As they grow babies experience many unpleasant side-effects from teething, such as drooling, fussiness, and the inability to sleep. You might be tempted to give your baby a teething necklace to help alleviate their discomfort. There are many varieties available, such as those made from amber, wood, or silicone. But are they safe?
Misconceptions About Amber Teething Necklaces
Lately, there’s been lots of hype about amber teething necklaces. If you’re interested in them, it’s important to know some important facts. First, the necklace isn’t really made of amber gemstones. As The Bump reports, it’s made of fossilized tree resin. Second, babies aren’t meant to actually chew on the necklaces. It’s said that amber necklaces release succinic acid that gets absorbed by the baby’s skin and this is what relieves teething discomfort because it works as a painkiller. Although there’s no scientific evidence to back up this claim, some parents swear by these necklaces.
Risks Of Teething Necklaces
There’s no doubt that you worry about putting anything around your baby’s neck as it can cause strangulation. There’s also the worry of babies chewing on beads that come undone and then choking on them. This is the case for all teething beads, no matter what material they’re made of.
There have been some reports of children getting harmed and even dying because of teething necklaces. In 2018, the U.S. Food And Drug Administration released a warning about teething beads and necklaces after viewing reports of children choking on beads that had snapped off. There was also the case of an 18-month-old baby getting strangled to death by an amber necklace while sleeping.
Although some necklace manufacturers insist that the beads are meant to snap off quickly and easily if they get tangled, if you’re going to buy a teething necklace, always make sure that the beads are fastened well and that you only let your baby wear it when you’re around.
Safer Ways To Ease Teething Discomfort
There are other ways to ease your baby’s discomfort during teething. These include light massage over the sore areas in your baby’s mouth and giving your children damp washcloths that can be gnawed on safely, as reported by Healthy Children. Some chew toys can also help, but always make sure that they don’t contain harmful chemicals such as BPA and phthalate.
Giving your child a BPA-free sippy cup filled with cold water can offer relief. One that comes with a dentist-recommended soft spout is also recommended to keep baby’s teeth and gums healthy. All of our sippy cups are BPA-Free and are meant to help babies while they are teething. Find them in the shop.
Sources: The Bump, FDA, Healthy Children
Editor’s Note: Giulia Simolo is a freelance content provider & writer for Daphyl’s LLC. Daphyl’s is a USA based multi-national world leader in safe, innovative, Licensed Rock N Roll, branded baby gear. The opinions, advice and assertions made in this article are for entertainment and information purposes only & are solely those of the author.
Stick To Good Daily Harness Habits
A good way to untangle those straps quickly when they’re especially problematic is to follow three easy steps from ERF Mission. First, fold the car seat harness strap over onto itself, as if you are folding it in half. Then, pull the plastic connector bit over this fold. Once you’ve pulled it all the way down, you’ll see that it has straightened out the twisted straps. Phew, now you’re ready to go.
