Children should not use teething jewelry, which can lead to choking or strangulation, according to a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Teething necklaces and bracelets are made of amber, wood, marble or silicone. They are marketed to relieve teething pain and sometimes are used to provide sensory stimulation to people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
The FDA has received reports of children choking on beads that break off and an 18-month-old being strangled to death by an amber necklace during a nap.
The AAP recommends parents and caregivers soothe teething children by massaging their gums or giving them hard rubber teething rings that are not frozen. Avoid gels, creams and other products containing benzocaine, which can lead to a life-threatening reduction in oxygen carried by the blood.
Report adverse events related to teething jewelry to the FDA’s MedWatch program at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/ucm2007306.htm.
