Is it okay to let your kid eat dirt?

Question

My youngest daughter loves to get dirty, she puts everything into her mouth. I know that as a parent I should be wary of what she puts into her mouth but I can't watch her every second. If she was to eat a hand full of dirt or eat something off the kitchen floor should I panic or will kids be kids? My first daughter hates to be dirty and was never the type to eat everything in site so this is new to me. Help!
My daughter is almost ten months old.

Answer 1

No. Don't let your kids eat dirt!

I know it is soemtimes hard for us mums to keep watch over little ones all the time, what with all the house works too. But when you get the chance to discipline your kids, you gotta do it.

There can be all sorts of danger mixed in all the dirt. so dont ever take this lightly. I know a mother who've been taking her kid in and out of hospital many times because she's been playing with dirt and got knows what has got into her gut and the kid now has a serious case of ulcer.

Answer 2

It's normal for kids to put everything to their mouth. Eating is an involuntary instinct at that age.
A little dirt won't hurt a child. If it did, we'd ALL be dead!
But with the amount of crap in the ground these days from runoff and even rain, I suggest you watch her very closely and don't let her eat dirt. And things around the house can be dangerous.
Don't panic though, she will grow out of it.

Answer 3

My daughter is the same way. She is 16 mons old. She has a cousin who's now 3 that use to do the same thing. When I see her pick up some thing I take it away from her and say "that's nasty you don't eat that". Like you said I can't see her at all times. Just keep your house as clean as possible. Remember that most kids do eat some dirt. More then most likely it a little won't kill her.

Answer 4

Depends what kind of dirt lol. I have a 12-year-old .... I remember those days. Soil in the city can be loaded w/ lead so I would be careful about that .... as for eating off the kicthen floor - depends how many animals you have - but kids do tend to eat more off the floor at that age than any other. Hard to watch as an adult but we all survived it :).

Answer 5

My daughter used to eat dirt as a toddler and I finally asked the doctor why . His reply was a blood test which found a severe iron deficiency . We put her on iron vitamins and she hasn't ever done it since . The doctor said her body was craving the iron in the dirt . So be careful and if she does it very often you might want to ask your doctor too .

Answer 6

All kids eat dirt at one time or another. In fact there have been several studies recently that suggest that kids that are exposed to things like eating dirt have healthier immune systems. Don't worry about it beyond making sure she doesn't put extremely disgusting things in her mouth.

Answer 7

Smile...kids are a mess, they love to be messy, especially at that age and put everything in their mouth, that part of child development is natural, however, you might not want her to eat dirt...if you can prevent it. Now, don't run around and try to stop her from doing everything, i'm sure she like every other child, loves to play, but try to get her not to put things in her mouth as much. There are alot of germs that kids will encounter in their live, but if we can prevent them from doing so, we can but i'm sure she will grow out of it.

Answer 8

Like you said you cannot watch her all the time just be sure that there is nothing on the floor that could harm her. I am sure she is not the only kid to have eaten a hand full of dirt. Wish ya luck!!

Answer 9

eating a handful of dirt: no
eating something off the kitchen floor: remember the 5 second rule??

In general I try to get my son not to eat off the floor, but he still does it and i don't freak out. I just try to keep it swept as much as I can.

Answer 10

kids naturally like to put things in their mouths, so be watchful. If they eat dirt, ti could mean they're not getting enough iron in their diet.