faq's

welcome to asher's amber necklaces!

About Your Baltic Amber Necklace:

Necklace wearing safety
Each necklace is handmade with child safety being our NUMBER ONE priority. The necklace will break with 15 pounds of pressure. This was made to reduce any choking hazard. Each necklace is also double knotted between each bead so in the case of a broken necklace the beads will remain in tact and not scatter for little hands to grab. Lastly, each necklace has a secure screw closure so little hands cannot take the necklace off.

How to wear the necklace
Baltic Amber should be worn near the source of pain to have the greatest pain relief effect. This means if you want pain relief for teething, it should be worn as a necklace. To have the greatest benefit it must be kept in constant contact with the skin. When your child has a top on be sure that the necklace is under the top so it is directly touching their skin. We keep ours on our son 24/7 (except for baths), but of course the choice is yours. Just keep in mind to have the greatest benefit it should be on as many hours a day as possible.You can see a video here explaining further how this necklace was made to ensure your child’s safety.

How to care for Baltic Amber
Soap and chlorine can degrade the benefits of Baltic Amber. For this reason it is recommended that you take off the necklace during bath time and in hot tubs or pools. We also recommend taking it off when you apply lotion or sunscreen. Lastly, do not store near other jewelry, especially metals.

Will my child pull on it and try to take it off?
Each child is different, but the lightweight nature of the necklace will likely go unnoticed around their neck. We recommend that you distract your child when putting on and taking off the necklace. Also, if you catch your child tugging on the necklace, again, distract, distract, distract. In the 12 months my child has worn his he has only pulled on it a couple of times and immediately lost interest when given a distraction.

How to pick the right Baltic Amber:

Which type of necklace is best?
Let me start by saying that any Baltic Amber is effective. There is slightly more succinic acid in the lighter colors, and slightly more in raw vs. polished, but they will all have an impact. We personally did not choose the lightest color for our son and it has still been most helpful with his teething. Choose whichever one you like best; they are all great!

Is the jewelry real?
Baltic amber is a tree resin that has been fossilized for millions of years. It is NOT a stone, so it should feel very light in weight. True Baltic amber has one of the highest concentrations of succinic acid found in nature. Its analgesic properties are used worldwide to aide in teething pain. It releases natural oils when warmed by your body heat to help relieve local pain without using any drugs. Make sure the site guarantees the Amber is 100% genuine Baltic Amber.Glass is a common “fake”. It will be cold to the touch and can’t be scratched. Plastic is another common “fake”.

Test to check authenticity:
The “smell” test. True Baltic Amber will give off a faint smell of pine tree resin. If you have a fake it may smell like burning plastic instead. Of course, while not on anyone, you can heat a needle (via match or lighter)and then touch it to one of the beads (make sure not to do it in a noticeable spot) and then immediately smell the bead. You should smell a very faint hint of pine. If you smell burnt plastic it is a fake.

Is it made safely?
Make sure the necklace, anklet, or bracelet is individually knotted between each bead. This ensures that in the unlikely event it is broken that the beads are secure and will not scatter. Also make sure there is a safe clasp (plastic that twists open and close).

Can you trust the site?
Look for these things on a website:

Raw vs. Polished?
When amber is in its raw form it releases more succinic acid than if it is polished. Many people report the same healing affects with polished Baltic Amber, so just choose whichever one you like best.

Succinic Acid?
Succinic acid is an all-natural, homeopathic pain reliever. It is something that is naturally found in our bodies, but often times not enough. The amount of succinic amber varies depending on the color of amber. The lighter colors are believed to have more healing powers. Again, many people report teething relief with the darker colors, so the choice is yours. Milky and lemon are believed to have the highest concentration of succinic amber, followed by cognac and honey. Other colors such as dark cherry are on the lower end, but are still known to provide natural pain relief.