‘Chewy’ Success
The theratubing arrived at the end of last week (to make Jack’s neckband) and it has been a huge success!! He took to it straight away and hasn’t looked back! Because of the convenience of having the band around his neck, Jack has actually ditched the chewy tube in favour of the theratubing (although we have insisted that he use the chewy tube at bedtime so that he doesn’t have anything around his neck whilst he is going to sleep).
I have had a couple of people ask me why Jack has the band around his neck… what is it for and why does he chew it all the time? I guess the chewy tube looked more like a toy so people didn’t take much notice of it. With the band it’s probably more obvious to people now that he’s chewing constantly, so I’ve had to explain the whole ’sensory processing’ thing more often…
But regardless of the explanations, we’ve hailed it a ‘chewy’ success!!
Elissa 
March 11th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Yay!!!! Its brillient when something works!!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Outstanding! One small step forward.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Yeah! So glad he’s taking up the tubing!! Xan likes his chewlry but it’s a bit bulky and he carries it rather than wearing it because the spiral pinches his neck. Hope that helps… maybe the bracelets would work better in this case. In any event he does like the ‘chewiness’ of it.
March 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Theratubing is the best! I am so happy that it is working for you. I have several students who use it at school and at home and we have seen great success also.
March 11th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Wonderful! That stuff is so helpful to kids. M would never wear the neck tubing but likes the T’s. I am so glad this is helping J. It is probably a good stress reliever for him.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I’m so glad it worked!
March 11th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I’m so glad you found something that worked. We tried both of those with SB a few years ago without much success. I’m glad you had a different experience.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I love chewy tubes!!! They were a lifesaver for us. There are also these necklaces called “mega chewelry” you can get them at abilitations.com. They come in several colors and they’re great too. Now that G is older he chews sugarless bubblegum.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I am really glad it worked too. Hurray! I’m a bit overwhelmed again, IEP coming up, it’s spring and the time changed here in the US and that always thows us for a big loop. So forgive me if I am not writing as much, but I am reading! You belated wordless wednesday photo spoke to me! I loved the message in the bottle too, I need to remember that message.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Just read down and saw your note about chewelry. (I never know how to spell it.) I should have know you knew about them. Right now we are experimenting with the clear pencil toppers. I’ll let you know how they work out.
March 13th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Great news about the ‘chewy’ success.
Our biggest problem at the moment is Beauty’s nose, she just will not leave it alone and nothing I say or do stops her. Any suggestions gratefully received!
March 16th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Oh, that’s wonderful news! Glad you’ve found something that works so well
May 9th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I am a parent and an OT in a elementary school. I started using the chewy pencil toppers. The children kept losing them. So then I decided to make some homemade chewy necklaces. I use shoestrings, or other narrow lacing and cut a 2″ or so piece of food-grade, non-toxic clear tubing (purchased at Home Depot) and string in on the lace. This way the tubing stays on the child and is ready for chewing. Also, It is easily washed. The kids have loved them…and it is a very inexpensive way to help the “chewers” I work with.