Yup, I just might be a bit of a hippie. Or wait, are there still “hippies” or are they called “hipsters” now? I’m certainly NOT a hipster…
Let’s stick with hippie or maybe just a hopeful (possibly naive) mommy.
When we went for Jack’s 18 month checkup, the doctor said how most children start sprouting their 2 year molars anywhere between 18 months to two years. Then, she reminded me that since Jack was born two months early, he most likely won’t have to go through the ouchyness of molars for quite a few more months.
Then, she stuck her hand in his mouth.
And found that he has ALL FOUR molars trying to break through at once.
Yeah, that’s right. My kid is in the middle of some horrific teething and I kind of didn’t notice until the doctor pointed it out. I mean, he was a bit more slobbery than normal… and whiny too. But isn’t that kind of the norm for a 1 ½ year old kid?
Well, once we realized that Jack was probably suffering from a 24-hour ache while those teeth slowly pushed into place it was like HE realized it too. A slight whine turned into sticking EVERYTHING he could find into his mouth and giving me a sad pitiful look. And OH the tears. The kid hurts.
I’d really prefer not to dose him with pain reliever medicine all day long and the teething tabs are no longer enough to take care of the pain. So, I rustled around in his drawer and found the Baltic Amber teething necklace that I had purchased about a year ago.
The theory behind the necklace is that the amber contains succinic acid, which is a natural pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and central nervous system calmer. It is supposed to ease teething pain with no drugs and no side effects. The necklace is made to be worn against your child’s skin (it’s short so they can’t easily grab or chew it) and is meant to break if pulled too tight. Also, each bead is individually knotted so that they don’t break free from the necklace and become a choking hazard.
So when we used the necklace a year ago, did it work?
I have no idea.
Will it work now?
Who knows, but we’re sure as heck going to try it out!
I put the necklace on Jack a couple days ago. When I have my eyes on him, it goes around his neck and I tuck it under his shirt. When I leave him with someone else, I wrap the necklace twice around his ankle. You’re supposed to leave it on your kid all day and night, but I take it off while he’s sleeping.
I do feel a bit like a hippie. But frankly, if it helps my kid feel better I will have the “he’s not a girl, it’s a teething pain necklace” conversation 10,000 times.
If you’ve tried one of the amber teething necklaces, do you think it worked? Or is it just a bunch of superstitious malarkey that I paid too much money for?
9/10/13 Update: So I’ve left the necklace around Jack’s ankle (wrapped twice) for the past couple weeks — even during sleep, the ocean and baths — and I SWEAR it’s working! His top two molars cut through during the last week and he wasn’t even any crankier than normal. Actually, he hasn’t been very cranky at all lately and FINALLY went back to going right to sleep when I put him down at night. So YAY for teething necklaces! Now I need to go and knock on the biggest piece of wood I can find because I think I just jinxed myself and he’s going to fight me for 3 hours when I try to put him to bed tonight…
I hope it works and the little guy starts to feel better. In the meantime, I think you should just embrace the hippie. Dress him like a little yogi or surfer. Teach him to chant ommm. Give him a stalk of kale to carry around. And then laugh hysterically to yourself about the whole thing. If you have to go through teething with him, the least he can do is provide you with some entertainment.
I love it! I need one of those hemp pullover shirts in a 24 months size…
Poor Jack! I know nothing about those necklaces other than that I see them occasionally on kids in my friends’ facebook photos. I hope it helps! I’m all for medicine but if you can get by without it, so much the better, right?
I’ve had the necklace around his ankle nonstop for the past few days and I think it might actually be helping. Or maybe he’s distracted my the ocean and sand… 😉
I have one for my little guy as well – and mine’s been wearing it (not at daycare until recently when we switched daycares and they haven’t said anything negative about him wearing it at the new one so I am going to keep letting him until they say something) for several months. I don’t really know if it works or not, but he’s a very SLOW teether – he’s got 4 bottom teeth, and two top teeth that are in, and he’s working on two more top teeth and a 3 molars. He’s never been one that has acted like teething hurts him – so maybe they do help. He doesn’t ever really drool – and he for the most part doesn’t put much in his mouth. I’m from CA so being a little bit of a hippie is in my blood! Plus I think they’re super cute and make him look like a little surfer dude 🙂 Good luck on the teething – and I hope the necklace helps!
I have to admit, it is super cute and I half expect Jack to start saying “dude!”
I love the necklace for my little guy. He is 11 months and a totally different child while wearing the necklace. My mom watches him during the day while I am at work and even she has noticed the difference – I forgot to put it on one morning last week, had a phone call within an hour from her, asking where it was. He was miserable and extra fussy. She actually drove him over to our house to pick it up so he could sleep and have a better day. I have also noticed it slows the drooling slobber down as well. I get a lot of questions and my family all think I am a little off (I also use cloth diapers also). The necklace seems to help a bunch, so I will keep it on him (I also remove it at night). The cloth is so dang cute and I love not having to run to the store to get more. Questions or no, it will stay on. No tylenol needed. 🙂
And where does one find theses obviously updated love beads? We used to string them ourselves in olden Woodstockian times. Then again ice cream or orange Popsicles work wonders. My grandmother prescribed dipping a finger in Southern Comfort and rubbing it on the gums.
At the fancy schmancy baby store , of course. 🙂 and I think some Southern Comfort might be needed for mommy…
Ive never tried them with my kids. (they were both orajel addicts) but I have heard they work wonders! Poor Jack.