Difference between revisions of "Buy an Amber Teething Necklace"

Baltic amber is a homeopathic remedy used to relieve the pain associated with teething in babies and toddlers. Baltic amber contains high levels of succinic acid,<ref name="rf1">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19125432</ref> which is thought to stimulate recovery of the neural system and reduce inflammation.<ref name="rf2">http://www.chamberofcommerce.pl/amber-succinic-acid/</ref> There is anecdotal evidence that when amber is worn on the skin, it has an analgesic affect and can reduce the side effects of teething, such as ear aches, swollen gums, fevers, colds, diaper rashes and loss of appetite.<ref name="rf3">http://scienceornot.net/2012/10/30/amber-necklaces-and-teething-babies/</ref>

#Choose a necklace with hand tied knots in between each bead.  Pediatricians warn of the risk of choking if the beads are put in the baby's mouth and inhaled, which could happen if the necklace breaks and the beads scatter.<ref name="rf4">https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/amber-waves-of-woo/</ref>

#* This structure ensures that if the necklace is strongly yanked or pulled, only one bead will come loose, rather than all of the beads.<ref name="rf5">http://www.amberartisans.com/frasqu.html</ref>  

#* Supervise your child when they are wearing the necklace so that you can act quickly and ensure no beads are swallowed if the necklace does break.<ref name="rf6">http://www.alternative-mama.com/amber-teething-necklaces/</ref>

#Consider the type of fastening clasp. Teething necklaces, indeed any jewelry placed around an infant's neck, pose a significant risk of choking and strangulation.<ref name="rf7">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/amber-teething-necklaces-pose-choking-hazard/</ref>  However, there are specific designs that will ensure the necklace breaks under stress if it becomes entangled, reducing this risk.

#* The screw clasp keeps the necklace secure around the child's neck and is difficult for a child to unhook, which keeps the child from taking the necklace off on their own. Some argue this offers greater security than a magnetic clasp.<ref name="rf8">http://www.ambermama.com/pages/amber-teething-necklace-safety.html</ref>

#* Look for necklaces between 12 and 15 inches (30-38 cm) long. This should fit 95% of teething infants between 4 months and 3 years.<ref name="rf9">http://www.gummybabies.com.au/pages/baltic-amber-faq-s</ref>

#Opt for a necklace with a multi-thread string. An amber teething necklace should be designed with double or triple-strung cotton threads for maximum strength and durability.  Although strong, the string will eventually break if placed under stress, which reduces the risk of choking.<ref name="rf10">http://www.cottonbabies.com/blog/2013/10/real-mom-talk-why-we-use-amber-teething-necklaces.html</ref>

#* Authentic Baltic amber dates from 44 million years ago and has 200 times the amount of succinic acid (the therapeutic ingredient) than other types of amber.<ref name="rf6" />  

#* Countries in the Baltic region that produce amber include Sweden, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Denmark.<ref name="rf11">http://www.britannica.com/place/Baltic-states</ref>

#Avoid products marketed as "copal amber." Copal is an immature resin (typically less than 250 years old) often passed off as amber. Unlike amber, copal is not a fossilized and hardened resin.<ref name="rf12">http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/trueamber.shtml</ref>

#* Do not purchase amber teething necklaces that advertise amber from Columbia, Madagascar or Kenya. These geographic areas have rich Copal mines, but do not produce true amber.<ref name="rf13">http://www.jtv.com/library/copal-amber-intro.html</ref>

#* You can test if your product is copal or amber by rubbing with a solvent such as acetone or alcohol. Copal will soften and get sticky when the solvent is applied whereas true amber will remain hard and the solvent will simply evaporate off.<ref name="rf14">hhttp://www.mindat.org/mesg-100-286019.html</ref>   

#* Succinic acid is the therapeutic ingredient that soothes the teething infant.<ref name="rf15">http://www.blessedmaineherbs.com/apde.html</ref>

#* For best results, fasten the necklace around your child's neck and tuck it inside her shirt. Tucking the necklace into clothing also keeps your child from pulling on it.<ref name="rf16">http://thecreativemama.com/a-natural-teething-remedy-for-babies/</ref>   

#Remove when your child is sleeping or unsupervised for a long period of time.  The longer the amber necklace is worn the greater the effect, however, because of the risk of strangulation, you should remove the necklace when you are not around to supervise your child or if the child is sleeping.<ref name="rf6" />

#* You can also wrap the necklace around your child's ankle and cover with a sock while they sleep at night to maintain the effect.<ref name="rf17">http://alphamom.com/parenting/baby/amber-teething-necklaces-helpful-or-hype/</ref>

#* If you are worried about putting a necklace around your child's neck, amber teething bracelets and anklets are also available. However, because the extremities give off less heat and the surface area of the amber is less, the effect may be slightly reduced.<ref name="rf18">http://blogs.babycenter.com/products_and_prizes/amber-teething-necklaces-do-they-work/</ref>

#Inspect the necklace frequently to ensure that it is in good condition. Look for any missing beads or broken stones.<ref name="rf19">http://www.amberartisans.com/howtouseteam.html</ref>

#* If the stones look dull after this process, rub a small amount of olive oil on the stones to recover the sheen.<ref name="rf20">http://www.katesurfs.com/2013/06/11/how-to-clean-an-amber-teething-necklace/</ref>