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Teething ring

Another dual-purpose element was the teether. These sticks or rings were not only practical aids, helping the baby's teeth to come through the gums, they were also seen as examples of sympathetic magic. Traditionally made of substances which were red or white, such as coral, they symbolised blood or bone respectively. The use of animal bone or tooth was also thought to confer the strength of the animal to fight off the pain of teething.