth a few months ago.

His is knotted between beads, he never touches it, and it is not very long.