A mother on TikTok is sounding the alarm about the danger of amber teething necklaces.
In a now-viral video, user @danimorin13 shared the heartbreaking story of losing her child after an amber teething necklace got caught around his neck, strangling him.
The video currently has over 403,000 views.
@danimorin13 Reply to @alexalujan5 @danimorin13 If you know this could be your outcome why risk it? #knowbetterdobetter #beagoodmom #safemomcheck @etsy ♬ iris –
For context, an amber teething necklace is a piece of jewelry made of pieces of Baltic amber, or fossilized tree resin, that is given to infants during teething.
Some who support the continued use of amber teething necklaces claim that the minor amounts of succinic acid in the amber will have a soothing effect on the child’s gums as they chew.
However, the New York Times notes that there is no evidence supporting this claim and substantial evidence that teething necklaces can pose a strangulation risk. In 2018, the FDA backed up this idea, putting out a warning against the use of teething necklaces owing to the risk of strangulation and choking.
The woman featured in the TikTok video is Danielle Morin. In 2016, her 18-month-old child Deacon was strangled by his amber teething necklace, eventually leading to his death, per the New York Times.
Since then, Danielle has become an advocate against the use of amber teething necklaces. She’s sued the online marketplace Etsy to stop the sale of the teething necklaces, and when she spots continued listings of amber teething necklaces on the platform, she uses her considerable social media audience to help get the listings removed.
In comments, users continued their support for Danielle, thanking her for warning parents about the dangers of amber teething necklaces.
“I want you to know that I bought one before my daughter was born and your awareness saved me from ever putting it on my daughter. Thank you,” wrote a commenter.
“Sick to my stomach that I ever sold these at a boutique I worked at. Lord forgive me. Praying for you mama!” added another.
“I’m surprised that moms today still buy and defend those, being countless child death cases due to those necklaces,” a third stated. “Thank you for sharing.”
While many offered encouragement, Danielle noted in comments that her fight against the product is still ongoing.
“I had to block over 40 moms that just wouldn’t quit,” she says in comments about a recent anti-teething necklace video. She later added, “Any purchase of Baltic amber is supporting the manufacturing of the necklaces. They do nothing anyways and that’s been proven.”
For parents who have an amber teething necklace and are just learning of their danger, Danielle’s message is simple: get rid of it, but don’t feel guilty about not knowing the truth.
“Do not ask for forgiveness for something you and I did not know was dangerous,” she said in response to a commenter. “Now we know. And we are doing better.”
The Daily Dot has reached out to Danielle Morin via email for comment on this story.
Update 3:42pm CT, May 19: In a statement to Daily Dot, Danielle elaborated on her activism against amber teething necklaces.
“One thing I would like to say to moms that may just be coming across the news of the dangers by my page, your article, or perhaps the study that the Texas childrens hospital did a that showed that the Baltic amber only releases the sicinic acid if the child’s temp is 392 degrees Fahrenheit (making amber completely pointless) is this: We can change our minds about baby products,” she says. “Just because we loved something and thought it worked because 7 billion dollar companies like ETSY convinced us they worked and were safe for our babies doesn’t mean we have to continue using them once we find out they actually are nothing more than a strangulation hazard. We can change our minds for the safety of our children. And if a mom is finding out this news and feels guilt, please don’t feel guilty. Know better and do better. Safety is not a parenting choice; it is a duty, and if we are ‘knowingly’ putting our kids at risk then we are failing as parents.”
She also had a message to those who argued they were only using amber teething necklaces under observation.
“To the parents that argue that ‘it’s ok if you’re watching your baby one hundred percent of the time,’ please note that a child under the age of 2 can become strangled to unconsciousness in 10 seconds. That’s less time it takes for you to go to the bathroom, answer a text, go in the pantry for a banana, or read this freaking article,” she shares. “Kasie, another mom on TikTok, her baby was strangled right in front of her. The necklaces got caught on the gate near where he was playing and they couldn’t get him loose. It wouldn’t break. Now eventually it did and he survived—but in seconds, this happened.”
“Our children can’t speak for themselves,” Danielle concluded. “Think about what your child would do if they looked back and found out that you knowingly put something on them that killed other children. Do better for them.”
Today’s top stories
| ‘Fill her up’: Bartender gives woman a glass of water when the man she’s with orders tequila shot |
| ‘I don’t think my store has even sold one’: Whataburger employees take picture with first customer who bought a burger box |
| ‘It was a template used by anyone in the company’: Travel agent’s ‘condescending’ out-of-office email reply sparks debate |
| Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online. |