Do amber teething necklaces work?

A handful of people this past week have asked me about Levi’s beaded necklace, so I thought I’d explain its significance today. Though I suppose it does make Levi look like a free-spirited beach bum, the purpose of the necklace is not solely to make a fashion statement (little boys can wear jewelry, too!).

Levi was just about a year old when I bought him the amber teething necklace at an Omaha baby store. Supposedly, Baltic amber contains healing oils and anti-inflammatory properties that, when worn next to the skin, help alleviate pain associated with teething (or any other ailment, I imagine). While my husband dismissed the fossilized resin accessory as “hippie voodoo bullshit,” I was willing to give any natural pain remedy a shot.

The salesperson instructed us to let Levi wear it 24/7, although some websites advise taking Baltic amber teething necklaces off at bath and bed times. As a parent who is notoriously paranoid about my son’s safety, I thought long and hard about letting Levi wear his necklace while sleeping.

Note: Although I eventually felt comfortable with him wearing it overnight, it is not my place to convince you to allow your child to do the same.

So does the amber teething necklace work? It’s hard to measure its success since there’s no control group in our little pain relief experiment, but I can say that although Levi has experienced crankiness, unwillingness to eat, and insomnia while teething, he’s never been in inconsolable pain. However, we do often supplement the natural analgesic with Hyland’s Teething Tablets and ibuprofen.

Would you consider letting your baby or toddler wear an amber teething necklace or do you think it’s “hippie voodoo bullshit” like my husband? Do you believe that Baltic amber has natural anti-inflammatory properties or is it all a marketing ploy?