The Best Autism Chew Toys on Amazon

Every child develops an attachment to one or several toys they just can’t live without. But, unfortunately, the things that entertain our children aren’t necessarily created to aid their learning process in this technology-driven world. As a parent, you want your child to learn and improve as they grow up.

When it comes to children with autism, the goal of any parent is the same, to help them become the best version of themselves. But, unfortunately, the toys we provide to our kids can positively or negatively affect their development.

Why Are Autism Chew Toys Necessary?

The role of every parent isn’t just about helping your autistic child develop good habits but also steering them away from the bad ones. For example, biting is a common bad habit in autistic children, and you must make sure they don’t harm you or themselves if they develop it. So it’s understandable that if your child develops this habit, it can increase the frustration you will feel, as a parent, on your journey to provide a safe, healthy environment for your child.

One of the best options that are helping parents counteract the biting habit is autism chew toys. The variety of chew toys available today is proof that they can safely manage your child’s tendency to bite. Let’s consider some of the main reasons why autism sensory chew toys are a good choice for parents, as well as some of the best chew toys for autism.

How Autism Chew Toys Support Your Child

Many might have the first thought that using autism chew toys seems degrading. But the reality is that they can help dignify your child by keeping them safe. 

Promote Personal Safety

A child, regardless of their age, has powerful jaws. Taking the proper steps to help prevent biting by using autism chew toys helps protect your child’s teeth from having to absorb the shock of suddenly clamping down on a hard object.

The health and wellbeing of someone with autism are paramount. Regardless of someone’s age, autism chew toys have proven to help manage the tendency to bite. In addition, chew toys for adults with autism have proven to be just as helpful as those designed for children. 

Develop Positive Interpersonal Relationships

Another advantage is that family members, friends, and classmates are kept safe. Healthy interactions with others are critical in helping a young person with autism learn to live amongst the general public. Young people with autism can also better form close interpersonal relationships with family members and friends when their interactions are positive and encouraging.

Sensory chew toys for autism help cut down on negative interactions with others due to biting episodes. Instead of being scolded, yelled at, or startled due to someone’s reaction to their biting, your child can have days filled with more helpful, supportive communication and interpersonal learning opportunities.

Strengthen Oral Motor and Facial Muscles

The human jaw is one of the strongest mechanisms in the body, and it’s essential not to be damaged by biting on the wrong things. Using sensory chew toys will also help your child develop facial muscles, oral motor exploration and help minimize food aversions. 

Other benefits include:

• Exposing your children to a variety of different textures
• Strengthening tongue coordination
• Strengthening jaw and lip closure
• Improve oral coordination necessary to speech, eating, and drinking.

Why Children With Autism Bite

When a child with autism starts biting, they do it for a few different reasons. Therefore, parents should observe their children and understand their biting because this will help find the best autism chew toy.

When They Feel Pain

Especially with younger children, it’s possible they may be feeling pain in their teeth or jaw. The pain or discomfort can be due to getting new teeth in or having a cavity. Whichever the reason, your child might resort to biting because they realize it helps ease the discomfort.

When They Experience Anxiety

Autistic children react differently to changes in their environment. When they experience different situations than what’s expected, they can develop higher anxiety levels. Chewing provides a calming sensation that helps your child settle down and relax.

Indication of Other Disorders

The need to bite can also result from a common condition in children with autism called Pica. Pica is defined as an appetite for non-food items, which leads them to chew and attempt to eat all sorts of things.

How Autism Chew Toys Can Help Prevent Your Child from Biting You

Regardless of the reason behind the biting, with an autism chew toy, you have the chance to help protect yourself. When the child starts biting, they’re trying to satisfy what could be a subconscious desire to feel a specific sensation in their mouth and not necessarily trying to harm you or anyone else.

The best way to prevent injury is to satisfy this sensation with a safe, soft, autism chew toy. Here are some of the kinds of autism chew toys available on the market today:

• Chew necklace
• Chew tool
• Chewy tubes
• Chewy toys

You can find autism chew toys in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Parents may want to check with their child before committing to one to make sure that:

• The texture is pleasing to them.
• The color is appealing to them.
• The toy doesn’t make any unpleasant noises when chewed or rubbed up against other surfaces.

How to Use an Autism Chew Toy

If you haven’t used an autism chew toy before, know that they may take some getting used to. The most crucial step is to prepare ahead of time. Keep it close at hand for whenever your child may need oral sensory input. Typically your child will show signs indicating that they need oral stimulation.

Look For The Signs

Some of the signs parents want to look out for when oral stimulation is needed include:

• Crying
• Putting their fingers in their mouth
• Looking around for something to bite

Sensory seekers need to satisfy their urge as soon as possible, so after noticing one of the signs, you want to calmly get the autism chew toy into your child’s mouth.

Things to Avoid

Although biting is a bad habit and needs correction, remember that it’s not always something they can control. For this reason, try to avoid the following:

• Screaming at your child
• Slapping or striking your child in any way, even lightly
• Forcing the toy into your child’s mouth through clenched teeth
• Scolding your child as you would if they had misbehaved

Keeping these things in mind will help prevent your child from forming negative associations with any autism sensory chewing toys you provide.

Other Useful Tips When Using Autism Chew Toys

Getting the chew toy to your child as soon as possible is vital, so keep it close by. It may be advisable to get several sensory autism chew toys, so you don’t have to search the house for one if the need arises. To help you use these chew toys more effectively, strategically place them in convenient areas, such as:

• Around your child’s neck
• In a pocketbook, backpack, or traveling bag
• In a cupboard in the kitchen
• In the bathroom
• In your child’s bedroom
• In a play area

The Top 3 Chew Toys For Autism

The best chew toys are soft and with bumps or ridges that your child can use to help ease specific areas of sensitivity. Here are the top three autism chew toys that are sure to reduce your child’s biting habit.

Shark Tooth Chew Necklace

The closest location for your child’s chew toy is right around their neck. A chew necklace is convenient because it can be both a chew toy and an accessory your child can play with whenever they want. Especially for boys, this 100% food-grade silicone shark tooth is always a cool, attractive, and safe accessory for children over 3.

Sensory University Red Chewy Stixx Oral Tubes Tough Bar

Chew Stixx Tough Bars is a solid, chunky bar perfect for extreme biting. This chew stick is also made with different textures, so it’s an excellent option for children craving sensory input or the input received from destructive oral motor grinding.

Panny & Mody Sensory Chew Necklace Pendant Chewable Jewelry

For mild to moderate chewers, this sensory chew necklace pendant set is made of 100% food-grade silicone with no BPAs, PVCs, phthalates, lead cadmium, or heavy metal. It’s made with large, prominent bumps in the front and tiny raised bumps on the back to address different sensory needs.

Autism Chew Toys Are Part of Your Child’s Normal Life 

Every child is different, but autism chew toys can help ease your child’s urge to bite while simultaneously protecting them and others. Redirecting their need to satisfy their desire to feel a specific sensation in their mouth towards a safe option will be very beneficial. Take the time to observe your child and adapt how you use your autism chew toys as they grow.

Biting is just one of the many habits that children, even those without autism, can develop from an early age. Normal Life, Inc. was established to give you a community to help families affected by autism and other intellectual disabilities. Our goal is to help every family with autism that we reach by providing much-needed resources.

Contact us if you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts; we would love to hear from you. You can also take a look through our YouTube channel as well as our Facebook group #autismarmy.

The Benefits of Wobble Cushions

When used correctly, a sensory seat for autism can help improve a child’s concentration and overall learning. But there are many options on the market. One popular choice is the wobble cushion. What is it, and how do you know if it’s right for your child? 

What is a Wobble Cushion? 

A wobble cushion is sometimes referred to as an instability cushion or a disc cushion. It is also known as a wiggle cushion or wiggle seat.

It is either a round inflatable cushion averaging thirteen inches in diameter or an inflated wedge-shaped cushion. 

Wobble cushions usually have raised dimples on at least one side, while others have different sizes of dimples on both sides. They can be used on the floor or in a chair. 

Why Use a Wobble Cushion?

Wobble cushions have many benefits and purposes. All children can benefit from using a wobble cushion both at home and in school. However, wobble cushions are especially beneficial for sensory-seeking toddlers and children with autism or ADHD. 

The Benefits of Wobble Cushions

• Improves posture. Wobble or wiggle cushions promote good posture both when sitting on the floor or in a chair. Good posture helps children concentrate better on the task at hand instead of constantly repositioning to get more comfortable. Improving concentration and learning are especially important for children with ADHD and those on the autism spectrum. 
• Engages the core. Because of the instability of wiggle seats, the user must keep their core and back engaged even while sitting. This strengthens their muscles, and because it’s done in an aligned position, it tones muscles without risking injuries. 
• Helps sensory-seeking kids focus. The wobbly effect of these cushions forces children to focus on how they sit, so the energy that usually goes into fidgeting is directed at staying upright. They can then focus on the project in front of them. Additionally, the raised dimples provide further sensory stimulation. Studies show that sensory stimulation improves concentration while promoting relaxation in many children. 
• Prevent chair-related accidents. Children who have trouble concentrating tend to lean back in their chair, which damages the chair and can be dangerous if the back legs slips and the child falls. Wobble cushions allow the child to feel that back and forth rocking or leaning motion without having to worry about an injury or damage to your furniture. 
• Replaces therapy balls. While therapy balls have their place, they aren’t ideal for every child. Some children may be more tempted to play on the ball than use it as a seat. Additionally, their large size makes it challenging to use them at a desk or have multiple balls in one classroom. You also can’t adjust the size of a therapy ball, so a desk or table may be too high or too low to use comfortably. A wobble cushion gives your child the unsteady, constant movement of a therapy ball, but it can be used on any chair at any height of table. They are also much more portable and can be moved easily from room to room or even carried discreetly in a backpack or shoulder bag. 
• Calms stress and anxiety. Children can focus nervous or anxious energy on stabilizing their position rather than turning to other coping strategies such as hair pulling or nail-biting. 

How to Use a Wobble Cushion Correctly

Wobble cushions should be used and treated as all exercise equipment or classroom tools. If misused, they could be damaged or even lead to an injury. If you choose to use a wobble cushion, please keep the following in mind. 

• Do not use the cushion at all times. Because a wobble cushion engages your core and back muscles, it should be viewed as a form of exercise. Manufacturers recommend using it only for about 30 minutes at most before taking a break. 
• Make sure that the child’s feet can reach the floor when using the wobble cushion on a chair. If the chair is too high, it will only be uncomfortable and even more distracting to the child. 
• Ensure your child sits directly on the cushion and not on the edge of the chair.
• Never combine the wobble cushion with other sensory devices such as a weighted vest or blanket. It is already somewhat challenging to balance on a wiggle cushion, and the extra weight could make it even more difficult to use safely. 
• Let your child try out both sides of the cushion to decide what level of sensory stimulation makes them most comfortable. Some cushions come with a smooth side, while others come with two intensity levels of sensory dimples. Certain children may prefer the extra raised dimples, while others might find them uncomfortable. 
• Try out the wobble cushion yourself. Your child will be more likely to try something new if you’re willing to give it a go first. You’ll also better understand how the cushion adjusts posture and affects concentration if you’ve experienced it yourself. 
• Use the wobble cushion for creative strength and balancing-building exercises. Carefully standing on the wobble cushion is fun to build muscle tone, improve balance, and practice concentration. 
• Don’t use the wobble cushion on a couch or sofa. The wobble cushion will sink into soft seating, making slouching inevitable. 

How to Choose the Right Wobble Cushion

Look for a wobble cushion that is labeled for children. Adult-size cushions are often larger and could be uncomfortable for your child. If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of the best wobble cushions, feel free to follow the link to Normal Life’s list.

You will also want to consider the overall shape of the cushion. Some inflate to more rounded shapes while others stay flatter. The flat cushion is much more stable while at the same time requiring core engagement. 

Aesthetics also play a role in whether or not the wobble cushion is successful. If possible, let your child choose the color of their wobble cushion. They’ll be more excited to use it and feel more involved in the decision. Some wobble cushions even come with cloth covers with fun prints.

Finally, choosing a wiggle seat with both a smoother side and a textured side puts your child in control of their seating and comfort. 

A wobble cushion is an excellent tool for sensory-seeking kids with autism or ADHD. They improve concentration, build muscle, and encourage balance in children and adults alike. Best of all, they are relatively affordable, portable, and have a variety of uses. If you haven’t already, it’s time to add a wobble cushion to your sensory tool kit. 

Best Wiggle Seats For Sensory Seeking Kids

What is Sensory Seeking?

The human brain has an important job to do. For all 24 hours in a day, the brain is constantly receiving and processing information from senses. Usually, this is a subconscious process that most of us don’t even have to think about. However, for kids with sensory processing disorders (SPD’s), the brain struggles to manage the constant flow of sensory input.

Generally, sensory processing disorders are divided into two categories: sensory avoiding and sensory seeking.

For sensory avoiders, the brain is overstimulated by the influx of sensory information, causing a child to become overwhelmed, stressed or anxious easily.

On the other hand, sensory seekers underreact to sensory input and require far more stimuli to function normally. As a result, kids who are are sensory seekers tend to have difficulty remaining still. When sitting, they often shift, reposition, fidget, or repeatedly get up in an effort to find the sensory stimuli that their brain needs to focus and function. 

As if processing the five primary senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing wasn’t enough, kids with Autism, ADHD, and sensory issues can be extremely sensitive to two other senses. Spatial awareness and proprioception.

• Spatial awareness deals with knowing where a child is in a given space. To orient themselves in a room or space, sensory seeking children will sometimes twist their bodies or rock back in forth.

• Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense balance and movement. Proprioceptive insensitivity is the reason sensory seekers have a hard time staying still. In order to get more proprioceptive stimuli, they need to move and change positions constantly.

Scientists and Autism experts have spent countless hours of research, developing new methods and devices to help sensory seekers achieve better levels of attention and focus. One product that has proven especially helpful for many sensory seeking children is the wiggle seat.

What is a Wiggle Seat?

Wiggle seats, also known as wobble cushions, fidget chairs, and balance disks, come in many different styles. But, essentially, they all are designed to accomplish the same goal: To provide an additional level of sensory and proprioceptive stimulation that ordinary chairs don’t offer. 

Some wiggle seats come in the form of inflatable cushions that can be placed on chairs, stools, on the floor, or in the car. Others are purpose-built chairs, best suited for desk or table use. Regardless of their design, these simple but powerful products create an uneven surface for your child to sit on, requiring more effort into balancing, and in turn, helping to satisfy their proprioceptive needs. Additionally, most wiggle seats are textured with bumps and patterns to maximize physical sensations to their skin.

How to Introduce a Wiggle Seat to your Child

Introduce new wobble seats in small increments. Some kids are hesitant to try new things and may not be too keen on the idea of sitting on this strange new object. Instead of insisting that they use their new wobble cushion every time they sit down, try to help them sit on it for 20 or 30 minutes at a time. In most cases, kids quickly become accustomed to wobble seats and prefer sitting with them than without them.

Show them how to use it. If your son or daughter is especially resistant to the idea of using a wiggle seat, you may want to try setting the example for them. When you are together with your child, perhaps at a meal, show them that you enjoy sitting on the wiggle cushion. Your example may give them the confidence they need to give it a try for themselves.

Use wiggle seats in different locations. One of the best features of wobble cushions is that they are portable, giving you and your child the freedom to use them in various places and during different activities. You may find that your son or daughter is more likely to use a wobble cushion in one situation over another, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Here are a few places to introduce a wiggle cushion:

• At the dinner table
• On the floor
• In the car (if your child doesn’t use a booster seat)
• When doing homework

Choosing the Right Wiggle Seat for your Child

While most wiggle seats and cushions share the same basic design principle, there are still many different styles to choose from. Here are our top picks for the best wiggle seats on Amazon. So, let’s get into finding the best wiggle seats for sensory seeking kids.

Wiggle Seat by Tiny Octopus

The “Wiggle Seat” by Tiny Octopus uses the classic, tried and true wobble cushion design to bring proprioceptive stimulation anywhere your child needs it.

Seat” features a unique double-sided texture design, offering two levels of sensory stimulation. One side has small raised bumps, and the other side has large rubber nubs to provide maximum stimuli to your son or daughter.

Included with the “wiggle seat in a portable air pump, making this wobble cushion easy to throw in a backpack and bring it along wherever you and your child go.

Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Children’s Balance Ball

Due to their lack of a solid based, we typically advise parents to stay away from exercise or balance balls. While they may seem like the perfect seating solution for sensory seeking kids, These balls can be very dangerous. Far too easily, they can roll right out from under a child, causing severe injury. For overactive children who love to fidget, they are a recipe for disaster.

However, the “Stay-N-Play Children’s Balance Ball” by Gaiam Kids is different. Unlike traditional balance balls, this one features five small flexible legs that keep the ball firmly in place while your child sits on it, so you’ll never have to worry about this chair flying out from under your son or daughter.

The “Stay-N-Play Children’s Balance Ball” comes in two different sizes to accommodate both younger and older children and is available in a variety of different fun designs and colors.

Bouncyband Butterfly Wiggle Seat

If your child is skeptical about using a wobble cushion, the butterfly Wiggle Seat from Bouncyband may be just what they need to give it a try. This cushion brings all of the benefits of a traditional wobble seat with a fun and welcoming butterfly shape.

Bouncyband Wiggle Wobble chair feet

The “Wiggle Wobble chair feet” are another ingenious product from Bouncyband. These removable feet are a great middle-ground for sensory seeking kids who prefer the feel of a normal chair but could still benefit from the sensory stimulation of a wiggle seat. 

The “Wiggle Wobble chair feet” easily snap onto existing chair legs and, thanks to their soft baseplates, can be used on tile, carpet, or hardwood floors without causing any damage.

Before purchasing the “Wiggle Wobble chair feet,” It’s important to note that they can support the weight of 120 pounds, so if your child is older or on the heavier side, you may want to consider another wiggle seat option.

CanDo Sitting Wedge Active Seat Wobble Cushion

The CanDo “Sitting Wedge Active Seat Wobble Cushion” is our top pick for sensory seekers who love sitting on the floor. This cushions wedge shape not only gives your child the added sensory stimuli that they need but also helps to keep their spine aligned, improving posture and balance. Additionally, since this cushion is made of soft foam, you never have to worry about it deflating or being popped by your child.

OUTREE Kids Pod Swing Seat

The “OUTREE Kids Pod Swing Seat” technically isn’t a wobble cushion. Still, we felt it deserves an honorable mention on this list due to its enclosure design and unique ability to move. For kids with spatial awareness sensitivity issues, the “OUTREE Kids Pod Swing Seat” is the perfect chair. It’s kind of like a wiggle seat, on a swing, inside of a fort.

Just like with a traditional wobble seat, the included inflatable cushion gives your son or daughter the ability to balance and bounce, but since the seat is suspended from the ceiling, there is added swinging motion. On top of that, the pod design creates a calming environment for autistic kids who struggle to feel safe and secure in large spaces. 

Help your Child Concentrate with a Wiggle Seat

As a parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, you’ll do anything to make life a little easier and more comfortable for your son or daughter. If your little one happens to be a sensory seeker, a wiggle seat may be the one thing missing from your autism toolbox to help put your restless child at ease.

If you’ve never experimented with a wiggle seat before, why not give it a try? You may be surprised at just how much better your child is able to concentrate and remain still when sitting on a wobble cushion. 

If you’ve had success with a specific Wiggle seat or cushion, please tell us about it! Leave a comment below and join our community of awesome parents, teachers, and caretakers of kids with Autism. 

Helping your child to eat a balanced meal is often difficult for many parents. Parents with children on the spectrum find that feeding their children nutritious meals is one of the biggest challenges for them.