Why do mums put those large beaded necklaces...

[TheFancyPants]

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

@Eckhart

Because they are just beads andsomeone at some point has suggested they work for teething

Lots of people talking about science here. Lots of people stating their opinions as fact.

The mechanism idiots use to explain it is that succinic acid is triggered by heat and is absorbed. Succinic acid melts at 400 degrees. Unless your baby has a REALLY high temp then I doubt that work. Also it's not absorbed through the skin. And if it were succinic acid has refers on the retinas, organs, immune cells and platelets so I'd not be giving it to an infant!

Baltic amber teething necklaces: could succinic acid leaching from beads provide anti-inflammatory effects?

bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-019-2574-9

If there is no evidence that they work, it could mean the studies haven't been done. It's not proof that they don't work. It's proof that we don't know, unless we have evidence that they don't
Someone has already posted a study that found that they don't work...

As long as there’s no choking risk I wouldn’t judge a desperate parent who tried one of there
However, I would judge a parent who used them before trying actual medicine that actually works

All the kids wear them in France. I've had to bite my tongue a lot about this. All this woo stuff annoys the hell out of me. If you go to a chemist over here, they try to sell you magic gooseberry serum for period cramps or whatever other bollocks they're peddling. They love all that shit. BUT they use it all on top off the hard stuff. Everyone I know is on some sort on antidepressant or sleeping tablet. You got to the doctor with a sore throat and come out with two kilos of diamorphine (and a sachet of dandelion root powder and hibiscus drops). FFS.

@MrsTerryPratchett

Unless your baby has a REALLY high temp then I doubt that work

Yes, I think teething would be the least of your worries at that point!

Such a waste of money.

Which is the other problem with all this kind of stuff. Gullible parents are throwing money (which sometimes they can’t afford) at all these “natural remedies” instead of £2 on a bottle of calpol. People asking where the harm is should always look at the amount of money these companies are making.

@Strokethefurrywall

Teething pain. I had one for each of my boys, worked like magic for the first one, second one didn't have any teething issues generally so not sure if it helped him.

They looked cute, and when they're babies and non mobile, much less likely to snag on anything. Babies didn't even know they were there 🤷🏽‍♀️

How do you know though ? You don't ...maybe first one was going to be like that anyway ?

I used them, when you get desperate you'll try anything! Plus they look adorable.

@B33Fr33

Because they are woo and believe that a chemical contained in Amber (ridiculously high melting point) will magically transmit itself into their child's blood stream.

They will also tell you that since wearing it their child has potty trained at 6 months, never talks back and is already reading.

But hey. I've got magic cream to sell them.

Yep.

@LookingForSalt

I used them, when you get desperate you'll try anything! Plus they look adorable.

There's nothing adorable about a choking risk.

@FoxyTheFox

I mean, what science are you basing your comment on, Foxy (for example)?

The fact that it is scientifically impossible for amber teething necklaces to a, produce a homeopathic teething remedy and b, for that remedy to be absorbed through the skin of an infant. That's in addition to the other scientific facts mentioned across the thread. They do not work. There is not the slightest shred of credible evidence that they work.

IF amber “ dissolved “ through the skin, it would lose mass. It doesn’t.

When I bought crystals for the look of them, there were books that said crystals could cure many ills. But it seemed very unlikely.

Placebo effect is very potent.

They do look cute though.

DS was born in Italy. One of the presents I was given fo him was an amber teething ring. Beautiful thing, it was.

It occurs to me that some of the Earth mother types who discount the choking and strangulation hazard might be dissuaded if they realised that succinic acid is a food additive, with an E number (E363)

Placebo effect is very potent

I agree, @oakleaffy. How does it work on somebody who is too young to understand anyway, though?

AaronPurr they don't choke. Wore them to bed and everything, same at nursery

mine was baltic amber,tiny beads individually knotted tween each bead. my baby never had a high temp,flushed face,restless night,he still wears em(age 10)met a friend who was ask how send em back-said her perfect babe was dement her-she got them.two hours perfect babe back.dont knock it til try it?

if big chunk thing itss maybe a nursing fumblething

If skin could absorb anaesetic from amber I am pretty sure hospitals etc would be using them for pain relief no!? 🤷...it's hilarious what some people believe

@LookingForSalt

AaronPurr they don't choke. Wore them to bed and everything, same at nursery

That makes me shudder. I can't believe someone would let their child sleep in a necklace, let alone a nursery setting allow it to happen. Just because your child didn't choke, doesn't mean they aren't a choking risk.

How does it work on somebody who is too young to understand anyway, though?

Placebo effect in children: a review.
www.nature.com/articles/pr201366

Believe it, happens all the time, lots of happy, beautiful children. Not all of us are as paranoid as you.

Makes me shudder that people like you are so judgmental. But there we have it.

When I bought crystals for the look of them, there were books that said crystals could cure many ills.

Oh, they can...lots of medicines consist of small crystals, and if they're polymorphic the right form can alter their absorption etc. And crystals can help in curing ills... if they're used by crystallographers to determine the structures of drugs and protein molecules and so help understand how they work and design better ones. Very helpful, are crystals! Probably not quite what your book meant though.

@Eckhart

Placebo effect is very potent

I agree, @oakleaffy. How does it work on somebody who is too young to understand anyway, though?

Because there are many variables. Kid might not be in pain that day. Mother might have placebo effect and be calmer around baby.. Kids and animals react to calm people.. Amber does not work as it has to be heated to 400 degs Fahrenheit to release anything.

I have amber here but it does nothing except look pretty if one likes golden warm things.

Look up Forbes and Amber.. by Nina Shapiro