Amber teething necklaces for babies are discouraged by French health authorities for two distinct reasons. There is no evidence supporting their effectiveness for teething. And, like any necklace worn by an infant, they pose a documented risk of strangulation and suffocation.
This article brings together what official sources say: the DGCCRF investigation, the positions of Assurance Maladie and ANSM, the analysis published by Santé.fr, and the opinion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It also explains what is recommended instead.
Are amber teething necklaces for babies effective?
There is currently no evidence of effectiveness. The analysis published by Santé.fr, a service of the ministry responsible for health, states that no study on the effectiveness of amber necklaces was found in the scientific literature.
The usual commercial argument is based on succinic acid, a substance found in amber that is supposedly released on contact with the skin and then absorbed. This mechanism has not been demonstrated in children. In the absence of studies, the improvement observed by some parents can just as easily be explained by the natural progression of teething, with episodes lasting a few days.
The authorities addressed this issue as early as the beginning of the 2010s. In 2011, ANSM banned eight advertisements containing unproven health-benefit claims. In 2012, DGCCRF required the removal of effectiveness claims. The French Society of Pediatrics warned parents that same year.
What did the DGCCRF investigation say about the safety of these necklaces?
Its findings are serious, and this is the most telling figure in the report. During an investigation conducted in 2015 and published on May 18, 2017, DGCCRF inspected 108 establishments and had 32 products analyzed. Of these 32 necklaces and bracelets for young children, 28 were deemed dangerous, or 87.5%.
The defects identified fell into two categories. Clasps that came undone under tension, creating a risk of strangulation. And poorly spaced or detachable beads, creating a risk of suffocation if swallowed. The assessment was based on standard NF EN 71-1 concerning toy safety and the general safety obligation.
A clasp designed to come undone therefore does not solve the problem: it is one of the specific defects identified. Checking markings and standards remains the first step, as we explain in our article on baby product certifications.
The risk is not specific to amber
This is a point that Santé.fr explicitly emphasizes: the risk of strangulation and suffocation applies to all necklaces worn by an infant, regardless of the material.
Two sets of data are cited in support. In the United States, between 1975 and 1978, pacifiers attached to necklaces were responsible for more than 200 infant deaths. In France, the pediatric emergency department at Necker Hospital recorded 30 child deaths by strangulation in 2003.
These figures are old and concern various devices. Nevertheless, they indicate the scale of a very real risk, in an age group where everyday accidents remain a major cause of death. We have examined these data in detail in our article on everyday accidents involving young children.
The same reasoning explains why safe infant sleep recommendations call for a crib free of all objects, including cords and ties.
The position of U.S. authorities
It is consistent with the French position. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that it has received reports of deaths and serious injuries in infants and young children, including cases of strangulation and suffocation, linked to teething jewelry.
The same page, updated on June 26, 2024, warns against two types of products applied to the gums. First, benzocaine-based products, which can cause methemoglobinemia, a serious and sometimes fatal condition. Second, viscous oral lidocaine, which should not be used for an infant's teething pain.
What does Assurance Maladie recommend instead?
Simple measures, and just one medication as the first option. The Assurance Maladie page dedicated to teething, updated on June 20, 2024, recommends the following approach.
- Comfort and cuddle the child: the pain is real, and soothing matters.
- Gently massage the gums with a clean finger or a damp cloth.
- Offer a chilled teething ring, never frozen, approved and containing no liquid.
- Wipe the face regularly to prevent irritation caused by saliva.
- Offer age-appropriate cold foods, such as applesauce or yogurt.
As for medication, paracetamol is the first-line option, with the dosage adjusted to the child's weight. Assurance Maladie specifies that only one type of medication should be used at a time.
What Assurance Maladie advises against
- Teething necklaces, including amber ones, because of the risk of suffocation.
- Anesthetic gels, because of the risk of choking.
- Raw vegetables and fruit to chew, because of the risk of suffocation.
- Puncturing the gums or applying aspirin to them.
- Rubbing the gums with alcohol.
- Teething biscuits, which are ineffective and sugary.
Medical advice is recommended if the pain is severe, if the temperature exceeds 38.5 °C, if other symptoms appear, or if the child does not seem to be behaving normally.
Why does an infant put everything in their mouth during this period?
Because the mouth is their main organ for exploring, and pressure from emerging teeth increases the need to chew. This is normal behavior, described in our article on why babies put everything in their mouths.
This period calls for particular attention to the composition of objects within reach. Chemical migration, formamide, bisphenol A and phthalates: these issues are covered in our guide to the chemical safety of baby products. It reviews materials that remain in prolonged contact with children.
More generally, objective quality criteria and the information to check are brought together in our guide to recognizing a quality baby product. Oral hygiene from the first tooth onward is discussed in our article on brushing a baby's teeth.
What if a necklace has already been given as a gift?
The recommended course of action is not to leave it around the child's neck, wrist or ankle, and never to let the child wear it while sleeping or when unsupervised. It is a decorative object, not a pain-relief device.
If you notice a defect in a childcare product, or want to keep track of current recalls, our article on baby product recalls explains where to find official notices.
Key takeaways
Amber teething necklaces for babies have no demonstrated effectiveness for teething, and the DGCCRF investigation found 87.5% of the necklaces and bracelets for young children it analyzed to be dangerous. Recommended measures include massaging the gums, using a chilled teething ring and, if necessary, giving weight-adjusted paracetamol.
This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice or a consultation. Any questions about your child's pain should be addressed to your doctor, pediatrician or pharmacist.
Sources
- DGCCRF, investigation “Safety of necklaces and bracelets for young children,” 2015 investigation, published May 18, 2017.
- Santé.fr, analysis “Do amber necklaces relieve babies' teething pain?”, published March 20, 2023, updated July 6, 2026.
- Assurance Maladie (ameli.fr), “Teething: how to relieve your child and when to consult a doctor?”, updated June 20, 2024.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Safely Soothing Teething Pain in Infants and Children,” updated June 26, 2024.
