Safe Chewable Jewelry - For Babies and the Insatiably Hungry (GALLERY)

Dr Helen Bloom, a dentist, has launched a line of ‘safe’ Chewable Jewelry to give women the chance to wear trendy jewelry and keep teething babies happy and occupied at the same time. The pendants and bangles look like they are made of resin but are much softer and won’t harm developing tooth buds. The product line is made from FDA approved food safe silicone - the same material used for baby bottles and teething toys. 

Mothers and caregivers of babies and young children usually avoid wearing jewelry because little fingers soon find them to pull on. Ouch. Babies also often put things in their mouths to soothe their teething gums. Mouthing jewelry is unsafe and not just because of the choking hazard.

Many jewelry components such as metal beads and Swarovski crystals also contain lead which is toxic if these are swallowed. Small children under the age of 5-6 are particularly vulnerable.