Boobeadz Product Design and Development

I’m developing a new baby-safe product called Boobeadz — a soft, flexible, silicone-based support jewellery inspired accessory designed for breastfeeding comfort. The product uses large ideally hollow silicone beads (approx. 80 mm) threaded onto an elasticated cord. I need an experienced silicone product engineer to help refine the concept into a manufacturable, safety‑aligned prototype. This is an early‑stage project, so I’m looking for someone who can guide the technical side: material selection, manufacturable geometry, and prototype‑ready CAD. Requirements • 3D CAD (STEP files) for silicone beads and cord integration • Design for Manufacture (DFM) for LSR or compression molding • Material recommendations (durometer, tear strength, baby‑safe silicone grades) • Wall thickness + mold‑ready geometry • Basic safety considerations (EN71, LFGB/FDA silicone) • Advice on prototyping options (UK/EU preferred but not required) Ideal Experience • Silicone product engineering (LSR, compression molding, or extrusion) • Baby or medical‑grade silicone products • Experience designing toys, teething products, pacifiers, or silicone beads • Understanding of tensile forces and tear resistance • Ability to create manufacturable CAD, not just concept models If you’ve worked on baby products before, please highlight that. Deliverables • Final CAD files suitable for silicone manufacturers • A short DFM report outlining:• recommended silicone hardness • mold considerations • safety notes • prototype suggestions • Optional: support communicating with a silicone manufacturer (if needed) What I Will Provide • Sketches and reference images • Clear functional requirements • Aesthetic direction • Measurements and constraints • Use‑case explanation Please include • Examples of silicone products you’ve engineered • A brief note on your experience with baby‑safe materials • Your preferred workflow for early‑stage product development • Your estimated timeline for CAD + DFM Additional Notes This is a small but meaningful project. I’m looking for a collaborator who understands both the technical and safety aspects of silicone products for babies. If the partnership works well, there may be future development phases.