Teething Necklaces?

[DBug]

So I've had a few kids now that come with amber teething necklaces over the past year or so -- does anyone else have experience with these? I'm so afraid that another child will pull on it and choke the child, or that the child will strangle themselves while they're sleeping or that it will get pulled apart by the child who is wearing it, or that it will get eaten by another child ... . I'm sure these fears are unfounded, but what do you ladies do with them? Do you let the child wear them while playing and take it off for naptime, or what?

I did have one mom who would put it on her LO's ankle, under her sock. But either she or another child would end up getting her sock and the necklace off, so I would end up putting it up anyway.

What do you do?

[Cat Herder]

I don't allow them.

They cannot be LEGALLY sold as medical devices OR toys in the US.

They are against regs as "Suffocation and Choking Hazard."

[Solandia]

My boys both have amber necklaces or amber & hazelwood. I allow jewelry until it becomes an issue, then it is gone for a while (like a month or until I find them when I clean off the top of the TV cabinet, ). Always take them off for naps, and outdoor play...only because they play rougher outside, and during naps are not in line of sight 100% of the time...I dont want anyone hanging themselves with a necklace.

None of my daycare parents have ever brought kids with jewelry on a regular basis...

[SilverSabre25]

My DS wears one It helps a lot.

I don't let other people near my babies so I wouldn't worry about another child pulling on one because the other children don't touch the babies.

As for choking, strangling, eating, there is a knot between each bead so if it does break there will be at most one bead free. The beads are usually tiny and while swallowable, not likely to choke the child. The thread the necklace is on is also designed to break under a certain amount of pressure. If the necklace fits properly then there's not much risk of strangulation, either.

[SunflowerMama]

My own daughters wore them when they were infants and I have 2 current infants that wear them daily.

They really helped my girls and seem to help the dcks in care. I just keep an eye on the kids and as long as the necklaces aren't long and are worn more snuggly it would be difficult for another child to pull it off or for them to be strangled.

I also keep my infants within site at naptime so I allow them to be worn at nap.

[Oneluckymom]

OK I had no idea what you guys were talking about so I had to look them up on Amazon. OMG, just looking at them gave me shivers. How are the beads secured so the baby doesn't pull them off. I would be so paranoid for a baby in my care to choke on one.

[DBug]

Thanks for the input guys! I think I'll start taking them off during the day and just leave them in each child's cubby. It doesn't bother the parents at all, but I'm thinking I'd rather not have the potential for something bad to happen. I mean, all it takes is for a toddler to hook their finger through the back of one of the necklaces and pull when I've got my back turned.

In one case it's a toddler wearing one, and that worries me more -- a toddler could quite easily get it caught on something or pull it herself.

Thanks all!!

[KEG123]

Both my own kids (3 months and 3 years) wear them. I'm with some others above that they would come off if they become an issue.

[saved4always]

OK I had no idea what you guys were talking about so I had to look them up on Amazon. OMG, just looking at them gave me shivers. How are the beads secured so the baby doesn't pull them off. I would be so paranoid for a baby in my care to choke on one.

I had to look it up, too. I agree...there is no way I would allow a child I am watching to wear one of those in my house. I would be stressed out constantly that it would fall apart and one of the children would eat/swallow the beads or that it would get caught on something and choke a child. It is not worth taking a chance for me.

[countrymom]

what is the purpose of them. I had to look them up. All I could think about is, "what happens if it lets go and I have to pick up every little one" I don't understand why parents wouldn't give them something to relieve the pain. Its like when an adult has teeth pain, they would take some tylenol not a teething necklace. (my molars have been bothering all week, I'm living on tylenol so I can so sympathize with the babies, it hurts.)

[cheerfuldom]

I know many people that swear by them. One dad I know wore them when he got his wisdom teeth pulled. That said, I would not allow my daycare kids to wear them....too much liability if they got hurt. My own kids have worn them but I take them off when they go to sleep. they only wear them when I am right there with them.

[youretooloud]

They're so popular now, I don't even notice them anymore. I've heard good things about them, and they do look kinda sweet. I'd buy one if I had a little one of my own.

I've been seeing a lot of fakes out there lately though. It makes me mad that someone would sell knock offs.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I don't get it. Do they chew on this thing, or just wear it? If the latter, how does that do anything?

[youretooloud]

I don't get it. Do they chew on this thing, or just wear it? If the latter, how does that do anything?

http://www.amber-teething-necklace.com/

I love the looks of them... and people swear they work.. but, I'm not sure how or why, or if it's real or just a hoax. But, if it works, it works.

[Mary Poppins]

The hubs wants to know if they make one of these for PMSing and if so, where can he buy a case of them??? ::