It’s the story of a parent’s life: you look on as your child grows and learns, knowing that although you love them to bits, you’re powerless to shield them from the growing pains of life. Cutting teeth doesn’t seem like such a big deal until you have a teething toddler in your house.
I know what it’s like to wish there was something you could do to help. Their pain is your pain! But as with so many things in a toddler’s world, teething is a battle they have to get through on their own.
One of the ways you can give your child a little help is by offering them something to chew on. We’ve taken a bite out of the vast teething necklace market to find some real solutions for your baby’s pain.
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Why Should I Get a Teething Necklace?
Teething necklaces can offer a more sanitary option to handheld teethers, and can spare moms a lot of extra cleaning .
What happens with a teething ring is that you give it to your child and he drops it on the floor within seconds. Then you need to wash it before you can give it back to him, only for him to drop it again. This becomes a never-ending game of drop-and-pick-up I’m sure you’d rather not play.
The Benefits
Plus, you’re never left scrambling wondering exactly where your baby’s teether is. When you’re wearing it around your neck, it’s always easy to find.
The Different Types of Teething Necklace
There are two types of teething necklaces — the ones made for babies to wear and the ones made for moms to wear.
Necklaces for Babies: A More Hazardous Choice
The Dangers
Necklaces for babies are usually made of firm, chewable plastic beads to soothe those tender gums. Gaining popularity are beautiful Baltic amber necklaces, whose manufacturers claim can release a pain-relieving substance when babies chew on them. Though your little one may indeed love chewing them, there’s no evidence for these pain-relieving claims.
To minimize, but not eliminate, the risk of letting your child wear a teething necklace, you can:
- Make sure you keep a close eye on your child every minute they’re wearing the necklace.
- Take off the necklace when your baby is sleeping (source).
- Place the necklace around their wrists rather than necks.
- Always check the cord of the necklace to make sure it isn’t fraying. You don’t want the cord breaking and your baby choking on the beads.
Moms have to stick together, and a good choice for one mom may not be so great for another. But when it comes to child safety, I personally don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. I would rather have my baby be a little uncomfortable from teething pain than risk them choking or suffocating.
Necklaces for Moms: A Safer Alternative
The other kind of teething necklace is made for mothers to wear while their babies chew on them. These are made out of baby-safe, chewy materials that can be cleaned after being doused in drool. The strangulation risk is removed, but you’ll still need to be vigilant while your baby is gnawing on it for a few reasons.
As someone who has watched in horror as my child dropped his teething ring on the floor at a hospital, I love the idea of teething necklaces for moms. Because I envisioned every super virus known to man being on that hospital floor, his teething ring went straight in the garbage after he dropped it. Had I been wearing a necklace, that would never have happened.
What to Look for When Buying
Here’s what you should consider before buying a teething necklace:
- The material: Teething necklaces can be made out of many materials, including amber, silicone, rubber, plastic, and wood. Sometimes you can buy what you think is an amber necklace only to find out it’s fake, and that it’s actually glass or plastic (source).
- Non-toxicity: Some products are made of materials, for example wood, have been used as teething relief for centuries. But certain treatments and finishes applied to wood can be unsafe for your baby. Make sure your necklace is truly non-toxic (source).
- Effectiveness: Make sure the claims people make about teething necklaces are scientifically backed. Amber beads, for instance, have not been proven to help babies any more than any other type of material (source).
- Alternatives: If you decide they aren’t right for you and your baby, you can always find fabric for them to chew on, apply ice to the gums, or offer pain relief medications like Tylenol.
Best Teething Necklaces of 2018
With my first baby, I didn’t even know these existed, and when I finally discovered them, a tiny lightbulb went off in my head. Isn’t it wonderful when such simple solutions can take care of all your parenting niggles? If you decide that you want to give teething necklaces a try, here are the best of the best for you to consider.
1. Powell’s Owls’ Baltic Amber Teething Necklace
This necklace is a step up from most other brands designed to be worn by your baby. It’s a safer alternative than many others. Plus, you can be sure you’re getting true amber with this necklace because it has been certified as authentic by the Gemological Institute of America.
It addresses a couple of big safety concerns you might have. The beads aren’t finished with chemicals, but polished with pine pieces in a wooden tumbler, and the necklace has a screw clasp which will stop your baby from taking it off. All the beads are kept in place by two knots, which reduces the choking risk.
The necklaces comes in three sizes, so you can pick the length that best suits your baby. Made of different shades of Baltic amber, the necklace is pretty as well as functional.
PROS
- Different color selections for you to choose from.
- Organic solution to teething pain.
- Uses a chemical-free polishing process.
- The clasp can unscrew pretty easily.
- More expensive than teething rings.
2. RubyRoo Baby Silicone Teething Necklace
This necklace is just right for spring and summer. Its beads are good-sized but not so large that they’ll draw attention from your outfit. They’ll complement what you’re wearing, not overpower it, and the gentle pastel shades can be styled in many ways.
It has a smooth cord that won’t rip at your hair on the back of your neck, and a break-away clasp that gives you additional security should your baby decide to snatch at it. Also, each bead is individually knotted to help prevent the possibility of your baby choking on the beads if the cord were to break.
Since it’s made of food-grade silicone, it doesn’t contain BPA. It’s also safe to throw in the dishwasher when it’s time for a good cleaning.
PROS
- Can be put in the freezer to give your baby additional pain relief.
- This necklace complies with baby and toy safety for U.S. and European standards.
- Adjustable length.
- The break-away clasp breaks away too easily, which means babies can pull it off.
- The necklace is rather heavy and may be too large for some moms.
3. Bebe By Me Cosmopolitan Teething Necklace
This necklace will meet all your baby’s teething needs. It has hard beads, soft pieces and cushy beads so she’ll be able to find something that feels comfy against her aching gums.
Made out of food-grade silicone, this necklace is toxin and BPA free. Plus, the soft colors of the beads means the necklace will pair up with many of your outfits without clashing.
Not everybody likes bold colors, so this is a necklace that will suit moms who don’t necessarily want to make a statement with their necklace.
The necklace has an upgraded clasp that is stronger than the ones this company once used. It’s nice when a company realizes there’s room for improvement on a product and does the extra work to implement that change. It gives consumers like us a vote of confidence in the company.
The 15-inch length isn’t too short or too long for most women.
PROS
- Cheaper than many other brands.
- Looks like a real necklace.
- Different hardness levels and textures of beads.
- The beads don’t go all the way around this necklace, which means your baby may be chewing on the cord at times.
- The smaller beads might not hold up if your baby is an avid chewer.
4. Chew-Choos Playdate Silicone Teething Necklace
This product combines fashion with function, and it comes with a cloth bag to keep it clean while it isn’t in use.
While some are made to be worn by your baby, many moms worry about a choking and strangulation hazard with those, questioning the safety of allowing a baby to wear a necklace.
Chew-Choos is different – it’s made for moms to wear. When your baby is teething, he can chew on this beaded necklace that will be hanging around your neck, which eliminates the strangulation risk.
Made from food-grade organic silicone, this necklace gives moms who are worried about plastic a different alternative to help with their child’s teething pain. It doesn’t contain BPA, cadmium, latex, lead or phthalates.
You can treat this necklace just like you would a teething ring. You can stick it in the freezer to let the chill help your baby’s tender gums.
These pretty beads will go with many different colors of clothes, and will add a pop of color to basic black outfits.
When this necklace starts getting a bit dirty, you can clean it in the dishwasher or simply wash it in hot, soapy water.
The necklace has a thicker cord that will stand up to a lot of use and reduces the risk of the necklace breaking while your baby chews on it. You can adjust the length of this necklace to suit your preference and your baby’s needs.
PROS
- Pretty beads and design.
- Affordable price for a woman’s necklace.
- Easy to clean.
- Won’t go with every outfit.
- The beads attract lint and hair.
5. Baltic Wonder Honey Olive Baltic Amber Teething Necklace
Best Single-Colored Amber Teething Necklace
Authentic baltic amber contains a number of healing properties to help babies and toddlers with the inflammation and drooling associated with teething. However, amber comes in many different styles. If you favor a lighter, simpler look for your baby, this necklace is a good choice.
We love the honey colored amber and rounded oval beads. Each one is handcrafted, firmly knotted, and secured with a screw clasp. Because the beads are made from raw amber, you don’t have to worry about it being treated with chemicals or polishing substances.
Every necklace includes a certificate of authenticity, so you know you’re getting real baltic amber. Amber teething necklaces are known to help reduce inflammation and prevent drooling. They’re also durable and will hold up against small, biting teeth.
This necklace is 32-33 centimeters long, making it an ideal size for younger children, though it is able to fit older toddlers as well.
PROS
- The honey colored amber doesn’t distract from your baby’s adorable face.
- Made of 100 percent genuine raw baltic amber.
- Secured safely with a screw clasp.
- Older children with stronger teeth may be able to break the beads.
6. BEBE by Me 'Harper' All-in-1 Teething Necklace
Best All-in-One Teething Necklace
Your baby will experience a lot of different sensations when teething. Be prepared with this all-in-one necklace to help comfort them no matter what they’re feeling. It features three types of beads, each with a different level of hardness.
Divided between two strands, your baby can choose from hard beads, soft beads, or cushy beads. They are also different shapes to help stimulate your child’s sensory development. Your little one can find the perfect one to massage and soothe their aching gums at the moment.
All of the beads are made from the safest food-grade silicone and are free of BPA and toxins. It is freezer safe and machine washable.
You’ll also love the two color palette options, electric blue and icy peppermint or pastel pink and mysterious ash. Each necklace is 15 inches long, has an extra strong clasp to prevent breaking, and comes in a luxury gift box.
PROS
- Three different types of beads gives your baby exactly what they need at different stages of teething.
- Shaped beads stimulate sensory development.
- Features stylish color palette.
- The upgraded clasp is super strong, making it difficult for to take off in a hectic moment.
When Can I Start Using a Teething Necklace?
Babies as young as two months can start the early stages of teething, but almost all babies are done by the age of three years. Offer teething solutions when you notice your baby start to cut teeth or chew on things of their own accord. You know your baby and you’ll know when the discomfort of teething is starting to get to them.
If you plan to use a teething necklace that your baby wears, it might be a good idea to get them used to wearing it before they start teething, so they’re comfortable with having it around their necks.
What’s the Deal with Amber Necklaces?
Like many moms, I’m a sucker for all things natural and organic. I love the idea of chemical-free alternatives for my little angel, and when that alternative looks as beautiful as some amber baby necklaces do, I’m even more interested.
Makers of Baltic amber baby teething necklaces claim that the beads are anti-inflammatory and analgesic, so when your baby chews on them they’re not just getting physical relief but actually soothing themselves with an all-natural painkiller. But as you might imagine, this is nothing but a bit of wishful thinking (source).
There’s no evidence that amber necklaces have any special healing powers beyond what you’d get from a normal necklace. But many moms find that their kids love them anyway. So, they’re not magical, but they’re undoubtedly the prettiest option.
What About You?
So now it’s over to the moms out there (and their babies): do you use a teething necklace and if so, which one has your toddler chomping away happily? We’d love to know about it in the comments!
