FDA Is Now Warning Parents To Stop Using Teething Necklaces & Bracelets Following Death Of 18-Month-Old

Jan 03, 2019

Becoming a parent is wonderful. Babies smell great and look even better. Bringing a baby home means becoming a family. All babies get teeth. This is not fun for the baby. In fact, it's very painful. Babies often spend a lot of time crying as the process continues.

Not only does it hurt, babies often develop other medical issues as they teeth such as a fever. When little Ethan starts to howl, parents may find themselves sleep deprived and just as grumpy as their new arrival. Desperate parents may find themselves on the receiving end of endless advice about how to cope. They may feel a sense of terror when the baby is still screaming and the teeth still aren't all in yet.

It's best to proceed with caution. A new FDA warning illustrates the need to take all parenting advice with a grain of salt. In fact, the whole shaker is best.

Parents aren't the only people thinking about a baby's teeth. Corporations have ostensibly come to the rescue. Over the years, parents have turned to something known as the teething necklace. Teething necklaces are designed to provide little Ava with something to chew on instead of a parent's nerves.

They're usually small affairs with beads made of materials such as silicon or plastic strung in a row. Many parents have found them a godsend.

Charlotte has an outlet for her pain. Parents have a few minutes of peace and quiet. Unfortunately, it's not that simple, and the FDA is urging parents to strongly reconsider using these necklaces.

Scott Gottlieb is a doctor and FDA Commissioner. As such, he knows a great deal about baby care. He's telling parents that a teething necklace may have unexpected hazards. He acknowledges that these necklaces have worked in the past. However, experts have discovered that such necklaces have all sorts of potential problems. These problems can endanger a child's life and even cause death.

FDA experts point to several recent incidents. In one case, an eighteen-month-old infant was wearing the necklace while napping. The child apparently became entangled in the necklace and died. In another instance, a seven-month-old baby choked to death on the necklace. In a news release, experts want parents to be aware that such necklaces can cause all kinds of problems such as choking, injury to the mouth and even strangulation.

Authorities point to another recent tragedy that has been linked to the use of a teething necklace. Danielle Morin, a Fontana, California resident dropped her son off at daycare. Her son was wearing an amber necklace. She returned in the afternoon to find paramedics attempting to revive him. Despite hours of effort, her son was taken to a hospital and declared brain dead. While other factors may have contributed to this tragedy, it is clear that the teething necklace played a role in the child's death.

There were many underlying issues that contributed to the tragedy in Fontana. Despite this, experts tell parents that such necklaces are simply too unsafe to use. The agency points out that a necklace of this kind can infect the gums. Instead, they urge parents to consider other pain relief methods. Firm rubber teething rings make a good, safe alternative. The same is true of a parent's clean finger. Parents should avoid using current and older teething necklaces.

How have you coped with the painful process of nurturing a small baby through teething? What are your thoughts on this parenting issue? Feel free to leave a comment and tell others your experiences and personal opinions. Pass this warning on to other parents and loved ones who need to hear about this.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!