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Gadgets and Gizmos - Part 2: Chewy Tubes




Before I knew about Chewy Tubes, I searched for something for Ben to chew on that was not someone's hand, hair or electrical cord, and could withstand the pressure of his biting. I once purchased plumbing materials at a hardware store thinking I could use it for Ben. Then I found (or my mom told me about) Chewy Tubes.


I get a lot of questions about Ben's Chewy Tube. I usually tell people that Ben needs something in his mouth to chew on and this serves as an appropriate way for him to meet that need. READ=Ben might bite your finger off if he did not have the chewy.

If you are unfamiliar with these, I think the official Chewy Tube website does the best at describing their purpose and answering questions: Description of Chewy Tubes

Here's my own assessment of the Chewy Tubes:

Positives
  • They do the job - if Ben is satisfied with his chewy, he will leave his clothing and other items alone.
  • Easy to clean. I wash them in the dishwasher.
  • The solid "P", "Q" and red key-shaped (not pictured) chewies last a long time.
Negatives
  • The "T" Chewy Tubes are hollow and Ben has managed to bite off parts of the "T". This could be a safety hazard if he were to choke. So far, we are not sure where the missing pieces have gone.
  • They are fairly expensive - between $6 and $9 each. Some sites offer free shipping, but the prices may be higher. It may be cheaper to buy larger quantities.
Sites that sell Chewy Tubes - this list includes just a few of the places you may buy them.

Attaching the Chewy Tubes to clothing

I use curling ribbon to attach the chewy to a lanyard with an alligator clip. It works well and so far it is the only thing Ben has not managed to break through or untie. Some children will tolerate wearing the chewy on a string around their neck, like a necklace.

Disclaimer: The equipment and tools I talk about in "Gadgets & Gizmos" is not sponsored by any company. This is not an advertisement for any product.



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Comments

  1. Mary @ ParenthoodJanuary 7, 2010 at 11:21 PM

    Fascinating product! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
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