Saturday, March 23, 2013

Mouth, Chew, Bite: Kid Companion Chewelry and Give Away





The above picture may not look exciting to many of you, but to me, it is a symbol of how far my Ellie has come.  Two months ago, the above would not have happened.  Two months ago, I would not have strayed far enough from my daughter to take a picture of her while playing with chalk.  I would have sat right with her, practically on top of her, ready to whisk that chalk away before she devoured an entire piece.  Or box. of chalk.


"Why this blue positively makes my eyes 'pop'!"


Pink and blue, her personal favorites.


It isn't just the chalk.  Ellie's consumption of non-edible items extend to crayons, paper, the tips of colored pencils, and markers.  Yes, markers and by that, I mean the tip as well as biting through the plastic.  All of our board books display teeth imprints.  Most of Ellie's clothing has little holes along the collars from where her pointy teeth have poked through.  Then there is the mouthing.  The mouthing of blocks, Little People toys, balls, balloons (dangerous!), and any toy in general.

Ellie has sensory processing disorder mainly with oral seeking tendencies.  Everyone has some sensory issues, but Ellie's affect her ability to function as a little girl--she has trouble playing and she has difficulty interacting with friends.  I have frequently heard "Ellie ate my chalk!" and "Ellie, we don't want to play with you because you chew our toys".  As a mama bear, I want to cry.  I want to shelter her and place her in a protective bubble.  I want to yell at the kids even though they are correct-she does eat their chalk and toys.  However, I know that none of that will solve anything.  Ellie needs to have her oral cravings satisfied, but not at the expense of her social life.




I was recently contacted by KidCompanions Chewelry to see if one of their products would help Ellie and her intense mouthing, chewing, and gnawing.  They graciously sent one of their necklaces for Ellie to try.  I was a bit skeptical.  Would Ellie actually wear this thing around her neck? Would she actually chew it?

Go back and look at the top photo--Yes, Ellie is actually wearing her KidCompanion necklace AND she is not eating chalk.  She is. . . drawing with it!


Do you see?!  There is no chalk around her mouth!


As a parent, here are the characteristics that I like about the KidCompanions Chewelry Necklace:

  • I am going to state the obvious here: it is a necklace!  As in worn around the neck.  As in my daughter can attempt to throw it and it is still there.  She can keep it in her mouth and still use both of her hands to manipulate toys or torment the dog.  When she lets it drop out of her mouth, it is still there.  What all of this means is: it does not get lost! (they also have clip-on options as well, but Ellie is a fashionista and needed the necklace)
  • It is safe.  It has a break-away type clasp in the back.  If Ellie decides to yank on it or it happens to get caught on a piece of play equipment or a jealous child tries to steal it, the necklace clasp opens and does not choke my beautiful little girl
  • It is latex-free.  Since I am allergic to latex and I have to handle this necklace, this is a big pro.  It is also free from lead, BPA, PVC, and Phthalates.
  • Is is top-rack dishwasher safe.  I love that.   The Chunky Chicken is a rough and tumble kind of girl.  She plays in the sand, mud, puddles (when Texas actually gets rain), paint, and mulch. Sometimes, some warm soap and water just doesn't cut it. 
  • The pendant is extremely durable.  Ellie bites and when she does, it is HARD.  This thing has stood up to some serious gnawing and biting.  Plus, this mama bear no longer has beautiful bruises of various colors decorating her arms and Ellie Bear no longer has red, excoriated sores on her thumbs from gnawing.
  • Ellie is not a big fidgeter (she is more of a climber), but I am.  I am always grabbing my earring or rubbing my fingers along my necklace.  I am someone who needs to keep my hands busy.  This pendant has a little dot in the middle (Ellie's is red) that is a different texture.  It is perfect for rubbing your fingers over.



Here is what Ellie likes:

  • It is pink and red.  Her two favorite colors. . .she got to pick her colors. 
    • Circle vs. Heart
    • Color choices: white, black, pink, yellow, green, blue
    • Lanyards--length of 18" or 20, hand-dyed or undyed organic cotton 
    • If Ellie had her choice, she would own all of them because this girl likes to accessorize
  • She can chew on it and not get into trouble
  • She can have it in her mouth and still use her hands
  • She can wedge it relatively far into her mouth to get the molars and not choke or gag
  • She thinks she is hot stuff wearing a necklace.
"Look Ma at my stunning new necklace!  I feel pretty oh so pretty!"

KidCompanions has offered to give away one of their Chewelry necklaces or clip ons to a The Chronicles of Ellie Bellie Bear reader.  To enter, you must be a resident of the United States or Canada.  Please leave a comment to this post that includes the necklace you would like if you win--heart/circle, color, length of lanyard, dyed or undyed.  Winner will be drawn at random on Saturday March 30, 2013.





*In writing this post, my daughter Ellie received a free Chewelry necklace from KidCompanions for her review. The views and opinions stated in this post are entirely of my own.*

Photobucket

52 comments:

  1. That is SO cool that the necklace helped !! Do you follow TUC ? Her daughter does the same thing...I'm going to tell her about your post !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patti, of course, I know TUC! I will be sure to let her know :)

      Delete
    2. Thank you both for thinking of me! And Yes, my dear Kimani puts everything in her mouth. I bought her a chew necklace and she rejected it, but the Masha decided she liked it :-)

      These are adorable so I will have to get some and try again.

      By the way, that is one gorgeous model you have there ♥

      Delete
  2. Cool. These necklaces are cute too. I am sure Abbie could use one of these instead of chewing on her fingers all of the time. If we won, I think Abbie would like the heart shaped, probably the black (black goes with everything except brown right?), and dyed lanyard in black. Thanks Anna for doing the review. Even if we don't win, I am going to look into getting one of these for Abbie. Her fingers will be so thankful. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Abbie would rock one of these. Black would be very sassy!

      Delete
  3. Hello Anna, Happy to read that Ellie likes and uses well her pink heart KidCompanions Chewelry. Thank you so much for doing such a good job with the post! Love the photos you chose, the conversational style of writing you use, all the links to our site, the bulleted sections that are easy to read, using the point of view of both mom and daughter, …. EH! I love it all. The best to you and yours! Lorna

    ReplyDelete
  4. So happy these have been Ellie approved :-) I might need to look into these. I think Hailey would like the same pink and red heart like Ellie's. 18" would work...she's a short peanut.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, yes, the 18-inch would be perfect of Miss Hailey. Being the fashionista that Little Miss is, I agree on the pink heart :-)

      Delete
  5. Love those we have a few of the other kind but these are much more styling.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to try one. I would like the heart shape in pink, in the 20 inch size with the dyed lanyard. Wish me luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ellie would approve your choice :) Happy (early) birthday to Hailey!

      Delete
  7. I might add the the date of the winner pick will be on Hailey 's birthday. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ever the fashionista Little Miss Ellie! If we won Adam would like a blue circle with a blue 20" lanyard. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked the blue one. . . Ellie insisted on pink. The blue is a great choice!

      Delete
    2. Jeremy would probably pick the pink one too, knowing him! But, for Adam I'll pick blue!!! :)

      Delete
  9. Super cute and a great idea. The only time I tried to put a chewy on a necklace for Cora she just freaked out trying to get it off. But trying again sounds like a great idea. We like the red and pink heart combo too. Probably in a shorter string for my 31 incher!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keep on trying. . . Ellie hated anything around her neck the first year. In fact, with the KC, she was leary of it for the first few days. Then she figured out she was very cool--wearing a necklace like mama! She sashays about like she is hot stuff! Shorter Lanyard for sure--Bear wears the short one!

      Delete
  10. AHHH!!! The answer to all of my problems! ;) But seriously, Owen chewing EVERYTHING in sight is one of my biggest problems. He would LOVE a blue circle on a 20" lanyard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is great for chewing! It took a little while to get Ellie used to chewing on the KC rather than the toy/shirt. When Own starts to chew on something, hand him the chewy necklace and say "use your chewy" You may even had to put it right up to his mouth. Eventually, he will seek out the KC chewerly.

      Delete
  11. Entering! Blue, circle, 18", undyed. The teeth grinding is ramping up again and mommy's nerves are frayed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ugh! The grinding! I feel your pain. We go through phases over here too!

      Delete
  12. Entering! This would solve so many problems in our house. We have the chew tubes and she leaves them ALL over the house. I can never find them when I need them.
    If we won we would love the pink heart 18 inches dyed. It would be an honor.

    Thank you! Beth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excactly! I found the tri-chew under the couch. The P-tube in the middle of the floor. I have no idea where the T-Tube is! That is why I love the necklace (or a clip on).

      Delete
  13. OHHH...totally awesome. I think Lily would LOVE to win the black heart, 20 inch, dyed lanyard!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jesi would like the green heart with the 18" dyed necklace!!! She has apraxia and is always looking for oral stim and mouthing things!!! She has another necklace the kind that look like the coiled phone cords (but it gets stuck in her curls)!!! Hope she wins!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanee. I hear you one the cords. Ellie loves them. . .until her hair is tangled in them. We have not had that happen with the KC. Plus, it really looks like a necklace. Be prepared, the kiddos will want to be like Jesi!

      Delete
  15. I had a chew tube for my youngest that I put on a string so he would always have it. Having something appropriate to chew on was a God send for him. So glad Ellie has found one that works for her! It's so much better than chalk. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, but the chalk creates such a lovely lip color :-) I always got nervous about the string. I had visions of strangulation. I am paranoid like that!

      Delete
  16. These look so much nicer than the aquarium tubing Levi wears around his neck! He'd love a black and white circle!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Levi's tubing! A sign of creativity! Great color choice--he will look smashing!

      Delete
  17. My son would love black circle with dyed 20 in lanyard

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the black one! Not many chewelry companies offer black chewies.

      Delete
  18. My son would love black circle with dyed 20 in lanyard

    ReplyDelete
  19. My son would love black circle with dyed 20 in lanyard

    ReplyDelete
  20. My son would love black circle with dyed 20 in lanyard

    ReplyDelete
  21. My son would love black circle with dyed 20 in lanyard

    ReplyDelete
  22. Awesome! Wyatt would love a black one with a black 18" lanyard!

    ReplyDelete
  23. My Daughter would love this she chews on everything and when she doesnt have one she grinds her teeth I would love to win the heart Heart pink 18" hand-dyed
    THANKS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Augh! Teeth grinding! Sounds horrendous, doesn't it. This chewy holds up nicely to grinding. Believe me, it has survived Ellie's grinding!

      Delete
  24. I'm thinking this could come in handy in Uganda! A black circle to be exact. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I know an adorable little girl with severe pica issues. I'm sure she'd love this cute piece of chewelry (love that term!!). Heart pink 20" hand-dyed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea! Ellie loves her pink heart one. She doesn't eat chalk now :)

      Delete
  26. These look great! If we won, ruder would like the blue circle with a 20" colored necklace. Maybe this will help to save his poor little thumb he insists on gnawing raw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That should be Ryder, not ruder!? Autocorrect wins again. :(

      Delete
  27. Stella could so use one of these! I always loose the other one she has! One as a necklace would work perfect! The pink and red would be so cute! 18" would be best and a coloured necklace. Love the blog post and love the pictures of Ellie!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Manual entry for Shannon! She would like a necklace for Miss Ruby.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey, Anna--is it too late to enter?? I think Jarrett would like this!!!! I think he'd like the 18" blue circle with blue lanyard….

    ReplyDelete
  30. Not sure where my "title" came from but it's me, Jill! Lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You entered just in time and yes, I knew it was you!

      Delete

I love your comments and I read each and every single one of them.

Cecostomy Tubes R Us

Here we are - two posts in 30 days! It's scandalous, I tell you!  Seriously though, I bet you all thought that I abandoned ship and woul...