Amber teething necklaces have been around for years and within the last few years, their popularity has skyrocketed on an international level. As the name suggests, amber teething necklaces are designed for use with babies who are experiencing teething. As more and more parents turn to these necklaces to soothe their baby’s teething pains, the question being asked is: just how safe is my amber teething necklace? To answer this question, let’s break down some of the key factors about these necklaces and why they work.
What are they made from?
An amber teething necklace is made from amber. Many people assume amber is a stone due to its appearance, but amber is actually fossilized tree resin. While amber may be somewhat similar in appearance to tree sap, tree resin and tree sap are not the same thing. Resin is created through a process that takes hundreds of years, with the end result being a sturdy, amber-toned resin.
While amber is a non-toxic material, it is not meant to be chewed on or put into the mouth due to the size of the amber ‘beads’ being a choking hazard on unsupervised children. Always supervise your children when they are wearing their amber teething necklace, and ensure that the necklace is not too tight or too loose.
How do they work?
Amber teething necklaces work through the natural power of succinic acid. Succinic acid is a healing agent and natural analgesic which works when it is absorbed into the skin; traditionally, amber was used in ointments and lotions designed to soothe arthritis and other pain in adults as well as teething pain in infants. When babies wear these necklace against their skin, the succinic acid is absorbed through their skin. This results in a natural soothing effect due to the pain relief from the succinic acid.
It’s important to note again that amber teething necklaces are not designed to be used like modern teether necklaces, which are designed for infants to chew and gnaw on in order to ease some of the physical discomfort caused by teething. Amber teething necklaces are made from smaller resin ‘beads,’ which can present a choking hazards. Again, always supervise your children when they wear their necklaces, and never let them wear one while sleeping.
The final verdict: How safe are they?
The answer is straightforward: They are safe, as long as you use common sense. Amber resin itself is non-toxic, and the succinic acid is perfectly natural and safe. There are no side effects with amber or succinic acid, unlike other teething remedies such as ointments.
Your amber teething necklace is safe as long as you are exercising standard precautions, as you would with any object around your baby that could present a choking hazard if left unsupervised. Never let your child wear the necklace while sleeping or unsupervised, and always wear it properly--never wrap a necklace around their wrist or ankle.
About Us:
At Powell's Owls we sell a wide range of 100% authentic Baltic amber necklaces and bracelets. We pride ourselves on only selling the best amber jewelry that we have selected from the Baltic region. Our jewelry has been certified authentic by the Gemological Institute of America, the world’s leading authority in gemology.
