Amber anklet for teething?

[ThunderMum]

Anyone have any advice? Do these work?

[uppershopping]

No they do not work.. why would they? They're also a choking risk.

[ThunderMum]

@uppershopping anklets?

[PrincessSarene]

Short answer: no, they don’t work!

(Also, how on earth does anyone think they could?)

[GoneToTheDock]

No they dont work

[BertrandRussell]

No, they don’t. Calpol does, though.

[blackcat86]

What upper said. Anklets dont work but are fantastic to choke on if you're a baby. Use calpol and baby bonjela.

[Stormwhale]

No. The only way they work is through the placebo effect... on the parent. So the poor baby continues to suffer while the parent feels much better about it.

[ThunderMum]

@PrincessSarene google seems to suggest there is some science behind it. Hence working out if anyone has any positive experience.

I’m not sure if everyone who has said they don’t work has actually found that out first hand or just assumed they don’t...

[RachelGreensThanksgivingTrifle]

I have one on my 6 month old son, he has just cut his first tooth and has been very settled. Don't know if it's made any difference or coincidence, it's always covered though and I've the screw catch on his.

[amymel2016]

They’re a huge choking hazard. Don’t do it.

[Missingaclue]

I was tempted to try them even though I'm normally really sceptical about that sort of thing. Teething is bad in this house. Liquid anbesol is the best topical treatment I've come across (and we've tried them all I think) numbs the gum straight away. That and calpol seems to do the trick.

[PrincessSarene]

My answer is based on knowing a couple of people that tried them and found they made no difference whatsoever, coupled with finding no proper evidence that they should work. As a previous poster said, calpol and teething/numbing gel do work.

I have a science literate background so would be interested to know what you found via Google that seemed to provide evidence in support of them? I did a little research (admittedly a few years ago now) and never found anything that stood up to scrutiny...

[Eminybob]

If amber had magical pain relieving qualities don’t you think doctors would be prescribing it?
It’s a load of woo nonsense.

[ThunderMum]

So that I understand.... choking hazard because baby can get it off ankle?

[ThunderMum]

@PrincessSarene

www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/ask-heidi/amber-teething-necklaces.aspx

They are teething necklaces made of Baltic amber, or fossilized tree resin. In theory when baby wears one, his body heat triggers the release of a minute amount of oil that contains succinic acid, which is absorbed into the bloodstream. When the oil is absorbed, advocates say, it has an analgesic effect on swollen, sore gums.

Whereas the NHS website suggests teething gels don’t work....

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/teething-tips/

There's a lack of evidence that teething gels are effective. It's recommended that parents try non-medical options for teething first, such as a teething ring.

I mean, I’m not desperate to use one, just wanted peoples experiences.

[Janleverton]

I think it is beyond unlikely that worn comfortably around the ankle sufficient beneficial oils will be absorbed into the skin to enter the bloodstream and provide an analgesic effect that will be directed at gum pain.

A teething ring is nothing like an amber bracelet. They are directly gnawed upon, don’t fall apart and become choking hazards, can be sterilised, can be kept cool and the action of biting down on them particularly if chilled can provide a direct distraction/impact on the gums.

[PatriciaHolm]

You might like this, OP -
sciencebasedmedicine.org/amber-waves-of-woo/

[EdWinchester]

What a load of crap. Of course they don't work!

'Succinic acid is supposed to have some analgesic effect, thereby easing pain. While there is no scientific study demonstrating the evidence of such an effect occurring from wearing amber, succinic acid can be released from amber, but only if the amber is heated to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit.'

'In the unlikely event that succinic acid is released from the amber, there is no evidence that it is absorbed or has any effect. And even if it does, how sensible is it to allow a completely unregulated dose of a chemical to flow into a child’s body over a long period?'

[BertrandRussell]

“@PrincessSarene google seems to suggest there is some science behind it.“

No there isn't. Any volatile oil in amber remains inert unless it is heated to 200 degrees.

[ThunderMum]

Thanks @PatriciaHolm that was a really useful read

[Notagreatstart1234]

I think your own link goes on to say that there's no medical evidence that they work? (I don't mean that in a snarky way - I completely understand the desperation when you have an arsey baby!!)

[PurpleDaisies]

I wish more schools taught critical thinking skills if “google says there’s scientific evidence for this” was your response to the websites spouting this crap.

[FaithInfinity]

Evidence suggests that it’s purely placebo effect for the parents! It’s really unlikely that a minute amount of Amber resin gets absorbed through the skin. Amber doesn’t melt until it’s heated to 150 degrees C. I feel the choking risk outweighs the supposed benefit of the Amber.

Best stuff we used was the Nelson Teething Granules, we could get them in Waitrose near us, it’s white powder and you rub it on the gums it makes your baby happy!

[ThunderMum]

Haha are you joking @PurpleDaisies?

If I believed the internet, there would be an amber bracelet on the way.

I thought the best thing to do would be to pose the question to a parenting forum to see if anyone had any first hand experience.

But the general tone of the responses appears to be that I’m an idiot, so I may avoid asking again.

[2beautifulbabs]

Nurofen is best for teething than calpol and anbesol liquid my DS was awful with teething and they were the only two things to help him