Does your child love to chew? Whether it’s on their shirt collar, pencils, or even their own fingers, this common habit often signals a need for sensory input. That’s where a best chew necklace for kids comes in! These cleverly designed tools provide a safe, satisfying, and hygienic outlet for oral motor needs, helping children calm, focus, and self-regulate. They’re a fantastic resource for kids with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or simply those who benefit from oral stimulation.
Finding the perfect chew necklace can make a world of difference. To help you navigate the options, we’ve rounded up and reviewed five of the top chew necklaces available, focusing on safety, durability, design, and effectiveness. Let’s dive in!
Why Consider a Chew Necklace for Your Child?
Chewing is a natural human instinct, and for many children, especially those with sensory processing differences, it’s a vital self-soothing mechanism. A high-quality sensory chew necklace offers numerous benefits:
- Reduces Anxiety & Stress: Chewing can be incredibly calming, providing a sense of grounding and reducing fidgeting.
- Improves Focus: By directing oral stimulation to a safe object, it can help children concentrate better in school or during tasks.
- Safe Alternative: Prevents damage to clothes, pencils, and skin, while keeping harmful germs out of the mouth.
- Oral Motor Development: Supports jaw strength and oral awareness.
- Discreet & Portable: Many designs blend in, allowing kids to use them anywhere without feeling singled out.
Ready to find the perfect match for your little chewer? Here are our top picks for the best chew necklace for kids.
Product Reviews
1. 8-Pack Hoaisun Chewy Necklaces for Sensory Kids (Crayon Shape)
This vibrant 8-pack from Hoaisun is a fantastic choice for kids who love variety and a fun, familiar design. Each necklace features a popular crayon shape in a different rainbow color, offering a medium hardness and varied textures that cater to diverse chewing needs. Not only do these act as an excellent therapeutic outlet for anxiety and fidgeting, but they also double as a soft toddler teether, making them incredibly versatile for different age groups and developmental stages. Plus, with a breakaway clasp, safety is always a priority.
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Key Features:
- Made from 100% food-grade silicone (BPA, latex, lead-free).
- Includes 8 different rainbow crayon-shaped necklaces with varied textures.
- Equipped with a safety breakaway clasp.
- Helps reduce anxiety, increase focus, and satisfy oral stimulation needs.
- Durable and reusable; easily cleaned by hand, boiling water, or dishwasher.
- Can also function as a toddler teether.
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Pros:
- Excellent value with 8 pieces.
- Appealing and familiar crayon design for kids.
- Multiple textures cater to various chewing preferences.
- Highly durable and easy to sanitize.
- Versatile for both sensory needs and teething.
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Cons:
- Crayon shape might be less discreet for older kids seeking subtle options.
- All necklaces are the same shape, just different colors.
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User Impressions: Parents frequently praise this pack for its great value and the appealing colors. Many report that their children love the crayon design and that the varying textures are perfect for different moods. It’s often highlighted as a successful tool for redirecting chewing from clothing or fingers.
2. Hoaisun 6-Pack Sensory Chew Necklaces (Shark, Block, Crayon Shapes)
Another excellent offering from Hoaisun, this 6-pack provides a fantastic assortment of shapes for a child with varied preferences. Featuring popular designs like sharks, building blocks, and crayons, each necklace comes with its own unique texture and medium hardness, ensuring there’s a perfect fit for any chewing style. Like its 8-pack counterpart, these are crafted with safety in mind from food-grade silicone and include a breakaway clasp. This variety pack is perfect for keeping kids engaged while helping them calm down and focus.
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Key Features:
- Made from 100% food-grade silicone (BPA, latex, lead-free).
- Includes 6 necklaces with 3 different popular shapes: shark, building block, and crayon.
- Features different textures and medium hardness for varied chewing needs.
- Equipped with a safety breakaway clasp.
- Aids in reducing anxiety, improving focus, and providing oral stimulation.
- Durable, reusable, and easy to clean (hand wash, boiling water, dishwasher).
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Pros:
- Offers a good variety of shapes to prevent boredom.
- Different textures provide diverse sensory input.
- Safe and durable for long-term use.
- Effective for managing stress and improving concentration.
- Suitable for a wide age range, including toddlers for teething.
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Cons:
- Some shapes might still be overtly “chew toy” like, which could be an issue for older children wanting discretion.
- Hardness level might not suit extreme chewers looking for very firm options.
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User Impressions: Customers love the diverse shapes in this pack, stating that it keeps their children interested longer. The shark and building block designs are particularly popular. Many parents have noted a significant decrease in nail-biting and thumb-sucking, praising its effectiveness as an oral motor therapy tool.
3. 5-Packs Chewing Necklaces for Sensory Kids – Focus & Calm
This 5-pack of sensory chew necklaces is designed with a strong emphasis on promoting focus and alleviating stress. While the specific shapes aren’t detailed in the same way as other packs, the core benefit here is the reliable sensory input it provides. Made from 100% food-grade silicone, these necklaces are a safe and durable option for kids needing an outlet for oral stimulation. If your main goal is to help your child calm down, increase concentration, and safely manage fidgeting or anxiety, this pack offers a straightforward and effective solution.
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Key Features:
- Made from 100% food-grade silicone (BPA, latex, lead-free).
- Designed to satisfy autism, ADHD, and oral stimulation needs.
- Helps reduce anxiety, stress, and improves concentration.
- Equipped with a safety breakaway clasp.
- Durable, long-lasting, and easy to clean (hand wash, boiling water, dishwasher).
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Pros:
- Highly effective for calming and improving focus.
- Strong emphasis on safety and material quality.
- Very durable, designed for prolonged use.
- Simple and functional design.
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Cons:
- Less specific details on shapes or texture variety compared to other multi-packs.
- Might be perceived as a more generic option.
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User Impressions: Users frequently highlight the effectiveness of these necklaces in providing a safe outlet for anxiety and a significant improvement in their child’s ability to focus. Parents appreciate the robust quality and ease of cleaning, often noting that they hold up well to aggressive chewing.
4. Sensory Chew Necklace for Boys and Girls, 6 Pack Stretch Coil
Breaking away from traditional silicone, this unique 6-pack offers coil-style stretch chew necklaces made from BPA-free PLA material. What makes these stand out is their discreet and stylish design, resembling fashionable accessories that kids (and even adults) can wear anywhere without drawing attention. Beyond just chewing, these coils can also be twisted or stretched, offering additional tactile and fidgeting input. They’re particularly great for kids who tend to bite their fingers, clothes, or pens, providing a stylish and effective alternative that also promotes optic nerve and sensory development through their vibrant colors.
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Key Features:
- Made from 100% safe, BPA-free PLA material.
- Discreet and stylish coil design, resembling bracelets or necklaces.
- Stretchable, allowing for twisting and stretching as an additional fidget tool.
- Comes in 6 different delicate assorted colors.
- Helps calm kids by redirecting biting habits (fingers, clothes, pens).
- Easy to clean by hand washing with soap and water.
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Pros:
- Highly discreet and stylish, looks like regular jewelry.
- Offers additional fidgeting options (stretching, twisting).
- Unique PLA material for a different chewing sensation.
- Effective for thumb-sucking and redirecting other unwanted chewing.
- Vibrant colors are attractive to children.
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Cons:
- Hand wash only, not suitable for boiling or dishwasher sterilization.
- Coil design might not be ideal for very aggressive chewers who prefer a solid, firmer surface.
- Might not offer the same “squishy” texture as silicone.
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User Impressions: Many parents rave about how “cool” these look, making them a hit with kids who might be self-conscious about traditional chew necklaces. The stretchable nature is often praised for providing extra sensory input. Users report great success in stopping thumb-sucking and keeping kids from chewing on non-food items, loving the blend of style and function.
5. Chew Necklaces for Sensory Kids, Silicone Chewy Necklace (Fun Shapes)
This 6-pack of silicone chewy necklaces is all about fun and engagement with its variety of unique shapes, including biscuit, donut, stick, feather, circle, and crystal designs. Each piece is crafted from 100% food-grade silicone and features a specially textured surface for an enhanced tactile experience, making chewing even more satisfying. It’s an excellent choice for kids who benefit from redirected oral stimulation, helping them to focus and calm down by preventing chewing on clothes, pencils, and fingers. The soft yet durable material is gentle on teeth and gums, ensuring a safe and effective chewing experience.
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Key Features:
- Made from 100% food-grade silicone with specially textured surfaces.
- Includes 6 unique and fun shapes: biscuit, donut, stick, feather, circle, crystal.
- Designed to prevent chewing on fingers, pencils, clothes, etc.
- Helps reduce stress and anxiety, promoting calm and focus.
- Comes with a safety breakaway clasp.
- Soft and flexible yet durable for long-term use.
- Easy to clean by rinsing with water or soapy water.
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Pros:
- Engaging and unique shapes keep kids interested.
- Textured surfaces provide additional sensory input.
- Very effective for redirecting unwanted chewing habits.
- Soft on teeth and gums, yet highly durable.
- Offers a range of visual and tactile experiences.
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Cons:
- Some of the shapes might be larger, potentially less discreet than simpler designs.
- The fun shapes might appeal more to younger children.
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User Impressions: Kids absolutely adore the distinct shapes in this pack, often picking favorites. Parents find them incredibly effective at reducing anxiety and helping children focus in various settings. The textured surfaces receive high praise for providing satisfying sensory input, and the overall durability is a recurring positive comment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is a chew necklace for kids?
A: A chew necklace for kids, also known as a sensory chew necklace or oral motor chew, is a wearable item (typically made of food-grade silicone or similar safe material) designed to provide a safe and appropriate outlet for chewing. It helps children with oral sensory needs, anxiety, ADHD, or autism to self-regulate, focus, and calm down.
Q2: Who can benefit from using a chew necklace?
A: Chew necklaces are beneficial for a wide range of children! This includes kids with sensory processing disorder (SPD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, anxiety, or even those without a specific diagnosis who simply find comfort or focus through chewing on non-food items like clothes, pencils, or their fingers. They can also be used as a teether for toddlers.
Q3: Are chew necklaces safe for my child?
A: Absolutely, when chosen carefully! The best chew necklace for kids is made from 100% food-grade silicone (BPA, latex, lead, phthalate-free) or other non-toxic, child-safe materials like PLA. Look for necklaces with a breakaway clasp, which is a crucial safety feature designed to open if the necklace gets snagged, preventing choking hazards. Always supervise young children.
Q4: How do I choose the right chew necklace for my child?
A: Consider your child’s chewing intensity (light, moderate, aggressive), preferred textures (smooth, bumpy, ridged), and desired discretion (subtle designs vs. fun shapes). Some children prefer a firmer chew, while others like more flexibility. Also, think about the material – silicone is common, but options like PLA offer a different feel. Variety packs are great for experimenting!
Q5: How often should I clean a chew necklace, and how?
A: You should clean your child’s chew necklace regularly, ideally daily or as needed, especially if it’s been dropped or used extensively. Most silicone chew necklaces can be hand-washed with warm water and mild soap, boiled for sterilization, put in a steam sterilizer, or even placed in the dishwasher. Always check the specific cleaning instructions for your product.
Q6: When should a chew necklace be replaced?
A: Regularly inspect the chew necklace for any signs of wear and tear, such as cracks, tears, or holes. If you notice any damage, it’s time to replace it immediately to prevent small pieces from breaking off and becoming a choking hazard. The lifespan of a chew necklace depends on the child’s chewing intensity and frequency of use.
Q7: Can adults use chew necklaces too?
A: Yes, many adults also find chew necklaces beneficial for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and improving focus. While some designs are clearly for kids, there are more discreet and stylish chew necklaces available that adults can wear without feeling out of place.
Conclusion
Finding the best chew necklace for kids can be a game-changer for many families. These simple yet effective tools provide a safe, satisfying, and socially acceptable way for children to manage sensory needs, reduce anxiety, and improve their ability to focus. Whether your child needs a fun, textured shape or a more discreet, stylish option, there’s a perfect chew necklace out there. We hope this guide helps you make an informed choice that brings calm, comfort, and concentration to your little one’s day!