The Best Chewelry We’ve Tried: For Drooling, Hypotonia & Sensory Needs
Our Chewelry Journey
One of the earliest signs of a developmental delay for our son was his limited speech. By 18 months, he only had one or two clear words, so his pediatrician recommended speech therapy. He was also an incredibly drooly kid. He wore a bib constantly, and not just during teething, as evidenced below. (Shoutout to cute bandana bibs, they were a total lifesaver!)
After his official diagnosis, which included hypotonia (low muscle tone), his speech-language pathologist explained that hypotonia was likely contributing to both the drooling and the speech delay. Thankfully, she was a solutions-oriented therapist who focused on providing as many tools for success as possible. She introduced us to chew toys and chewelry as a way to strengthen the muscles in the mouth, which can directly impact drooling and speech development.
This post isn’t medical advice, but it is our real-life experience testing different types of chewable jewelry to help with hypotonia-related challenges and to support sensory input as our son grew. We’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and why we ultimately came to love one brand in particular. If you’re on a similar journey, we hope this helps you find the right fit for your kiddo, too.
Chew Toys & Chewelry We’ve Tried
1. Chew Tubes
Chew tubes were the first oral motor tool recommended to us.
The goal: Improve our son’s muscle tone to help reduce excessive drooling and support speech development related to hypotonia.
Our experience: At first, he didn’t take to it the way we had hoped (but, as you can tell from the photos, he certainly enjoyed carrying it around 😂). Our therapist suggested 💡 adding a tiny bit of peanut butter or another preferred flavor to the end of the tube to make it more enticing and that worked! With some gentle coaxing, we were able to use the chew tube as part of his strengthening routine, though it definitely took effort to keep it consistent.
Our drawbacks: Our son had some trouble with the motor planning required to grasp the chew tube and bring it to his mouth on his own. And to be honest, it was often misplaced, which made it harder to keep it in regular rotation.
Additional use cases:
Build jaw strength and oral motor skills (biting, chewing, swallowing)
Redirect chewing or biting away fron non-edible items
Provide calming proprioecpetive input for sensory regulation
Offer a safe outlet for kids who week oral input due to sensory processing needs or anxiety
Aid in jaw rehabilitation or recovery from oral motor delays
Chew tubes aren’t the flashiest tool out there, but they serve a really important purpose—especially when you're working to build the muscle strength that supports feeding and speech development.
Chewy Tubes come in different colors and firmness levels depending on your child’s age and chewing strength. This product description makes it easy to pick the right one for your child.
2. ARK’s Grabber XT Oral Motor Chew
The goal: Continue strengthening our son’s oral muscles with a tool that was easier for him to hold and use independently.
Our experience: This was a noticeable improvement in terms of control. The built-in handle made it much easier for our son to bring the chew to his mouth on his own. It also kicked off our love for ARK products, their quality is truly unmatched. We especially appreciated the range of vibrant colors, and so did our son!
Our drawbacks: Like most chews, it still got lost occasionally. And because it didn’t have a T-shaped end, it was a little harder for our son to keep it in his mouth while chewing.
Additional use cases:
Practice biting, chewing, and developing oral motor skills
Provide a safe alternative to chewing on hands, shirts, pencils, or other non-edible items
3. Teething Tools We Tried for Relief + Strength
The goal: As our son grew, there were periods when teething pain added another layer to the mix. During those times, we looked for options that could relieve discomfort while still encouraging the kind of chewing that supports oral muscle development.
Our experience:
We first tried the Baby Teether Tubes (for ages 3–6 months), hoping the somewhat familiar Y-shaped design and added texture would be more appealing. Unfortunately, our son didn’t take to it any more than the other options.
Next, we tried the Molar Magician Teething Egg to help with molar teething. This one he actually liked, especially when it was chilled! While no doctor or therapist confirmed its benefits for oral strength, we figured that consistent chewing probably wasn’t hurting.
Additional use cases:
Soothing sore gums during teething (front and molar)
Encouraging safe chewing for babies just learning to bite
Introducing textured oral input early
These weren’t long-term solutions for us, but they filled a gap when our son needed teething relief and we wanted to support oral development at the same time.
4. ARK’s Brick Stick Necklace
The goal: After discovering ARK via the Grabber, we noticed they offered wearable options which felt like a great solution for all the chew tools we kept misplacing. The Brick Stick stood out for its textured surface, long solid shape, and the fact that it looked more age-appropriate as our son grew out of the baby phase.
Our experience: This was our holy grail. Maybe it got more use because he didn’t age out of it. Maybe it was the wearable design, the bright fun colors, or the fact that it was big enough not to get lost constantly. Whatever the reason, this was the chewelry our son liked best and the one mom and dad appreciated the most.
He got it when he was 3. He’s now 7, and the same Brick Stick is still in our house. To be fair, he’s not a strong chewer (his low muscle tone means chewing isn’t something he enjoys, it’s something we have to encourage). So I can’t speak to how well it holds up for intense chewers, but in our experience, the quality is excellent and the design just works.
Additional use cases:
Chew tool to support calm, focus, and self-regulation
Textured surface offers varied sensory feedback and strong tactile input
Bonus tip: The Brick Stick comes in different colors that correspond to toughness levels, so you can choose the firmness that best fits your child’s chewing needs. You can check out all the options by clicking the button below.
5. Continuing Support as He Grows
Our son’s hypotonia hasn’t gone away, and honestly, I sometimes wish we’d been more consistent with using chew tools early on. That said, he’s made incredible progress. He no longer drools (a milestone I wasn’t certain we’d reach), and his speech has come a long way too. Huge wins we’re incredibly proud of.
Now that he’s older, we’re still mindful of giving him the support he needs. We continue to test out new tools that might help him maintain and build oral muscle strength. If I’m being completely honest, none of the ones we’ve tried recently have been game changers, but they’re helpful options to have. Since I didn’t know some of these options existed when we first started this journey, I want to share them with you.
Here are a few chew tools we’ve added to the rotation as he’s gotten older, and we will continue to update this list as we explore new options.
Chewable pencil toppers – These fit over standard pencils and offer a discreet way to chew during the school day or while doing homework. Great for kids who seek oral input while focusing.
Sensory necklaces – Similar to the brick, but these come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to look like regular jewelry. They offer a more discreet way to support chewing needs as kids get older.
Looking for more information on what chewelry is and how it can help? Check out our full guide: Exploring the Benefits of Chewelry for All Ages. It covers everything from sensory input to choosing the right chewable jewelry based on needs and preferences.
We know every disability journey is different, and what works for one child might not work for another. We’d love to hear from you—drop a comment below and share what tools or strategies have helped your family most!
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