After experiencing a traumatic teething time with her first baby, a Ballito mom found a solution to make the experience less stressful and more stylish for both moms and babes.
Jules Seddon is the proud owner of Munchkin Jewels, a chewellery range that helps sooth aching gums and keeps babies busy while being a cool fashion accessory for mama. silicone bpa free beads
“Munchkin Jewels was inspired by my second child, Matilda (or simply Tilly), as I was adamant to find teething aids that would help make her experience better than that of my now four-year-old Amelia,” said Seddon, who lives half the year in Dubai and the other half in Ballito with her husband, Dan and their two daughters.
“I wanted something that could be easily carried throughout the day so it was always available.
“When Tilly began to pull and bite at any jewelry I wore, I started searching the internet specifically for jewelry which was safe for babies to suck or chew on.”
She came across silicone bead jewelry, but they were only available in the UK and the designs did not appeal to her.
This got her thinking… “I decided to research how difficult and costly it would be to make my own necklace which was safe for Matilda to munch on but could also pass as a piece of fashionable jewelry in its own right. I had been itching to sink my teeth into something creative after the birth of my first child and saw this as a great opportunity to bring in an income with the flexibility of remaining a stay-at-home mom.”
After spending many a night behind her laptop screen, Seddon found a trustworthy wholesale supplier of food grade silicone products with the necessary safety certifications to prove their silicone was non-toxic and most importantly BPA free.
“As a huge bonus during my research I had discovered the beads themselves were sensory. Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which leads to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks and supports cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills and is great for calming an anxious or frustrated child.”
Within a couple of weeks, Seddon had a selection of 10 necklace and three dummy clip designs, all 100 per cent handmade accompanied by sustainable packaging.
The squishy chewellery can be washed in a dishwasher and can be placed in the fridge for added cooling comfort.
“The feedback has been fantastic! I visited a few local boutique shops and was accepted as a stall holder at the popular iHeartMarket, which was exciting and encouraging as they have a very strict application process to ensure quality vendors.”
Seddon has since expanded her range to include bangles and rattles and has some exciting designs in the pipeline, most notably a Montessori play gym which will be launched soon.
Get your chewlery from One of a Kind at Burnedale Farm or check out their Facebook page – Munchkin Jewels or contact them via email at [email protected] .
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