As a parent, you go the extra mile with safety around every corner—and when it comes to things that your baby will touch or wear, knowing what goes into the product you choose is of utmost importance. Over the past several years, there has been a rise in popularity of amber teething necklaces, and that has caused many parents to question where Baltic amber is sourced from and, more importantly, if it’s safe for their children to wear.
Amber teething necklaces have gained huge popularity because the theory behind them is that their body heat will trigger a minute release of oil containing succinic acid. This is a naturally-occurring substance found in the body and, when absorbed, advocates claim it will have an analgesic effect on sore and swollen gums. However, while these necklaces are drug-free and natural, are they safe to wear?
At Powell’s Owls we recommend that all amber jewelry is used under supervision. Amber necklaces are made for wearing, not for chewing!
We recommend the following 3 rules:
1) Parents should always supervise their child when wearing the necklace or bracelet
2) Remove the necklace or bracelet when their child is asleep or unattended. If you want you could put a bracelet on your child or wind the necklace around their ankle and safely cover with clothing.
3) Do not allow child to chew the necklace or bracelet
The Alternatives...
We receive many emails about additional alternatives for teething relief and what else can be done in conjunction to wearing an amber teething necklace or amber teething bracelet. Chewable toys are your safest bet. Made of wood, plastic, or rubber, these toys can help sooth aching gums due to the counter pressure when your baby gnaws on them. Textured surfaces typically provide more relief, but choose ones that are too large to be swallowed and avoid toys with parts that could break off. Freezable chewable toys, are also a great source of relief for your child. These provide numbing action as well to help fight inflammation, but if you don’t want to splurge on specialty toys, you can wet and freeze a washcloth with a knot tied on one end.
No matter what you choose always remember that safety is the number one priority. In many cases using an amber teething necklace in conjunction to other alternatives such as chewable toys can help provide teething relief and make your baby happy once again!