All the Better to Chew On

I've been quite taken with the adorable silicone teether/pacifier leashes I've seen lately, and decided to try one of my own! Granted, it would have been cheaper to just purchase a single teether clip (they're about $10-$15 on Etsy), but how could I possibly find one with exactly the right combination of beads, rings, textures, and colors? I opted instead to purchase the materials and make one myself -- it's more fun that way, anyway!

I spent far, far too long browsing Etsy for just the right shop. I had no idea there were so many silicone bead options! I was determined to get a wooden hedgehog teether, and I finally found a shop that offered them along with the other kinds of beads I was interested in. When my Etsy cart came to a ridiculous total, I pared down my choices and ordered. I purchased my wood beads and rings from Amazon, because I found that to be cheaper (though now I have an abundance of wood rings and beads left over...).  I stuck to a relatively neutral spectrum of grey, black, and mint green, mixed with natural wood.

I used a tutorial from Chomp Chew Bead Design. I'm not exactly sure how I'd planned to assemble the teether, but I'm so glad I thought to search for a tutorial! Safety was definitely a concern for me with such small beads, but their method seems quite secure (and of course, adult supervision is the best preventative measure!). I was surprised how strong the satin cord is, and didn't realize that it would fit doubled through the beads.

Figuring out a pattern with the beads I'd assembled was the next challenge -- but a most enjoyable one! I adjusted a bit part way through, and am so happy with the final design. I was trying not to make the teether too crazy, but I think there's enough variety of color/shape/size/texture without going overboard (even as I write this, I'm laughing at myself a little because who cares that much about a baby's teether leash?! *wink*). I really wanted a few "loose" rings as an extra teething/entertainment help, so I added those to the center -- they're far too small to fit over the grey crochet beads, so they won't present a choking hazard.

All that was left was the hedgehog teether at the end (which can be replaced with a pacifier if needed). I have plenty of beads left over, so I can make more as gifts, or perhaps make a dedicated stroller toy (you attach clips to both ends, so it can clip across a stroller. So clever!).

Hopefully our little guy will like his teether as much as I do! Not that I imagine we'll appreciate it in quite the same way...