To wonder why perfectly intelligent people keep suggesting amber teething aids to me, am I missing something?

[TinySleepThief]

I have a teething 4 month old. It's crap but there isn't much I can do about it other than dose him up with Calpol, use teething powder/gel and continue in my attempts to get him to use any form of teether.

However in general conversations 3 separate people so far this week have suggested buying a teething necklace, bracelet or anklet all of whom I thought to be quite intelligent. 2 of whom also don't have children but have heard from a friend of a friend that they work miracles.

I just don't understand why they think it would help, there's no science behind it at all and honestly they just look dangerous.

So now I'm genuinely wondering am I missing some new research which isn't just anecdotal? Or am I right to wonder why is it that rationale intelligent people seem to think that bloody amber will help when everything else I've tried so far has failed?

Well I wouldn't expect people without children to have done any research on teething aids; if they were told by somebody that they worked, it makes sense they recommended them to you.

They're not obligatory.

Apparently they help. I've no idea how they work, I never used one.

I don’t think YABU but people like to try to help and find solutions. Amber teething accessories are quite well known and heard of, and so it’s understandable that they would suggest what they’ve heard, what they know or what they’ve seen or heard ‘proof’ of helping with teething.
They’re just trying to help.

We used one on the ankle as they are never unsupervised at that age. We went for the thinking that it may or may not help but it wouldn't make things worse so worth a try.

It was always under a sock and trousers so completely inaccessible. I dont think I'd personally use a necklace or bracelet

YANBU - It surprises me just how many people with babies in my circle of friends/acquaintances/people I see at baby and toddler groups who swear by amber bracelets.

Absolute bonkers. I think most people think of it as - it may or may not help with teething, but it's not doing any harm, so might as well give it a go.

Same with homeopathy, reiki, crystals etc.

Ha x-post.

Agreed. For the succinic acid or whatever it is within the amber to work you’d need to heat it to a very high temperature. And even if it did work, you’re effectively giving your child an unknown dose.

People just accept bad science I guess. Or don’t think about it as everyone else does it.

Yanbu. A few people recommended them for my DD when she was teething. I never did buy one. I was confused by the recommendation too.

YANBU I remember in desperate moments looking into this. If nothing else I remember them as being quite expensive for something unproven. I think alot of people use them as little baby fashion accessories, or to demonstrate some kind of hippy coolness.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31277614/

Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces: Could Succinic Acid Leaching From Beads Provide Anti-Inflammatory Effects?

Conclusions: While amber teething necklaces are genuine Baltic amber, we have found no evidence to suggest that the purported active ingredient succinic acid could be released from the beads into human skin. Additionally, we found no evidence to suggest that succinic acid has anti-inflammatory properties.

Before I had children, I didn't realise amber necklaces worked by emitting woo waves, or whatever they are supposed to do. I assumed they were for chewing on and somehow soothed the gums so that might be what the "heard it from a friend of a friend" people think.

That sounds really dangerous. Amber can break and always does so into sharp pieces.
Why would people do something so risky? I just don't get it

Perhaps necklace wise they may have been thinking of something similar to this.

It can be used as a distraction whilst feeding or for the baby to relieve the pressure in the gums from their emerging teeth - similar to teethers

I used a similar one for my eldest. Although he didn't get teeth until after a year old so it was used mostly as a distraction

Https:www.google.com/shopping/product/7111604523584623272?q=teething+necklace&client=ms-android-tmobile-gb&biw=360&bih=560&tbs=vw:l,ss:44&prmd=sinv&prds=epd:17712412804170612052,paur:ClkAsKraX8MnNJXOtogAxfKcr-bNiCDM_EKTWHpMUL-dKkV7wojNfGQmY6XZ-JB_nAs1-FzpBZicvUzYMiM67PFB6LQ-mEhHaDeYEDncIzr70vfPTHOdYruBZxIZAFPVH71WnuJcW5Vx4jKyrn7F5dDfORw0fg,cdl:1,prmr:1,cs:1

My friend always had amber anklets for her babies. Tbh I think she really just liked the way they looked. She is a nurse, and quite a senior one at that, so I don't believe for a second that she actually thought they did anything. To me they are just an unnecessary hazard and since amost nobody supervises their children literally all the time (I mean, they never make a cup of tea? Or go to the toilet? Or answer the door to sign for a parcel? They literally look at their baby for the entire time it's awake?? Don't believe it) there is always the chance that the anklet could break and the baby could choke on a bead. I think a lot of people would be surprised at the speed at which accidents like this can happen.

It's the same as anti vaxxers...so intelligent they are actually a bit nutty.

Oh thank goodness I honestly thought I had stepped into an alternative reality and genuinely cannot believe they think it works.

Both the none parents seemed to understand it had something to do with the body warming the amber but when I said they wouldn't work they both seemed offended and argued they wouldn't be sold if they didn't work.

I honestly appreciate they were just trying to help but my flabber is truly gasted that any rationale adult thinks it would help.

Don't forget the recharge them in moonlight of course .

Just ignore. You'll get random parenting advice over the years from random people, even those who don't have children, even otherwise perfectly intelligent people, especially about behaviour e.g. how to make them sleep.

Lots of it will be nuts because what they think is "just common sense" is actually far more complicated than they have assumed. Feel free to ignore it.

I agree it sounds like it’s a load of nonsense - but people find it works. I doubt it’s anything to do with the amber, but distraction does definitely help with teething pain and some babies respond well to the pressure and texture of the bracelet. I never used one but then DS was never that bad with his teething - if he was screaming his head off in discomfort I would certainly have given it a go! Just because we don’t know why something works doesn’t mean it can’t work.

My theory is it works because I think small children and babies look really cute in necklasses etc (yes, it's also dangerous). And it's easier to cope with the gruelling part of childrearing if your kids look cute.
I applied my theory to coping with sleeping deprivation when my second was born and made sure he was always wearing seriously lovely sleep suits and it worked. My first wore grotty hand me downs that just depressed me.
I appreciate I may have lost the plot after 6 weeks at home .

It is unlikely a 4 month old is teething. Most of the signs people attribute to teething are normal develomental stages. None of the remedies do anything, they are placebos. Calpol should only be given for a raised temperature/ a known pain source. You will only know is your child is teething when you see the gum split (not a tooth showing) Any amber beads are a choking hazard and a daft idea. Babies sometimes have illnesses that are not diagnosed as put down to teething

" They wouldnt be sold if they didnt work"

Thats the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life
Lets see where shall we start....

Being a flake is a thing and unfortunately people with any level of intelligence can be one.

Thats the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life

I honestly don't think I could have rolled my eyes any more if I had tried. I was trying to be polite when they said it but yes it's honestly such a stupid sentence.