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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think amber necklaces are a load of bollocks?

206 replies

PancakeBum · 05/04/2018 15:00

And that if I had severe toothache I'd rather take a fucking painkiller?

Surely even if they ARE releasing these "oils" or whatever they're meant to do to help with teething then you are using an untested substance on your baby? And are they not a choking hazard?!

Or am I just being grumpy because I come from a family of homeopaths who all irritate the life out of me?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 05/04/2018 15:01

You’re absolutely right, they have no credible scientific basis.

BeyondThePage · 05/04/2018 15:03

You are correct. If they released anything of any actual medicinal value they would need to be approved for medicinal use.

And yes they are a choking hazard.

And the string is a breeding ground for bacteria.

BertrandRussell · 05/04/2018 15:04

Yes. Complete bollocks.

Cavender · 05/04/2018 15:05

Yes, they are nonsense.
Yes they are a choking hazard.

FlibbertyGiblets · 05/04/2018 15:07

Yanbu.

I understand the oils (similar to paracetamol in effect) do indeed leach out of Amber. AT SOMETHING LIKE 200 DEGREES. Oh yes one is really going to place something so hot on precious baby skin.

Choking hazard? Yep. But they're handtied [makes sarcastic speech marks with fingers, Joey Tribbiani style]

Original poster
PancakeBum · 05/04/2018 15:08

Then why do so many apparently rational people use them?!

OP posts:
bookworm14 · 05/04/2018 15:09

YANBU, they are woo bollocks.

BertrandRussell · 05/04/2018 15:09

I think the key word is “apparantly”.........

alltoomuchrightnow · 05/04/2018 15:10

Yes it's bollocks.. and a choke hazard. And I used to sell them (adult amber jewellery not kids) as ran a crystal shop.
Sick of people harping on about the 'crystal' properties of amber WHEN IT'S NOT A CRYSTAL! (Or rock/ stone). It's a resin.
I love amber, I have a lot myself. But please don't kid yourself it's helping teething babies

TreesAgreen · 05/04/2018 15:10

Never heard of it, but would assume it's bollocks, based loosely on old knowledge of some properties of Amber and or tree sap.

Original poster
PancakeBum · 05/04/2018 15:11

I did vaguely consider buying one when my DS was cutting his canines and slept about an hour in three days. But my DP made this face Hmm and I came to my senses.

OP posts:
TroubledLichen · 05/04/2018 15:12

Well Amber does release succinic acid, which is a sort of painkiller. So the claims are very loosely based on scientific fact. However what the amber devotees don’t mention is that you’d have to heat the amber to it’s melting point of 187 Celsius in order to get at the succinic acid. So any claims that body heat will cause some sort of magical reaction are utter nonsense. Plus they’re a choking hazard and disgustingly unhygienic.

ShutUpBaz · 05/04/2018 15:13

They are utter crap and any individual who spouts about their magical properties is deluded. There will be someone along soon to declare it a miracle cure though.......

Not only do they need educating on the properties of amber but also on how not to strangle/choke their tiny children. Morons.

Waffles80 · 05/04/2018 15:13

The only thing they are really useful for is identifying, and therefore helping avoid, the sorts of parents who’ll make you despair for humanity.

Original poster
PancakeBum · 05/04/2018 15:14

Practically every parent I know uses them, I'm on my own.

OP posts:
BexleyRae · 05/04/2018 15:14

Oh I hate seeing them on babies, before I had DD I assumed they were for the baby to chew on like a teether and couldn't understand how the parents weren't concerned about choking hazards

notacooldad · 05/04/2018 15:17

I'm assuming you mean for teething now that I have read other posts!
I was going to say YABU, amber necklaces are quite nice and I usually buy my mum and nan an amber necklace or earrings when I go to some of the Baltic areas.

WombOfOnesOwn · 05/04/2018 15:17

They are silly. But has any child ever actually choked to death on one? Both sides seem hilariously over the top, one for believing in spite of evidence that Amber has curative properties, the other for believing in spite of evidence that kids must be choking on necklaces all the time.

Elementtree · 05/04/2018 15:20

I think some people use them in desperation, some probably think they do help - so act as a placebo for the parent who imagine they see improvements and some have them to signal their hippy credentials.

On the up side, once you power through this toddler phase, everyone tends to chill the fuck out with this woo stuff and become less irritating.

Original poster
PancakeBum · 05/04/2018 15:21

I am over sensitive, womb, because I grew up with this bollocks peddled as fact Wink

OP posts:
Clandestino · 05/04/2018 15:23

They are beautiful and I really like the look and feel of amber, it's really warm.
Don't ditch the amber. Obviously, using them as a help for teething pains is absolute bollocks and choking hazard.

SharkSave · 05/04/2018 15:23

Ugh no I'm with you on this! Absolute shit.
You get loads of people spouting 'little Bob wore his from 3 weeks old and never struggled with teething.' My children didn't wear Amber and also didn't really struggle with teething (or nothing that a dose of Nurofen didn't help!)

Nabootique · 05/04/2018 15:23

woo bollocks

Agree, and love how this sounds like a personal insult.

Sick of people harping on about the 'crystal' properties of amber WHEN IT'S NOT A CRYSTAL! (Or rock/ stone). It's a resin.

Thank YOU! This drives me nuts. Ditto petrified wood!

VileyRose · 05/04/2018 15:24

I do love crystal therapy and even I don't think Amber bracelets will help. It's a fad.

PurpleDaisies · 05/04/2018 15:26

“Crystal therapy”?