Does your kiddo eat dirt/mud?

shopgirl78

DS1 has been getting in trouble at daycare for eating dirt; they watch him but he's quick.  Today when we went strawberry picking, we observed him eating it...eww!   I have caught him once before also.   I am trying to decide if its normal or should I take him in?   

He is very small for his age but eats pretty good (esp something he likes).  He did have some health concerns around his 2nd birthday that went away (enlarged spleen and liver).   

LoveEeyore

Hmm.  Aside from a once in the blue moon lick of something because it looks like candy, all of my kids stopped full on eating nonfoods by 18 months.

 If it were my kid I would go in and suggest that I thought he might have pica, the eating of nonfood items- if I remember correctly, it is usually for nutrients lacking in their systems, or something their bodies can't process.

It could be normal, I guess. It could be he saw another kid do it out of curiosity at the playground and that kids' mom flipped out, your DS thought that was cool and is trying it out.  This type of attention seeking behavior is definitely normal.

Does your DS tend to seek behavior in negative ways?  Or does he exhibit odd tics or OCD behaviors?  I am pretty sure there is a form of pica related to OCD or maybe they tend to be comorbid- don't remember.  But with his medical history, I would be inclined to take him in and get his blood checked.  Ooh, just found this:

https://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/pica.html#

Certainly don't over-pathologize your kiddo, but I would be concerned, myself.

JCM

Not really but she's not around dirt or mud very often.  All our playgrounds around here have mulch in them so the dirt is covered up.

shopgirl78

LoveEeyore:

Hmm.  Aside from a once in the blue moon lick of something because it looks like candy, all of my kids stopped full on eating nonfoods by 18 months.

 If it were my kid I would go in and suggest that I thought he might have pica, the eating of nonfood items- if I remember correctly, it is usually for nutrients lacking in their systems, or something their bodies can't process.

It could be normal, I guess. It could be he saw another kid do it out of curiosity at the playground and that kids' mom flipped out, your DS thought that was cool and is trying it out.  This type of attention seeking behavior is definitely normal.

Does your DS tend to seek behavior in negative ways?  Or does he exhibit odd tics or OCD behaviors?  I am pretty sure there is a form of pica related to OCD or maybe they tend to be comorbid- don't remember.  But with his medical history, I would be inclined to take him in and get his blood checked.  Ooh, just found this:

https://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/pica.html#

Certainly don't over-pathologize your kiddo, but I would be concerned, myself.

No behavioral  issues.  For the most part, he is a pretty chill/go with the flow kid.