There has been a new trend of giving infants teething jewelry that is marketed to relieve an infant’s teething pain.
It Can Be Fatal.
“The FDA has received reports of death and serious injuries to infants and children, including strangulation and choking, caused by necklaces and bracelets often marketed for relieving teething pain,” according to a FDA notice.
The FDA warns that parents and other caregivers may use these products to help relieve teething pain or to provide sensory stimulation in people with special needs. Teething jewelry, according to the FDA, is made with various materials, including amber, wood, marble or silicone.
Tragic but Real Stories
However, the risks of using teething jewelry include choking, strangulation, injuries in the mouth and infection, the FDA said in a news release. In addition, choking may occur if the jewelry breaks and small beads or the whole piece of jewelry enter the child’s throat or airway. According to the FDA, it received a report of a 7-month-old child who choked on the beads of a wooden teething bracelet while under parental supervision, and an 18-month-old child who died after getting strangled by his amber teething necklace during a nap.
Recommendations for Parents and Caregivers
- Do not use necklaces, bracelets, or any other jewelry marketed for relieving teething pain. The use of these products can lead to serious injuries including strangulation or choking.
- Be aware that the use of jewelry marketed for relieving teething pain or provide sensory stimulation to people with special needs can lead to serious injuries including strangulation or choking.
Please ask us what to do to help reduce the pain for your teething baby.
You can also read more on on teething at mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/teething
Full FDA Warning – The FDA Warns Against Use of Teething Necklaces, Bracelets, and Other Jewelry Marketed for Relieving Teething Pain or Providing Sensory Stimulation.