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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Amber teething products - woo, right?

34 replies

jamoncrumpets · 19/05/2018 19:28

I mean, they HAVE to be woo. And yet people persevere with sticking them onto their babies' arms (and sometimes necks).

A good friend's baby has just started sporting one of these items, and I'm obviously keeping quiet but I'm secretly judging so hard.

I just think how many tubes of Anbesol I could buy for the same money...

OP posts:
Waggingmyginger · 19/05/2018 19:48

Woo. They would have to be hot enough to set light to things and flesh before the chemical that can be analgesic would be released. Just a fashion.

LapinR0se · 19/05/2018 19:49

Total woo

Birdsgottafly · 19/05/2018 19:50

They seemed to work for my Grandchildren. My DD often put theirs on their ankle.

Whether they require a judgement depends on how unsupervised the infant is. There's a few types of accidents that i read/hear, that babies/children have had and I think its been a lack of supervision and not being risk aware.

Birdsgottafly · 19/05/2018 19:51

Mind you, what you are looking for really is validation for judging your friend.

Does she not supervise her child adequately?

strawberrypenguin · 19/05/2018 19:52

Yep of course they are or adults would use them instead of paracetamol etc as well. Next time you have a toothache why don't you wear some amber and see if it makes the blindest bit of difference....

Also I can't help but think they're a choking hazard

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 19/05/2018 19:52

No I'm not asking to be validated, I know IABU. But I can't get past the fact that the amber would have to be hot enough to melt flesh to have any effect.

OP posts:
HarryLovesDraco · 19/05/2018 19:54

Birds they didn't work for your grandchildren. Your grandchildren just didn't have an accident wearing them.

condepetie · 19/05/2018 19:56

Woo and dangerous. Serious choking hazard. Only takes a second for them to break it and get it down their throats.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 19/05/2018 19:57

What’s the -bullshit- theory on how they work?

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 19/05/2018 20:00

Apparently they secrete succinic acid, which relieves pain. At body temperature. Through the skin.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 19/05/2018 20:00

It's complete, utter bollocks. Any effect is placebo-if the parents think it'll work, babies pick up the more relaxed vibe.

catandtheteapot · 19/05/2018 20:01

Amber has special woo properties which means it can kill pain. It’s used in dentistry, after surgery and during childbirth for adults who are in pain........

Only it’s not because adults aren’t daft enough to use it on themselves Hmm

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 19/05/2018 20:02

Is it sleep deprivation, do you think? Is that why parents turn to woo? I feel similarly about those homeopathic sugar sachets too, tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 19/05/2018 20:03

Tell you what works though - 2.5ml of Nurofen.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 19/05/2018 20:05

It is a placebo effect - that's why it works. It's crystal healing stuff - my mum swears by this! Some people really believe crystals have healing properties. They added the succinic acid bollocks sharpish in about 2009 when people started questioning the how. It was quite funny really.

catandtheteapot · 19/05/2018 20:06

I used to use anbesol on mine and calpol if they were really distressed. Can’t remember it ever being a significant issue though.

I think people just like beads and decorating their babies with them makes them feel happy. They’re probably a choking risk though.

catandtheteapot · 19/05/2018 20:07

Placebos don’t work on infants though because they lack the awareness of what’s being given to them. Like animals.

Pebblespony · 19/05/2018 20:07

Woo of the highest order.

glueandstick · 19/05/2018 20:08

It’s not woo, it’s utter horseshit.

The only ‘acid’ that’ll work is
isobutylphenylpropionic acid. Not the stuff found in amber at room temp.

amillionpawpatrolslater · 19/05/2018 20:08

I never knew what to think of them. My first DD wore an anklet constantly and never struggled with teeth coming through.
My DS lost his in the swimming pool at 3 months old and I never replaced. He has never really struggled with teeth but seems to chew on his hands and dribble a lot more when teething.
Wouldn’t say I am convinced re them, but was worried that taking my daughters off would suddenly make her suffer with teething pains so she wore it until she was 2!

moggle · 19/05/2018 20:08

I thought the homeopathic sachets work basically because the base is lactose ie sugar and sugar has a pain relieving effect in infants?

joeytribbiani · 19/05/2018 20:10

Total bunkum!

It would have to heated to 150 degrees Celsius in order for it work!

For us anbesol and nurofen it is.

specialsubject · 19/05/2018 20:15

horseshit is the correct term.

JamPasty · 19/05/2018 20:16

Placebos don’t work on infants - well, they sort of do, in that it's adults reporting whether the child seems better or not. Ditto the placebo effect on people's pets

JamPasty · 19/05/2018 20:16

That's not very clear, sorry. I mean it's an indirect placebo effect. The adult expects to see an effect, so they do

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