Knowledge and experiences of families regarding amber necklaces.

Background: Amber necklaces have been used frequently to reduce the complaints of babies during teething. In this study, the knowledge and experience of families regarding the use of amber necklaces investigated.

Methods: The structured questionnaire was applied face-to-face to parents with a 4-24 month old baby who applied to the paediatric outpatient clinic.

Results: One hundred one families participating in the study reported that they used the amber necklace most frequently for restlessness (n = 72, 71.3%). Eighty- three% of families reported that the amber necklace was beneficial. It determined that 2% of the babies had suffocation and 2% had problems dispersing the grains.

Conclusion: Although the parents think that the use of amber necklaces is effective during the teething period, they are not aware of the risks. It is important for healthcare professionals to inform their families about teething and especially the risks of using amber necklaces.