Friday, February 15, 2013

The Skinny on Amber Teething Necklaces



Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor do I claim to be one. I am aware that these necklaces are not FDA approved. Obviously artisan hippies do not have enough money to remotely begin the approval process that most large drug companies do. I am also aware that some believe them to be nothing more than magic amulets. If you're not going to say anything nice in the comment section below, please click the "x" in your browsing window. I simply turned to the trusty internet and twitter moms who have gone before me to provide research and evidence regarding the amber teething necklace and after several weeks of using one? I am a believer. So there. I did not receive free product nor financial compensation for this post. All opinions expressed below are entirely my own. 

At first, I wasn't a believer. I would see picture after picture after picture of Internet babies wearing these "hippie" necklaces and I would immediately doubt their efficacy. I couldn't fathom how something worn on the skin would alleviate the pain from teething transforming once irritable monstrous babies into delightful happy little humans.

And then my second son started teething. It was as if overnight he went from a bubbly mellow little fellow to a drooling cranky disaster baby. He was six months old at the time and I was thisclose to losing my mind. As a last resort I jumped online at the encouragement of a friend and ordered him an amber teething necklace.

When it came down to it, I ordered him the most "manly" one I could find. It turned out to be the cognac Baltic amber necklace. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't make fun of his necklace but it's usually around the time that they start asking where his patchouli stick is that I invite them to sleep over our house on a day that I decide he doesn't need to wear his necklace. Miraculously they decline.

Maclane is now seven and a half months and I am a believer. Since he has begun wearing his amber teething necklace I have noticed such an incredible difference in him and it wasn't until he had taken a small break from wearing it that I knew it was working. 

A few weeks ago I had removed his necklace during bath time and had absentmindedly forgotten to put it back on once he was in his jammies. Tucked safely away in the guest bathroom medicine cabinet, a couple of days went by before I even remembered it was in there. It was during those two days that I wanted to jump ship on life.

Maclane was suddenly having difficultly soothing himself to sleep at night and once asleep, he was waking much more than normal. During his waking hours he was the clingiest baby I had ever laid eyes on, often refusing to be anywhere other than my arms.

And that's when it hit me like a ton of bricks. He wasn't wearing his necklace. Could it be? Could that tiny little accessory really work that well? I immediately ran upstairs and grabbed the necklace, replacing it around his neck. Within an hour I saw a difference. I couldn't believe it.

They work. They really, really work. Here I am, nearly four and a half weeks later and I wanted to tell you these "hippie" amber teething necklaces really work.

During these last several weeks I've received tons of questions on Mac's teething necklace so I figured I would write up a post about our experience and answer some of the more popular questions that I've received.

Here goes!

1. Which is better Baltic amber or Hazelwood?

From what I've learned, Baltic amber tends to last longer and therefore you should choose that one. Provided that you do not break the breads or get them goop-ed up with lotions, shampoos, etc. However, the baltic healing properties tend to be "acidic" in nature so if your baby has issues with acid reflux or eczema, then Hazelwood is a better choice.

2. How does it work?

YOU DO NOT PUT THIS NECKLACE IN YOUR BABY'S MOUTH. I feel like this needs to be said because for the longest time whenever I heard "teething necklace" I assumed it was something the baby chewed on. This is NOT that kind of necklace. When amber is worn, it warms when in contact with the skin. It is through this warming that it begins to release it's therapeutic healing properties.

3. Does he wear it all the time? Is it safe to sleep in?

Maclane wears his necklace all the time with the exception of baths. It is not recommended that babies sleep in their necklaces or wear them when unsupervised as they can be a strangulation hazard. For the first few weeks I would not let Maclane sleep with his necklace on. Some moms suggested that I wrap it around his ankle and others that I spoke with said they left it on. Once Maclane became used to wearing his well-fitting necklace and I noticed that it so often remained beneath the collar of his pajamas, I felt safe letting him wear it to bed at night. This is a personal decision. Please, please do your research on this and only do what you feel comfortable doing. Not once in our experience using this necklace has Maclane grabbed at it, let alone tried to put it in his mouth. In fact, properly fitting necklaces shouldn't be able to reach the baby's mouth.

4. What's with all of the different colors?

Supposedly the lighter color amber necklaces are "stronger" and therefore used to treat more "chronic" pain issues. Again, I was mostly concerned with my child wearing a "manly" necklace and therefore went with the cognac, a slightly darker amber.

Do your research. Talk with other moms. Make your own informed decisions. If you're interested in purchasing a similar Baltic amber teething necklace, I've included the link below to the one that Maclane wears. Feel free to email me with any questions!






35 comments :

  1. Has he gotten any new teeth in during the month and a half time hevhas worn it?

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  2. I'm so glad you posted an update on this!! After I asked you about it a while back and you said you weren't sold I sort of wrote it off and stopped thinking about it. Maybe I'll get back to researching them Reid has been waking up during the night again and I can't figure out a solution. I'm glad you've found something that works for you!

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  3. ok I've been so curious about this thing. The part that always freaks me out is them pulling it apart and chocking on the pieces or strangling themselves but I see all these tots in them and they seem fine. Maybe next one...

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  4. Landon just got his amber neckless last week and he is a completely different baby. I swear by it- there are alot of laughs, looks, and eye rolls when I tell people what it is-- so if they want they can come take care of my baby when he isnt wearing it and maybe their mind will change;)

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  5. I love this post!!! I had the exact same experience with my son. He was 6 months old, got his first 2 teeth in 2 days and was all of a sudden a MISERABLE little boy - i got him an amber bead necklace and within 24 hours his rosy cheeks, drooling and cranky attitude were gone. He has always worn his necklace (he is now 2/5 yrs old!) and I took it off one evening, as i thought to myself "he doesn't need it anymore" and he woke up with the rosiest cheeks and just miserable! I put it back on and ta-da! back to normal. I tell ALL my friends to get these necklaces and have even started buying them as baby shower gifts for some (the ones I know will use them and not disregard the awesome gift!) Great Post!!

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  6. We have one for Hayden and I'm also a believer. Although, my husband refuses to let him wear it like a necklace, so I wrap it around his ankle. He got the two bottom teeth in and we didn't even notice other than some excessive drooling! He's working on the top two now and again, just some extra drooling and fingers in the mouth, no pain that we can tell! I say it's worth a shot, what can it hurt? :)

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  7. I like the nakey baby much more than the teething necklace, although it's pretty fab too. But that bare baby...scrumptious!!!!!

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  8. I have several friends who use these and love them... one of them decided to try wrapping it around his ankle a couple of times. (not too tight) since he is in pants most of the time anyways...

    and it still works! I thought it was a great idea. no crappy "necklace" comments with all the benefits.

    I wonder if this has worked for anyone else?

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  9. I have many friends in my area that use these necklaces. On of my friends with a pretty boy (not meaning that bad- but he is pretty!) kept getting questions about gender and why her boy was in a necklace.

    So she decided to try wrapping around his ankle leg (covered by pants so he cant take it off) and not too tight to mess with circulation--- and it still works!!

    Has anyone else had success with this?

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  10. We are Believers over here! My 20 month old has been wearing hers for months and I swear by it. And it looks cute as hell, too. I love how they look on boys- Mac rocks the look! Thanks for sharing such an informative post- I can't tell you how many side eyes I've gotten from uninformed people who think I'd be crazy enough to let my child chew on some beads. I'm preg with #2 and you can bet she'll be sporting an amber necklace, too :)

    :) Katie

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  11. Yay!!! So glad it has worked for you! I will say it is important to note that not everything advertised as Baltic amber is authentic amber.... if the price is TOO good its probably fake. $17+ is a general price point :). Btw, we let brycen sleep with his too, because him waking up at night wasn't worth a possible risk of a necklace he doesn't even realize is there! Mac looks adorable in his amber :)

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  12. Luckily, my husband is a 'surfer dude' and many friends write it off as a mini surfer boy necklace. I had my son start to wear a hazelwood necklace around 3/4 months for acid reflux. Honestly, not sure if that worked. Around 6 months, I saw the amber teething necklaces were on sale, so I got him one. I HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK! He wore his first one all the time-baths, swims in the lake/ocean/pool. He still hadn't even gotten his first tooth, but he was considered by all my friends and family as the 'happy baby.' We got him a new necklace for his first birthday, to start fresh and take it off during water activities. Since then, he has gotten 12 teeth (18 months old) and we have maybe had a week total of having to get up at night (which included popping the paci back in and going back to sleep). Just 2 weeks ago, we also forgot to put it back on after bath time the night before and he was a grouchy wreck, unable to be soothed. I couldn't figure it out until I saw the necklace sitting on the counter. AHA!! An hour or two later, crisis averted. Sorry for the extremely long winded post, but I AM A BELIEVER!! And ALL my proceeding babies will have one of their own. And....I'm done...:)

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  13. Rowan didn't have any trouble with teeth so I'm guesssing this next child will have tons. I've ask several of my "crunchier" friends and they love the necklaces. I didn't know there were different kinds other than one friend said "make sure it's unpolished." I think my biggest fear is the choking hazard...I wish someone would make an amber potion or powder I could rub on instead. I'm just so afraid of it getting wrapped up or breaking and getting inhaled!

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  14. I don't have children, but I have heard of these in the past.

    P.S. I think you are a WONDERFUL mother, and a phenomenal blogger. Yours is one of the first blogs I fell in love with, and it's what I hope my blog resembles one day when I have children. I've also become more comfortable with my "voice" on my blog. Keep up the good work!

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  15. I am so intrigued by this necklace!
    And since all of your other "baby" or "mom" needs have been dead on and more than helpful, I'll most likely be giving this a try when teething time comes! Glad it's working for you and Mac! Screw everyone else who mocks it.

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  16. Just ordered one! My daughter has been miserable with her molars, so I am willing to try anything! Thanks for the review!

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  17. You answered so many questions I have had for years. If I had read this 2 years ago, I would have used it for sure. Second baby will reap the benefits. Thanks!

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  18. I recommended one to my bosses (as I can vouch for how well they work), and they ordered one for L immediately. They still take it off at night but I'm sure as he gets older they will begin to leave it on. His extended family was wary and maybe they still are, but babies here wear them all the time. Not a week goes by that I don't see at least a few infants and/or toddlers wearing them, but I can only vouch for Southern CA. (:

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  19. Great post! I've been wondering how it's been working for baby Mac. Bonus, they're on sale at zulily today!

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  20. Totally reminded me to order a new one. I originally got the bracelet for Paityn's ankle thinking that would be the way to go and DUH, she can just reach down and take it right off and put it in her mouth. First off, its clearly not efficient that way and second, danger! danger! So yea, need to get a necklace. Thanks!

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  21. I just ordered one! I have been on the fence for a while and I just haven't felt 100% about giving him teething tablets or tylenol on a regular basis. Thank you for sharing and I am looking forward to seeing how it works for Hudson!

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  22. I REALLY wish you would have said that these are a hoax and don't work at all. I've been thinking about ordering one for a while but kept talking myself out of it. Now I feel like I have to buy one, ha!

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  23. TOTALLY on board with this! I actually bought Weston one from a mom in my playgroup that was used and I swear by it! We get a lot of looks and flack about his "hippie necklace" but we just let it roll off and tell people that we're not sure if it works but that if they want to come over on a night we take it off, they are more than welcome. I used to take it off at night but haven't taken it off in probably 6 months (he's 14 months) and have noticed a HUGE difference in his attitude. :)

    Regarding putting it on his ankle - I found that even if I looped it around twice, it was WAY too big for his ankle and would fall off which was MUCH scarier than having him wear it around his neck at night.

    Seriously. LOVE IT. I haven't tried it, but have heard that the amber can help adults who are sick, etc too.

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  24. AP: this: "Obviously artisan hippies do not have enough money to remotely begin the approval process that most large drug companies do." is one of the funniest sentences you have ever written. I say if it doesn't hurt, who cares!? And, lastly...mostly writing this comment to say I FEEL SO DUMB. I thought it was something the mom wore and the baby chewed on!

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  25. Thanks for this post! I got a recommendation to get a amber teething necklace for my youngest who was also having terrible teething pain, but didn't really understand how it worked, etc. until reading your post. Received mine last week and can already tell a difference in his mood! I'll be making this recommendation from now on as well.

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  26. Here HEre! Fenn had one too and I agree that it is helpful! I also have one for my lower back that I thought was super helpful!

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  27. My son has been a total nightmare for the last three days/two nights. I remembered this post from a few days ago and just purchased a necklace from the same seller, but in honey color, even though it's a bit more girly. Here's hoping it works! Mama would like her sleep back, please.

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  28. I have been curious about these amber teething necklaces as well- and after researching them, I have found the best one here http://www.sweetbottomsbaby.com/Baltic-Amber-Teething-Necklace-Designs_c_83.html

    This one worked best for my daughter. Love the blog!

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  29. I wasn't crazy about this idea and honestly, I'm still not... but it seems like such a great idea. I need to get over the idea of my children choking and just try it.

    Great write up!

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  30. Thanks for such an informative post. I was already to order amber but you've educated me that I should order hazelwood for my reflux baby with eczema! THANK YOU!

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  31. Thank you for posting this!! Definitely keeping it for the future!

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  32. Thanks for clearing it up that these are amber necklaces that baby wears, not chews!

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  33. I have 3 kids under 6 years old, my youngest baby girl (9 mo.) who is cutting teeth like crazy all a sudden, she has 4 on the bottom & her top 2 coming through... I don't know why or how this fad has slipped by me, I've came across the amber teething necklace online but didn't think much of it, but now I wish I would've researched & came across your blog sooner! So much of how you explained your son went from a bubbly lil man to cranky and miserable with his gums sounds like what my baby girl is going through. Ya know, every baby is different, but it seems like with my Emma , her teeth are giving her fits, it seems worse with her then how it was with my other two... She is such a loving happy girl, it breaks my heart knowing she's is so much pain she'll squeal out so loud it rings my eardrums! We've tried everything on the shelves at the drugstore for teething pain, so anyway, thanks for the review! I never post replies on these type of things,but I just felt the need to this time! I'm going to go shop online for one now!

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  34. Good article. Well presented arguments. However, please edit your “it’s” to “its” when you’re using the possessive.
    http://www.amberbuddy.com.au/

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  35. Are you looking for the fabulous baltic amber necklaces and bracelets for your kids? Amber Buddy is the best online store for baltic amber beads, necklaces and bracelets in Australia.
    http://www.amberbuddy.com.au/

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