Tips On choosing The Right Sensory Toy For Your Child

Is your child chewing their clothes and eating non-food items? A chew toy might work for them, we share our tips on choosing  the right one.

 Tips on choosing the right sensory toy for your child 

Children and adults with Sensory Processing issues, Autism, ADHD, or ADD may often have a need to bite and chew.  It can be a behaviour known as ‘stimming’, which performs an important sensory function, helping the young person regulate themselves and release stress.  Some forms of stimming are not harmful such as flapping, bouncing, repeating words, but chewing and biting can risk health, hygiene and lead to damaged teeth or belongings. We often assist parents who are trying to encourage safer alternatives.  If your young person is chewing on clothing, furniture, or other unusual items, or frequently grinding their teeth, this guide can help you decide on if a chew toy might help, and if so, which one?  

 What makes a young person do this?

A need for sensory oral stimulation, feeling anxiety, a need for proprioceptive sensory feedback can all lead to chewing.

If your child is chewing or stimming it may also be in response to an overstimulating time of the day, such as transitions, too much going on around them, or other environmental factors.

Chewing can be calming, repetitive, help someone to focus or be still.  It can organise the senses and reduce stress.  So, providing a safe sensory chew toy can be a great solution.

 What are sensory chew toys?

Specifically designed, usually handheld toys that can withstand chewing and provide a suitable and safe outlet for those who need oral stimulation.  They come in a wide range of options.

These can help a young person manage their own sensory needs in a safe way.  It can also help caregivers redirect behaviour, and prevent injury and damage.

 How to choose the right sensory chew toy?

It is important to fully assess the chewing behaviours, and what external factors there are at the times the young person chews.

1. How hard is their bite?  What is the intensity of chewing?  If you consider your child’s chewing to be aggressive you must look for the most durable and robust options
2. Do they bite and hold, chew or suck?  Sensory kids are very good at finding solutions to their sensory needs, if you can watch carefully and distinguish the specific sensory input they are creating, it stands you in better stead for finding a suitable and satisfying replacement.
3. Where in the mouth do they like to chew?  If they tend to chew at the back of the mouth, you will need a longer chew, if they chew with their front teeth a shorter, rounder chew may be better.  If they chew all over, they will likely need a chew that incorporates both, such as the hexichew.

1. Function may affect choice of size and shape – for example, does it need to fit into a pocket or attach to a specific item of clothing.  Will it be easily accessible when needed?  Is there a specific requirement, such as pencil toppers for children who chew their pens and pencils
2. Likes and dislikes? - Look at what they are currently chewing, what are the properties they are going for - what textures, materials, scents.  Do they like crisp, crunch or soft things? Smooth or bumpy?  Neatly lined or irregular? Curved or straight?  Favourite or rejected colours?
3. Is it suitable for the environment it will be used in?  Transportable?  If it will be used for transition times, is there a way to attach it to the person, their clothing or backpack so it doesn’t get easily lost?  
4. Will it be discreet or age respectful?  Some young people care what their peers think, and some don’t.  But it should be part of the decision process.  Chewigem makes products that fit discreetly to clothing, like Chubes, or resemble chew bangles or necklaces to be more discreet 
5. Are they easy to clean?  Good quality chew toys can be cleaned in a dishwasher or steriliser.

Introducing a chew toy to your child

Start by offering items that are close to their current likes and dislikes, familiarity will encourage a young person to accept and try the new option.  Continue to gradually add in other shapes, textures or sensations over time.  Monitor to see which items are most favoured and then branch out from there to offer other sensations and solutions.

If soft material is preferred, a bandana is a good solution as it can be easily changed or replaced. This can save clothing and prevent clothes becoming saturated, which can make sensitive skin sore.

Safety and care when it comes to chew toys

Cheapest is not usually best.  Low price products may have single use plastics, containing BPA or other nasties.  Make sure you purchase from a reputable company who will have used medical grade materials, tested and complied with the safety and quality standards and regulations that protect your child.  Look for CE marks for quality assurance.

Do not let your child use chew toys without supervision.

Consider a lanyard. This will ensure the chew toy is close to hand when needed. They must have an easy break clasp so the lanyard will open when pulled.  

Keep them clean and inspect them regularly.  No chew toy is unbreakable.  Over time they will inevitably begin to deteriorate.  With aggressive or constant chewing they will weaken.  Always check for cracks or tears and replace immediately when they appear. 

Ensure there are no small parts that can easily be bitten off and create a choking hazard, and ensure they are made from nontoxic materials. Chew toys will remain safe and effective so long as they are regularly cleaned and inspected by the caregiver.

When not in use or in transit, have a storage box or pouch for the chew toys so they don’t pick up germs and fluff.  It also makes them easier to find.

We hope this helps, unfortunately there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution that guarantees success. A process of watching and understanding, then trying different solutions at a pace the young person controls is the best way to go.  Keep a box for storing all the solutions that weren’t quite right is a good idea.  Sensory needs change over time and you may find yourself going back and having success later with items that didn’t work at first.