My blog post today comes from something I have been stewing over for a while now. A few months back I had a mama ask me about a specific company's product, which brought me to their website. What has bothered me so much is that this company claims to source their silicone beads from Canada, throwing other companies who source from China under the bus. Well, I have to tell you that I have been in business almost 4 years and if I could source from Canada, I would, but no manufacturer exists. After looking at the beads this company uses, I can tell that we have the same manufacturer (in China) and I have personally been to their factory. Perhaps they buy their beads from one of the awesome companies selling silicone supplies in Canada (we really seem to have the best here), however there are NO Canadian manufacturers of silicone beads. This irks me, because it's very misleading to consumers. As a mother and a consumer of silicone products, it's important to know the source of the products that you use with your baby.
China is the supplier of silicone beads worldwide. In the past four years there have been so many Chinese companies that have popped up, some with quality beads and some not so much. I have received many samples over the years from so many companies, but at the end of the day I have only been impressed with two of them and those are the only two I would recommend buying from and using. That's not to say there aren't more than two that are good, but in the research I have done, that's all I have found. I have safety certifications from these two factories and I have also done independent testing, with the second round of testing happening this summer.
If you want copies of my safety certifications just ask and I'm more than happy to send them to you. Interested in starting your own teether company? Send me an email and I'd be happy to give you the name of my supplier and answer any questions you may have about starting a business. I feel like there is more to gain by us mamas working together than just treating each other as competition. ❤️
UPDATE 4/5/21:
Since writing this blog post almost 4 years ago, I have received feedback from so many mamas looking to start their own teething company. As a response to this feedback, I have created an eBook to answer some of your questions: Advice on Starting a Teething Company
19 comments
I’m looking to make make lanyards using silicone beads. Would love to see some of your research on the most reliable Canadian suppliers for supplies.
Thanks!
Hello. Hope you’re safe and well.
I’m planning to have my small baby online business and come across your post on baby teether. Can you send me your recommendations on company for bpa food grade silicone in China so I can check? As a mom, I wanted to check the quality and safety of these before I try to buy and or sell them. Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.
Thank you for this!
Love your products, passion and transparent attitude! More companies need to follow suit.