Chewelry: Sensory Jewelry for Kids

It took me a while to notice that Lily was chewing her hair. The first few times she did it, I didn’t really pay attention. Then one day I said, “Lily, stop chewing your hair” and thought, “She’s been doing this a lot lately.” It didn’t seem like a huge problem, just something she did when she was concentrating hard (the way I hold my tongue between my lips) but it also didn’t seem like a good idea.

I thought about cutting her hair, because she also wasn’t brushing it well and wouldn’t let me brush it. Short hair would solve both the chewing and the tangles, but Lily wouldn’t have that. Then Martina from Two Brothers and Olivia sent me an email about her handcrafted “sensory jewelry for children who are habitual biters—nails, clothing, hair.”

Something clicked with Martina’s email that made me think about Lily’s hair biting in a new way. There is, of course, a wealth of information on the internet and social media about sensory processing disorders. While I don’t think Lily has that, I do think that we all develop habits that help us process what’s going on around us. I chew the inside of my lip or roll my wedding ring around my finger.

I showed Lily the necklaces on Martina’s site and invited her to pick one. She liked the cookie necklace with teal and pink beads. When it arrived, she made a big deal out of biting it (and growling). Then she put it on her bed and forgot about it for a bit.

Now that the novelty is over, we’re working on making better habits. Instead of telling her not to chew on her hair, I could tell her to chew on her biscuit. Telling someone not to think about or do something makes it more likely that they’ll do it; simply redirecting the energy seems more effective. She doesn’t always bite it; sometimes she just plays with it or rolls the beads around her fingers.

Martina also makes sensory jewelry for other purposes. She sent us a glow-in-the-dark bracelet “for empowering kids and preventing night time fears of darkness.” I gave that to Jade. I can’t remember if Sunshine and Lily went through a phase of being scared of the dark, but Jade needs us to leave the hall light on and the door open until she falls asleep.

I explained that the bracelet would glow in the dark for her and she could hold it while she’s falling asleep. So far, it’s been working great. She and Lily share a room, and now I tuck them in, make sure Jade has her bracelet, give them each a kiss and an “I love you” and close the door. She’s usually asleep within minutes and is less worried about the dark. Because we have a small house, I like having the girls’ doors closed when they go to bed so that my husband and I aren’t keeping them up by talking or watching TV shows together.

Pearl and I got a teething necklace from Martina. I’ve actually wanted one for quite a while, because I’ve seen other moms wearing them (and a few babies chewing on them) and thought they looked pretty. It was tough picking just one necklace from Martina’s site, because she has so many pretty designs. I finally settled on a teal necklace (one of my favourite colours).

Pearl is just now starting to chew on everything, so its handy to have something for her to chew on that also looks good on me. I can also wear this necklace without worrying about her grabbing it and breaking it (in the past, I’ve just given up wearing necklaces for a year or more until the babies pass that stage). Today’s post is brought to you by this necklace, which kept Pearl busy for a while while I typed. 🙂

Martina shared that the inspiration for the sensory jewelry came from her own three kids: “So far, two have had issues with chewing. I was going crazy! They were putting holes in their clothes, their fingernails looked awful, yes I did cut my daughter’s hair and I even went to a pediatrician’s office but all she recommended was a stress ball. A stress ball seemed so impractical, especially at a playground. I knew the solution required was something that’s always close to them, and something familiar too, and voila! the cookie necklace was born. It’s made from 100% food grade silicone. Even the pediatrician was impressed! Chewing or biting into it releases their anxiety; it’s comforting and it’s something they can carry with them whenever they go.”

She adds, “It works in a way that it gives them something else to chew on—something that’s safe, that they already recognize and like. It does take a few tries and reminders and they have to wear the sensory jewelry until their habit grows out. My daughter took few months to completely break the habit, and my middle son is still in the habit, but wears his necklace daily and even asks to wear it. My youngest, the baby, I’m hoping won’t become a chewer.”

Martina is a local Vancouver mom. She orders her beads from as far away as Australia and Germany. I was super impressed by all of the sensory jewelry she sent. I keep looking at the bracelet trying to find the knot, but it looks like it’s all one piece. The silicone beads are soft yet pretty and the cord is strong. The two necklaces have plastic snap clasps. Overall, I’m super impressed by Martina’s work and so glad that she recommended these products right when we needed them.

Do you know anyone with a sensory processing disorder? Have you noticed that your children have biting or chewing habits like Lily?