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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To buy an amber teething necklace?

148 replies

Stuckunderababy · 06/01/2014 19:51

Ok, ok, I am the world's biggest sceptic and am well aware there is no scientific evidence to show they work, but I have the teething baby from hell and am desperate!! So many people swear by them that my 'bollocks' stance is starting to wane.

So, is it a placebo and you just blame the baby being grumpy on something else, or should I part with 15 of my hard earned pounds for the miracle cure?

OP posts:

Twilightsparklesmama · 06/01/2014 22:06

Whether it works or not, they are a major ch

Twilightsparklesmama · 06/01/2014 22:09

Oops premature posting!

...choking and strangulation hazard. A woman at our baby and toddler group had them on both her DCs from a few months old round their necks, she said she left them on all the time including at night. I was aghast at the thought of putting something around a young child's neck!

MaidOfStars · 06/01/2014 22:12

I had seen various references to amber teething necklaces in thread titles, but never actually bothered to read further.

Now I have.

Fuck me. I actually imagined they were bitey beads that might feasibly help teeth break through. Someone tell me that this is the case. Please.

The alternative is that people are saying that an inert lump of fossilised resin, wore as a jewellery item, releases some kind of analgesic what? energy? that kills teething pain?

Catsize · 06/01/2014 22:13

Our son wore his day and night. I was similarly sceptical, but had my views changed. Sometimes we felt a little self-conscious that people were judging us as our son had a necklace on (particularly as we are two mums), but the benefits outweighed this. Eventually, we took it off. After a few days, we noticed he was grouchy for no apparent reason for a few days. Put the necklace back on and within a couple of days, he was fine again. Coincidence? Maybe... But lots of people swear by them. Has to be a genuine necklace though.

Beavie · 06/01/2014 22:26

My dd2 had one and I found that there was a marked difference between when she wore it or didn't wear it in her general grizzliness when teething. Personally, I'd rather use amber than stuff them full of pharmaceuticals. Seems like it has worked for some and not for others, but I am in no doubt that it worked for my dd.

Badgerwife · 06/01/2014 22:30

Wow, what a lot of very high judging pants.

I was also sceptical before I got one of those necklaces but thought to give it the benefit of the doubt as both my girls were very unhappy and I was getting a bit desperate. The change in them was visible within hours.

DD1 who would go through three bibs a day because of dribbling stopped needing them overnight. She always had a fever when she was teething so I knew it was happening but no crying at all so we haven't even noticed her molars coming through. When she cried a lot and tried to chew everything around her, I would invariably find out that I'd forgotten to put her necklace on.

DD2 seems much happier with it on too, I only know she's teething badly when I take it off. She's had it as an anklet from about 3 months until she could sit up properly. She can't get to it to chew on it even if it is round her neck, and I do take it off before changing nappies, thank you very much.

Yes it sounds weird and I can't believe it's made a difference but it has, so I'll keep it on her. I'm surprised people are judging so harshly without having actually tried it.

furbaby · 06/01/2014 22:36

I would give it a try ...
dd says it helped dgd now aged 3 .
Although I dislike jewellery on children dgc is still wearing her necklace and it would be odd to see her without it .
You don't know til you try .

CoteDAzur · 06/01/2014 22:48

Does anyone wonder why amber is not promoted as a natural risk-free painkiller for children and adults?

IneedAwittierNickname · 06/01/2014 22:53

Did any one see the programme a few months ago where people took their home remedies.to a panel of drs. The drs trialled anything they thought might work, and explained why other things wouldn't. They.wouldn't even trial amber necklaces, because the heat that's needed to make them.work isn't present (as pointed out many times already). IIRC they were also concerned about the potential choking hazards.

I think it was on channel4 with Dr pixie McKenna. Called 'health on trial' or.something, maybe

picnicbasketcase · 06/01/2014 22:56

I've never seen one on anyone and had never heard of them til I read it on here. It sounds like utter nonsense. Why amber? If there is no actual chemical pain relief coming from it why does it needs to be amber? Why amber for teeth in particular? If a baby wears a lapis lazuli ear cuff, does it relieve colic?

I haven't read anything yet that offers anything like an explanation of why or even how this should work. Just 'well, it did.'

Catsize · 06/01/2014 23:00

picnic, There are many unexplained mysteries in life...

picnicbasketcase · 06/01/2014 23:01

Well, NOW I'm convinced.

JupiterGentlefly · 06/01/2014 23:12

I once read that 'teething causes nothing but teeth' seemed true with mine but my best friend swire by Ashton and parsons wraps!

PedlarsSpanner · 06/01/2014 23:13

yes indeed to teething causing teeth, Jupe

JupiterGentlefly · 06/01/2014 23:13

Swore not swire! Is swire a word? My phone seems to think so!

JupiterGentlefly · 06/01/2014 23:16

'Nothing but' pedlar!

rockybalboa · 06/01/2014 23:17

Sniggering meanly at the assertion that it must be 'a genuine necklace'. Not a fish posing as a necklace or a piece of spaghetti.

PedlarsSpanner · 06/01/2014 23:19

lolol at poss fish/necklace confusion

rockybalboa · 06/01/2014 23:21

Beavie, so you'd rather 'stuff your child' with an untested resin such as amber instead of rigorously tested for use on human pharmaceuticals?!? Seriously? Just because amber is natural doesn't make it safe. Deadly nightshade is natural...

BaronessBomburst · 06/01/2014 23:21

I really fancy an amber necklace now! For me mind, not DS. He never had any problems teething but then again, he also sometimes wore blue socks.

MrsTerryPratchett · 06/01/2014 23:29

Personally, I'd rather use amber than stuff them full of pharmaceuticals.

Aspirin comes from willow bark.

Iggity · 06/01/2014 23:29

Aren't the teething powders a homeopathic remedy? If so, they will be as useful as the necklace.

Teething was a breeze for us very luckily. Not sure why but DS dribbled like crazy from 3 months and still a bit dribbly even now at 4.5. Lots of saliva is supposed to help in some way.

lilyaldrin · 06/01/2014 23:30

Yes, can't help but wonder if people really believe they are putting some random, untested ACID into their tiny baby's bloodstream when they put these necklaces on them - and how on earth is that preferable to calpol?

lilyaldrin · 06/01/2014 23:31

Teething powders work because they are sweet and crunchy (sugar is an effective painkiller for babies, crunchy feels good on sore gums - it's a distraction). The "homeopathic" bit is irrelevant.

WaitingForMe · 06/01/2014 23:31

DS has moderate problems and has blue tights. I was halfway there!

In all seriousness the choking risk freaks me out and I'm not a fretful mother.

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