Why do mums put those large beaded necklaces...

[TheFancyPants]

..around their babies necks? Surely its not safe? Why are they fashionable?

They think the Amber is magical and cures all, when infact it's just the fact it's something solid they are biting down on to releave the pressure on their gums. They could chew on steel/marble/anything hard and it would have the same effect.

It isn't even that. These necklaces aren't designed to be chewed on which would offer some relief. They are designed to be just worn as an accessory and provide pain relief via magical absorption.

Amber is so stable that it's a gemstone that can last 10s of millions of years in nature, yet it will leach into skin at an appreciable rate?

doesn't really pass the sense test, does it.

Not to mention the huge safety risk it poses to the little babies and toddlers.

@DappledThings

The natural amber absorbs into the body through them wearing them 1) No it doesn't. 2) Even if it magically did that wouldn't have anything to do with pain relief

Did I say it stopped the pain?

@Same4Walls

It’s not a fashion statement. They help sooth babies when teething. The natural amber absorbs into the body through them wearing them. Lots of adults wear amber for the same reason.

The trouble is no matter how many times someone says they work there is no evidence at all to show this apart from anecdotal comments. Your children would have all been exactly the same teething wise even without the amber.

I have to say it's actually terrifying so many people have admitted to seeing no risk in leaving their small babies and toddlers sleeping in them.

If you read my post you would see when I first put them on my child I noticed an instant change in her, her drooling stopped and she seemed somehow less agitated. Both myself and my DH were very sceptical, my DH is very scientific and analytical, dosnt like herbal or wishywashy things but we both agreed for our child they helped.

None of my children even noticed them or played with the. The only time they were ever an issue was when another child wanted to pull it off my DDs neck. When that happened we took them off.

[quote SqeakyHindge]@AliceSprings123 may I ask why you put one of 3rd DD almost from day 1? What was supposed to do

Not going to lie I am [/quote]
You've got the wrong Alice!
I limited my comment to remarking that DS was given an amber teething amber thingy by an Italian friend.
No apology necessary, btw.

If you read my post you would see when I first put them on my child I noticed an instant change in her, her drooling stopped and she seemed somehow less agitated.

Someone challenged you saying people only have anecdotal stories which is by definition not scientific fact, it is anecdotal. Your response is literally just an anecdotal story.

People have linked advice from the FDA as well as a peer reviewed study, both saying that in fact - scientific fact - amber necklaces have no proven effect and are in fact a definite hazard for strangulation, suffocation and choking.

@greeneyedlulu

The amber ones are for teething pain I think. Or maybe just wanting to teach pearl clutching early on 🤷‍♀️

Being from the Deep South of the USA, I can tell you that ALL mothers of girl children born before the late 1950's here HIGHLY value the art of pearl clutching! Mine despaired, having a daughter that wanted neither pearls nor to clutch them. Over much of anything at all.

@TheFancyPants

These ones

I can't decide whether thats more of a choking or strangling risk.

my DH is very scientific and analytical

Well please ask him to link to double blind peer-reviewed studies on the pain relieving qualities of amber. Because there aren't any. Because it's bullshit.

I can link to studies on placebo wed to in babies, regression to the mean and other proven SCIENTIFIC reasons it 'works' while having no discernible effect on pain as an analgesic.

I have no personal experience with these as neither of mine had teething issues. However I find it interesting that so many report improvements with them (and among them, types that wouldn’t naturally gravitate towards alternative therapies).

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail rather than a pile on. But this is mumsnet, so 🤷‍♀️

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail

Presumably you mean in some form that doesn't have choking or strangulation potential? There's one study mentioned which did look into it, but the findings don't support the claims.
Well, for sure, it would be a great idea if the people who make and market these necklaces would do some proper trials and publish them. It'd be fantastic for their publicity if they could prove efficacy and provide a plausible mechanism, wouldn't it?

They are not suitable for under 36months they have to also have the safety approval

The ones being sold that meet U.K. safety standards are where parents wear necklace for baby to chomp on.

They have been recalled, business been fined it’s been all over news outlets about dangers. Duno where I been hiding but it’s fact

Rospa, The FDA, U.K. Trading Standards, ASA.org have all warned of dangers of amber beads

So ignore my last question, Tks Alice for letting me tagged wrong one

So anyone tell me why the heck would you still put them on baby? knowing all that

Whoever said about some store selling, trading standards ain’t shy at handing out fines

@TheKeatingFive

I have no personal experience with these as neither of mine had teething issues. However I find it interesting that so many report improvements with them (and among them, types that wouldn’t naturally gravitate towards alternative therapies).

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail rather than a pile on. But this is mumsnet, so 🤷‍♀️

Placebo effect, presumably.

So anyone tell me why the heck would you still put them on baby? knowing all that

Apparently because they look adorable, and magical healing properties with no scientific proof. 🤦‍♀️

Some posters seem in denial that babies have died, and claiming that their baby was fine is so fucking dangerous. I'm greatful so many posters have posted common sense and science. Hopefully it will prevent someone from making such a dangerous choice, because these ancedotal stories could potentially put more children at risk.

@TheKeatingFive

I have no personal experience with these as neither of mine had teething issues. However I find it interesting that so many report improvements with them (and among them, types that wouldn’t naturally gravitate towards alternative therapies).

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail rather than a pile on. But this is mumsnet, so 🤷‍♀️

I know peoplee who report that they know someone who was in a car accident, and weren't wearing a seatbelt, and the fire brigade said if they were wearing a belt, they'd have died. Plus there the time I didn't out my seatbelt on,drive down the road,and didn't die.

So I think that not wearing your seatbelt in a car merits looking into it in more detail...

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail rather than a pile on. But this is mumsnet, so 🤷‍♀️

It has been looked into in more detail. If you read the thread several posters have linked to research - which shows no effect over placebo.

@Dancingwithdreams

They do look cute though.

No they look tacky,

@youvegottenminuteslynn

If you read my post you would see when I first put them on my child I noticed an instant change in her, her drooling stopped and she seemed somehow less agitated.

Someone challenged you saying people only have anecdotal stories which is by definition not scientific fact, it is anecdotal. Your response is literally just an anecdotal story.

People have linked advice from the FDA as well as a peer reviewed study, both saying that in fact - scientific fact - amber necklaces have no proven effect and are in fact a definite hazard for strangulation, suffocation and choking.

Thank you. That was exactly what I was getting at. Everyone who claims they worked only has anecdotal evidence from their child or a child they knew which is not actual evidence. I'm finding it hard to believe people don't comprehend how replying using anecdotal stories don't show proof they work.

As another poster so succinctly put it. If they worked those selling them would be fawning and shouting loudly about scientific studies proving what they were capable of but their not, because there aren't any.

So once again it comes down to some parents think they look cute and an I'm alright jack attitude because my kid didn't suffocate or choke whilst wearing it. Which as so many have pointed out is such a dangerous attitude towards parents who will often be desperate for a solution because their childs in pain. That child might not be so lucky in the suffocation and choking stakes, suggesting them as a solution is so dangerous.

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail rather than a pile on.

I posted a study earlier that did just that and found no effect whatsoever. Can you post any that have found that amber has analgesic properties?

They don't relive pain but do pose a choking risk. My eldest ds had a baby cardigan with buttons on and HV told me to make sure they were properly secured because they could be a choking risk.

@G5000

Personally, I think that merits looking into it in more detail rather than a pile on.

I posted a study earlier that did just that and found no effect whatsoever. Can you post any that have found that amber has analgesic properties?

Surprising how they never seem able to...

As several posters have said, if they had evidence and scientific proof then they'd be shouting about it from the rooftops.

I guess choking and strangulation would solve teething pain in their own way. Not the way I'd like to solve teething though.

The posters who said people were being hysterical and it worked anecdotally for them (for example @AliceMcK and @LookingForSalt) so there must be something in it were both directed to peer reviewed studies and the warning from the FDA among other resources.

Neither came back with their thoughts on the study or warning re strangulation, suffocation or choking.

One of them @LookingForSalt said that the idea of choking was ridiculous yet when shown direct evidence (factual, scientific and not just anecdotal) chose not to engage further in the conversation.

Which is their prerogative but doesn't do much to support their claims...

Why you would do something that even risks the strangulation of your child (letting them sleep in any necklace of any kind for example) is baffling and concerning to most people. That's not hysteria. It's just common sense and duty of care.

It's concerning enough when people admit being negligent with their own children. But when shown the facts what sort of parent would still encourage others to copy, and put another child's life at risk?

@AaronPurr

It's concerning enough when people admit being negligent with their own children. But when shown the facts what sort of parent would still encourage others to copy, and put another child's life at risk?

I agree wholeheartedly with this. The evidence for how unsafe they are is unquestionable and it's incredibly dangerous for those who have used them without the worst happening to label those who are trying to get this message across as hysterical and rediculous.

In my opinion it's also beyond unreasonable for anyone to state their child slept in them and not acknowledge that they were incredibly foolish to do so. A desperate parent could see that and take it as validation for doing the same and their child might not be so lucky.