Updated 27 October 2026: This is an updated version of my original post. I have kept my experience of being curious about amber beads, but corrected the health claims and safety advice. Amber teething jewellery is not a safe teething aid.
When your baby is miserable with teething, it is understandable to look for something that might help. I had heard so many mums swear by Baltic amber beads that I was intrigued. In my original post, I said I was on the fence and wanted to give them another go.
Looking back, my question, “What have you got to lose?”, was the wrong one. Other parents’ enthusiasm does not establish that something works or that it is safe. I would not recommend amber necklaces, bracelets or anklets for a baby.
Do amber beads help with teething?
Claims about amber releasing a pain-relieving substance through the skin are not supported by convincing scientific evidence. My original article presented claims about succinic acid, immunity and “healing energy” as established facts. Those claims should not have been presented that way.
Why the safety advice matters
Amber jewellery can cause choking or strangulation. Knots between the beads, wearing it underneath clothes or moving it to a wrist or ankle do not make it a safe teething treatment. The Health Service Executive advises never using amber teething jewellery for babies and young children. Read its amber teething jewellery safety guidance.
What can help instead?
The NHS suggests a teething ring to chew on. Follow the maker’s instructions; some can be chilled in the fridge, but do not freeze them or tie one around your baby’s neck. Comforting and distracting your baby may help too.
If your baby is in pain, ask a pharmacist about suitable medicine and follow its age limits and instructions. The NHS says there is little evidence that teething gels work and advises against general oral pain-relief gels for children. Its tips for helping your teething baby explain the options.
Do not assume every symptom is teething. If your baby seems unwell or you are worried, speak to your health visitor, pharmacist or GP.
My view now
I still understand the appeal of a simple answer when a little one is unsettled. But I want the advice here to be useful and honest. This is one of those times when looking again at an old post means changing my recommendation: skip the beads and choose a safer way to comfort your baby.
