Why do mums put those large beaded necklaces...

[TheFancyPants]

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

@LookingForSalt

wow the anger on here is strong, a lot of projection going on.

As I said upthread (but didn't get a response - your prerogative and nobody owes a response but I'm repeating it in response to your latest post) don't you think that letting a baby sleep in a necklace is a particularly risky risk when it comes to suffocation?

Hallelujah!! Finally people are starting to see sense. I remember commenting upon them being dangerous about 5-6 years ago on a MN forum and getting shouted down. There is no supporting scientific evidence whatsoever. The placebo effect cannot take effect upon a baby as they are unaware why they are wearing a necklace. They are dangerous. If people are insistent on still using them, please ensure that they are knotted in between every bead to stop swallowing if broken and also to never leave unattended or put a baby down for a nap wearing one.

www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-warns-about-safety-risks-teething-necklaces-bracelets-relieve-teething-pain-or-provide-sensory#:~:text=The%20FDA%20has%20received%20reports,either%20an%20adult%20or%20child.

Hell no would I put beads or a necklace with beads on it within 10 feet of a baby, choking hazard or strangulation, either way a big fat no. Giving a baby beads to help teething ffs!

@Strokethefurrywall

I really couldn't give a shit if it's the placebo effect *@DappledThings*. It worked, that's all I cared about.

Why do folk get so get up about what others do with their kids? Would I put a giant headband on my baby? No. Do I care that others do and judge them for it? Also no.

They get worked up about it @strokethefurrywall because it’s bad science - amber has no influence on teething whatsoever. Believing in the magic of amber beads may not matter much on the face of it - but we are living in an era of misinformation, see Covid and 5G conspiracies for example. So, non evidence based thinking is dangerous.

As I said upthread (but didn't get a response - your prerogative and nobody owes a response but I'm repeating it in response to your latest post) don't you think that letting a baby sleep in a necklace is a particularly risky risk when it comes to suffocation?

Suffocation by a bead, are you serious?

So much hysteria in here. I'll never understand why some people get their knickers in a twist about other people's parenting choices. Especially those who call others "idiots" all the while claiming to be in possession of superior knowledge and behaviour. The inability to be civil is very telling of the lack of intelligence and knowledge.

claiming to be in possession of superior knowledge
The links to peer reviewed papers and FDA are open to all, no one is in possession of them.

@LookingForSalt

As I said upthread (but didn't get a response - your prerogative and nobody owes a response but I'm repeating it in response to your latest post) don't you think that letting a baby sleep in a necklace is a particularly risky risk when it comes to suffocation?

Suffocation by a bead, are you serious?

So much hysteria in here. I'll never understand why some people get their knickers in a twist about other people's parenting choices. Especially those who call others "idiots" all the while claiming to be in possession of superior knowledge and behaviour. The inability to be civil is very telling of the lack of intelligence and knowledge.

I was thinking of suffocation by the necklace being worn overnight / catching on something etc. Maybe strangulation is a more accurate term - surely you can see the risk of that?

Do I believe it works for teething.... No. But my daughter never suffered so maybe! She's worn hers since she was little and now refuses to now wear one. She's 4.5.

Putting these beads on your child is indicative of an inability to read, and think critically.

I wonder if they’d sell less well if they were forced to add an info sheet on succinic acid, and another on choking risk in infants to every boxed bead string.

Although I suppose you’d have to ‘believe’ that succinic acid was the only active ‘ingredient’ in real amber. But for those who go with at least that much science, they’d surely be interested in the animal testing trials that found various levels of severity of toxicity (as a broad term).

Succinic acid has a Pregnancy (health) risk rating of ‘C’, causes irritation to eyes, possible increase of thyroid adenomas, linked to weight loss, etc (in animals).

Interestingly, it isn’t considered to be absorbed through the skin.

I wonder if that would be enough facts to tip the balance of decision-making away from ‘oh but I think they’re so pretty’ or ‘it can’t hurt to give it a go’ ??

Suffocation by a bead? Are you serious?

I think the FDA are serious.

Today, the FDA issued a safety communication after receiving a small number of medical device reports, including one death. One report involved a 7-month old child who choked on the beads of a wooden teething bracelet while under parental supervision and was taken to the hospital, and another involved an 18-month old child who was strangled to death by his amber teething necklace during a nap.

www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-warns-about-safety-risks-teething-necklaces-bracelets-relieve-teething-pain-or-provide-sensory

@MrsTerryPratchett

Suffocation by a bead? Are you serious?

I think the FDA are serious.

Today, the FDA issued a safety communication after receiving a small number of medical device reports, including one death. One report involved a 7-month old child who choked on the beads of a wooden teething bracelet while under parental supervision and was taken to the hospital, and another involved an 18-month old child who was strangled to death by his amber teething necklace during a nap.

@LookingForSalt How many infant deaths do we need before we take applying ineffective and dangerous 'jewellery' on babies seriously?

I was sent one for my youngest child , she isn’t teething yet , but I don’t think I shall use it as I’d be worried about choking. Also mine didn’t have teething problems, only rosy cheeks sometimes.

My 2 year old daughter was choking on a little rubber stopper the size of a pinky nail, so yes suffocation or choking hazard.

My nephew ate beads from a necklace we only found out about it when my sister came running in with the nappy full of them through his poo, they could easily have got stuck in his gullet. Beads or anything small like that is bloody dangerous, that's why they have teething rings that are aimed at babies.

Apparently you’re meant to recharge the amber teething bracelets/necklaces in the light of a full moon (at least that’s what one of my baby group teachers told me). I laughed thinking she was joking but no, completely serious.

I didn’t know that still used, I only fell for the gimmick £15 squeaky giraffe that was actually shit and wasn’t the miracle must have for teething baby.

It was overpriced dog chew

I personally see a major safety hazard and wonder how long before ebay etc.. are flooded with cheaply made copies which could be made using anything as unregulated.

So much hysteria in here. I'll never understand why some people get their knickers in a twist about other people's parenting choices.

I'll never understand why people put their children in such dangerous situations. The risk of strangulation and choking is very real, as some parents have tragically discovered.

If you think caring about child saftey is hysteria and would rather put your child at risk because it looks adorable, don't be surprised when people comment on your negligent parenting.

@GlmPmum

Baltic Amber. My DS now almost two has had an anklet on since 6 weeks old. I've no idea how they work but they do. Weve never I genuinely mean it, had no problems with teething, no screaming the house down in insufferable pain etc, the only niggle we've ever had is dribbling and that's it.

Not woo at all just thought it was worth a pop and its worked!

My baby never had problems with teething. I never put an amber necklace on him either. Some babies don't have teething issues. Yours clearly didn't, but that's bog all to do with amber.

@LookingForSalt

wow the anger on here is strong, a lot of projection going on.

What do you think people are projecting here?

I loving the placebo effect, regression to the mean, pro evidence base, pro science, rational posters on this thread. My people!!

Oh and another - amber necklaces are bollocks and potentially dangerous. From an anaesthetist with two science degrees who uses different anaesthetic drugs every single working day.

And to the poster who said beads couldn’t be a choking hazard, I have removed numerous small objects from children’s airways over the years including beads. If they can fit it in their mouths it can get stuck.

@countbackfromten

I loving the placebo effect, regression to the mean, pro evidence base, pro science, rational posters on this thread. My people!!

Me too!

Before I ever looked at it I had the impression MN would be full of anti-vaxx, amber bead wearing, homeopathic nonsense. I was so pleased to find out that 90% of the time it really goes the other way and rational thought nearly always wins the day.