Frequently Asked Questions about Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces

Q: What do you recommend between a Baltic amber necklace and a bracelet?

A: Unlike hazelwood (which seems to work about the same no matter where you wear it) Baltic amber seems to be the most helpful if you can get it as close to the source of the pain as possible. So the choice of amber comes down to the symptom that you’re looking to treat. Headaches, teething or jaw/neck/upper back pain? Try a necklace. Wrist pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel? Try a bracelet. Have abdominal cramps or lower back pain? String two necklaces together to wear around your waist. And if you’ve got pain in other places, get creative in bringing the amber to where your pain is!

Q: Do I ever have to replace Baltic amber? How long does it last?

A: In theory Baltic amber, if cared for, could last forever. However it is also EXTREMELY old and brittle, and eventually beads will break. Also over time the surface of the beads tend to get coated with soap scum and other substances that inhibit their ability to release succinic acid into your skin. So if you clean your amber and are careful with it, it should last for years. If you suspect it’s no longer working and you’ve already tried cleaning it, it may be time for a new one.

Q: I was careful but my amber jewelry lost a bead almost right away, is this a defect?

A: Yes. The process of drilling the beads can leave cracks that are invisible and only come apart after a few days of regular use. If this has happened to you, our apologies! Please visit our returns & exchange page for more information on how to exchange it.

Q: What size teething necklace should I choose for my child’s neck?

A: The necklace must be a comfortable length for your child. You should be able to slip your two fingers between the necklace and your child’s neck. The necklace should not be long enough for your child to bring it to his/her mouth since it is not meant to be chewed on!

Q: Can you wear a Baltic amber teething necklace in the shower or the bath?

A: No. Baltic amber is very susceptible to soaps and other products that might leave behind a residue. Avoid wearing it when using shampoo, hair spray, lotions, sunscreen, etc.

NOTE - We've had a customer report a skin reaction issue with leaving Baltic amber on during an extended hot bath. Normally amber is removed due to the soaps involved, but if you are giving your child a bath (or taking one yourself) without soaps or chemicals, we'd recommend removing the amber just the same. We're not sure but the hot water may have caused the amber to become tacky or soft, to which a skin reaction occurred. Please exercise caution with exposing your amber to high heat or with wearing amber after it has been exposed to high heat (left in a hot car, etc.).

Q: I’ve heard that the lighter Baltic amber colors are more powerful than the darker colors, is that true?

A: Yes our own experience and that of our customers seems to support this. Additionally the semi-polished colors seem to be stronger than their full-polish counterparts. While the following scale is entirely made up, it gives you some idea of the range we’re talking about. Note that all Baltic amber colors work well for things like teething pain, just that some are that much more powerful and if you are dealing with chronic levels of pain, you’re going to want to get one of the stronger colors. Here are some arbitrary numbers to give you an idea of the range of effectiveness (scale of 1-10):

11 Super Butter <- Goes up to 11!
10 Milk & Butter
10 Lemondrop
9 Lemon
9 Cinnamon
9 Nutmeg & Lemondrop
9 Milk & Honey
8 Honey
8 Nutmeg
8 Multicolored (semi-polish)
8 Milk & Cognac
7 Lemon & Cherry
7 Multicolored (bean & round)
7 Rainbow (bean & round)
7 Coffee
7 Cognac
7 Asteroid
6 Dark Cherry
6 Dark Green
5 Lemon & Rose Quartz
5 Honey, Butter, & Amethyst
4 Turquoise, Green Peridot, Honey, Butter & Amethyst
4 Nutmeg & Lava Stone
3 Dark Cherry & Turquoise
3 Honey, Aqua Stone, & White Agate
3 Cognac, Tiger Eye, & Lapis Lazuli
2 Dark Cherry, Rose Quartz, & Amethyst
2 Mosaic

Q: My necklace seems to be shorter than advertised?

A: It’s possible that a step got skipped with your necklace. We order everything a hint short and then stretch them to length to get the kinks out and so it rests evenly on the skin. Here's what you should do: Carefully pull on the necklace with a few inches secured in each palm (don’t pull on the clasps!). It should feel like pulling taffy and the knots should tighten as you pull. If it does not stretch easily but instead already feels really taut, discontinue pulling as you risk breaking the jewelry. Note that this is a permanent adjustment to the length of your necklace so be careful not to stretch it to be longer than you would like!