When babies start teething, everyone feels it. All you want to do is soothe their aching gums and quiet their cries so you both can get some sleep.
If you are thinking about trying something new, like an amber necklace, here are two things you need to know.
- The claim is that amber contains a compound called succinic acid that is responsible for dulling the pain of teething. While it does contain this compound, there really is no solid evidence backing up the claims that an amber necklace will soothe sore gums. The proposed mechanism is questionable, too. If amber contained analgesics powerful enough to be absorbed through the skin and work on the gums, we would probably know it and use it for a variety of pain relief applications, and they would probably be regulated by the FDA.
- Amber necklaces are not safe. Your child could chew off a bead, swallow it, and choke. Also, the necklace could pose a risk of strangulation. Those risks outweigh the benefit of the placebo effect on parents.
Instead of using an amber necklace, have a variety of items available for your teething child, such as a frozen wet washcloth for them to chew on as well as a teething toys. Also consider that something else might be going on, such as an ear infection or tummy ache. If only babies could use words!
