Babies love to grab and chew — you don't have to be a parent for long to figure that out. Here's something that will keep little hands occupied while your baby is breast- or bottle-feeding. It also offers needed distraction when his or her first teeth come in. This necklace, to be worn by the parent, is both fashionable and functional. Choose a patterned fabric with bright colors to attract your infant's attention. To clean the necklace, simply hand wash it in warm water with a mild soap and hang to dry.

Materials

• one 4-by-44-inch piece of clean cotton fabric
• sewing machine
• thread for the sewing machine
• one 44-inch-long piece of embroidery thread
• seven medium-size, round wooden beads
• scissors
• two narrow, 14-inch-long ribbons, ends cut on an angle (grosgrain ribbon is best, as the ends rarely fray)

Instructions

• Step 4

1. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise. If there is a printed side, it should face in.
2. Using a sewing machine, stitch the edges of the fabric together, making a quarter-inch seam and creating a long tube.
3. Turn the tube right side out.
4. Loop the embroidery thread through and around one bead, securing it in place with a double knot. Leave a seven-inch tail at one end.
5. Drop the bead and thread down into the fabric tube. The ends of the fabric and the thread should line up.

• Step 6
6. Gather the fabric and the embroidery thread together, making a tight knot on each side of the bead.
7. Thread another bead on the string, letting it fall down into the fabric tube. Tie it in place with a knot and repeat until you have seven beads on your necklace. Make a secure knot after the last bead has been threaded.
8. Hold the necklace up to your neck to see the length. If desired, trim the ends of the fabric to shorten it.
9. Fold in both ends of the fabric tube at least a quarter inch.

• Step 10
10. Slide one ribbon about a half inch into one end of the fabric tube, then sew the seams shut. (Tip: Sew over the seam several times to make it extra strong. Babies tend to pull hard!) Repeat on the other side of the fabric tube.
11. To wear the necklace, tie the ribbons together in a tight double knot.
12. Inspect your necklace prior to each use to make sure it remains intact and baby safe.