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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:

SomethingOnce · 07/01/2014 08:16

If you want everybody who sees it to think you're a bit woo, then go right ahead.

worldgonecrazy · 07/01/2014 08:33

We bought one for DD - I think they look nice.

No problems teething at all.

They do work, entirely through woo, though the sciency-guff is something to recite if you want to bore people.

Have there actually been any cases of babies choking on them? I did a google search a while back and couldn't find any. Grapes seem to be more dangerous.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 07/01/2014 08:34

elfy that is interesting!

MadeOfStarDust · 07/01/2014 08:46

for those comparing it to willow bark and aspirin - you do know kids under 16 CANNOT take aspirin due to the possibility of Reye's syndrome - which has almost died off since actually STOPPING children from taking it...

Amber is inert - cannot have analgesic properties unless heated to some ridiculous degree. If it did would you give it to your child in an unmeasured dose ?

Would you give your child willow bark knowing it contains salicylates which are KNOWN to cause Reye's in children..

Original poster

Stuckunderababy · 07/01/2014 09:11

Funnily enough all of the anecdotal success stories on here are convincing me more that it's bollocks - having had a slightly better night last night (no amber needed) I can think clearly enough today to think, of course, cutting teeth doesn't actually last that long. So for people to say 'oh he was so different in a couple of days', well of course he would be!

And seeing as it seems to be worse at night - am I suppose to leave the damn thing on when my child is sleeping? Because I really don't feel comfortable with that.

Am now reminding myself that DC1 teethed with no problems - come to think of it, he did wear more blue socks than DC2

OP posts:

FanjolinaJolie · 07/01/2014 09:26

It does not 'work' and is a strangling hazard.

I read of a toddler to strangled to death wearing one of these.

Catsize · 07/01/2014 09:48

elfy, there must be some very advanced babies out there for the placebo effect to work.
fanjolina, am interested to know how the child strangled.

lilyaldrin · 07/01/2014 09:51

Placebo effects work on the parent not the baby Catsize

MaidOfStars · 07/01/2014 10:02

I don't think this is the placebo effect in action (assuming young babies are less susceptible to this). Surely massive confirmation bias and selective recall on the part of parents is at work here? There are very well-documented blinded (if not double-blinded) studies (including one for testing craniosacral nonsense 'therapy') to show that where parents think a positive intervention has been made, they are far more likely to overestimate improvement in baby's symptoms, they report fewer instances of crying, they assess baby as less stressed, and so on.

The above + regression to the mean = shares in amber jewellery companies skyrocket.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 07/01/2014 10:07

If we want to talk about suffocation risk, let's talk about nappy sacks - they've killed more babies in the last few years than amber has. Keep them away from your children.

banana87 · 07/01/2014 10:16

Also a sceptic. But tried it anyway. Three times when I took it off she was a ratbag with bright red checks for 24 hours. Sometimes with fever. Put back on-gone! I don't care if it's coincidence or placebo...it worked for us!

specialsubject · 07/01/2014 10:21

Honestly he had rashes all down his neck and chest from teething and dribbling. It all cleared up within one week of putting it on him and he hasn't had it off since.

now get out your time machine and try again without the amber necklace. Exactly the same would have happened. The tooth came through and the problems stopped.

only we don't have a time machine and can't prove it. So we have to rely on science and common sense.

placebos work on older children (teddy doesn't have magic powers but he is essential for sleep) and on adults. Babies can't think and so placebos don't work - although a calmer parent will definitely help.

remember - it isn't illegal to sell useless items to the gullible. Up to you if you wish to be gullible.

elfycat · 07/01/2014 10:22

Catsize As I said upthread I think one of the ways they worked for DD2 is because I relaxed, knowing I had done EVERYTHING I could to lessen her distressed.

Maybe it's another anecdote but does anyone want to argue against Happier Parents = Happier Child ?

So why wouldn't placebo effects on parents also work on the child, even if not directly.

Fakebook · 07/01/2014 10:23

I've never had problems with teething with both my children. Obviously they've had days where they've constantly gnawed on their fingers and teething ring, but as far as crying at night and high temperatures go, they never had that. I don't believe these "woo" things do anything.

elfycat · 07/01/2014 10:23

*distress, sorry new to tablet usage and the whole autocorrect thing.

oldgrandmama · 07/01/2014 10:33

I have an extremely old jade and silver bangle. I've lived in the Far East and whenever I wore it in public, shop owners begged me to sell it to them!

My three London grandchildren, as babies, used to try and chew on it - I'd usually give in and let them. It seemed to be very comforting to chew, even though the silver part got a lot of small dents and scratches from tiny teeth! No chance of choking, of course, as the bangle was hard, no beads or small pieces.

Catsize · 07/01/2014 10:39

elfy, I know people often say about placebo effect on parents, but that didn't seem to be what you were saying in suggesting the following...

So put the necklace on if you like, and tell your child it's to help (placebo - 1:3 may benefit). Look up E363 (succinic acid) for the 'active' ingredient for medical research and as in many anecdotal stories, but obviously by woo and gullible people enjoy a potentially calmer child who now had a pretty piece jewelry

elfycat · 07/01/2014 10:51

It's about the tone of voice, soothing with conviction, and the placebo has to work on the parent. Speaking out loud is a good way to emphasise something. In our case DD2 was 18 months old when I got hers so was a little more able to understand. On reflection it might be why I put child and not baby.

CaptainHindsight · 07/01/2014 11:00

Frozen banana worked for DS, 1/2 inch slices out of the freezer. He used to rub them over his sore gums then scoff the banana once it had thawed.

Worked with carrots too.

Ladyhawke127 · 07/01/2014 11:47

They do work. My son has worn one and he looks lovely in it. He has tousled blond hair and rock the surfer dude look! :) lol! It is not unhygienic as he does not chew it, and it gets a quick was in the bath every night. He does not sleep with it on. The change in his demeanour while teething was amazing. I am also a born sceptic too. I thought it could never work, there is no mechanism by which it could work that I could see, but they do definitely work. Teeth are the work of the devil, though.

CoteDAzur · 07/01/2014 13:35

So, to summarise:

(1) Amber necklaces don't work - there is zero evidence of their effectiveness
(2) They can't work - There is no plausible hypothesis of HOW they would theoretically work: The analgesic compound in amber can't leak out in room temperature AND even if did, rubbing a bit of painkiller on your skin doesn't help with pain in your jaws.
(3) The belief that they will work is irrational, in view of zero evidence of effectiveness & no plausible

... last but not least:

(4) If you believe in stuff without evidence or even a plausible explanation of how it might work, you are not a sceptic.

... and this just has to be said:

(5) Teething necklaces are tacky pieces of jewellery. They don't look good.

CoteDAzur · 07/01/2014 13:35

They don't look good on babies, I meant.

bruffin · 07/01/2014 13:57

I think some parents are deluding themselves about how cute they look.They just look very tacky.

As Richard Wiseman said in a documentary the other day. Being closed minded works two ways. It is just as closed minded to insist something works despite there is no evidence that it does.

elfycat · 07/01/2014 14:23

I disagree with the summary (of course)

My summary:

Some people believe they don't work and have arguments to support their view.

Other people think they do and have arguments to support their view.

There is very little room for maneuver between these two points.

We get some flexibilty to parent the way we want to. No one has yet had SS intervention for making parenting decisions of this kind so we can assume the authorities don't care to get involved and free choice on the use of amber is allowed.

worldgonecrazy · 07/01/2014 14:29

cote you think they don't look good. Some people think they do look good.

I happen to think DD looked really cute in hers, she already has a natural style and looks great in hippy-rock-chick type clothes. YMMV.

There are far worse things that parents do.

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