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Five Chewable Necklace Options for Children with Autism

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Lots of people chew things; it’s common to see students chewing on their pencils in class.  However, many children with autism crave chewing.  They may chew their pencils, hair, or shirts to the point that it causes holes.  They may chew to relieve stress, help with focus, or because they have pica.

It’s difficult to stop this behavior so providing a chewable necklace can be a safe and discreet alternative for kids (and may save a lot of shirts).  Below are five chew necklaces you can choose from to help with this situation.

Chewlery®

The original Chewlery® is designed by an Occupational Therapist.  It is very durable and provides a lot of oral motor input.  This is because the coil design bounces and moves in the mouth.  This is a durable option because it is made of medical grade non-toxic thermaplastic.  It does not contain lead or BPA and is made in the USA.

This is the most affordable chewable necklace we have found at $7.99.  However, it does not have a break away feature which means it must be supervised while a child is wearing it and that it could pose a choking hazard if worn on the playground.  The coil design of this item can be difficult for children who are sensory sensitive.  Some kids have reported it feels like it pinches.

SentioChews

SentioChews are a pendant style necklace.  It features a chewable pendant that is hung on a soft breakaway paracord.  This item is also made of medical grade thermoplastic that does not contain phthalates.  Like Chewlery, this item is more durable than silicon based items and is much less likely to break apart with lots of chewing.

This chewable necklace features several styles that come in red or blue and is suitable for boys or girls.  Unlike necklaces that are designed for teething babies, the pendant is flexible and bounces back when a child chews on it.  This is a newer product for National Autism Resources and so far the feedback has been excellent.  This item is made in Canada.

Dr. Bloom’s Chewable Jewels

Dr. Bloom is not a physician, but a dentist.  They are the original creators of chewable jewelry for babies.  They feature chewable pendants that are hung on a “breakaway” cord.  The cord ties around the neck.  It does not have a clip so the cord actually breaks if it is pulled to hard.  This item is made of medical grade silicone which contains no phthalates as well.

Chewable Jewels are fairly sturdy, but not quite as sturdy as the other plastic based options.  It is sturdier than several other styles of teething jewelry because the pendants are slightly flexible.  However, this item will crack or break with aggressive biting.  This option is very popular with older children as the style looks more socially appropriate on older kids and teens.

Cool Chews

Cool Chews are designed by an Occupational Therapist and a mother of a child with sensory challenges.  It is also made of durable medical grade plastic that is nontoxic.  This item comes as a pendant only.  You must provide the cording you will use to hang it.

The nice option with this design is that it will slide over a pencil so that it can become a chewable pencil topper, or it will easily fit on a carabiner so a child can hang it from a belt loop or backpack for additional ways to access it.

Smart Mom Teething Bling

We hesitate at adding this product to the list as this item is specifically designed for teething babies.  It is made of nonflexible silicone and will break apart when kids and teens with fully developed teeth bite on it.  However, it does work well for kids who have issues with sucking their thumbs, hair, or shirts.

This item is good for kids who are trying to quit sucking their thumbs or come home with shirts covered in saliva from sucking.  This is a nice option because they look socially appropriate for older kids.  They feature a silky break away lanyard that is very comfortable to wear.


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