Is this strange Behaviour?????

Question

My daughter has just turned 4 years old, she displays what Ifeel is strange behaviour. She eats sand, dirt, paper, glitter, sponge, cotton wool, foam ANYTHING. I have to watch her like a hawk. She has already had one small operation under general anthesetic to remove sponge foam from up her nose.

Even in school she has to have a teacher with her during sand play and using the glitter. She puts her hands down the toilet to try and lick the water from down there. If I put bubble bathn in the bath she licks that, the same with dish water.

Do you think that this strange behaviour for a 4 year old because she is my 4th child and the other 3 didn't do this.

I should add she has Neurofibromatosis and developmental delay which she is now vatching up with her peers.
My son is autistic and my daughter has ADHD could this be to blame. Everyone is always telling me how palke she is and she has dark shadows under her eyes,

Yes she has had iron deficiency anemia in the past which she had medication for. She doesn't have it any longer. I will make an appointment with the GP as Melissa metioned PICA and that sounds so much like her. Also as her brother having autism there is an increased likelyhood of her having it. Thanks for the answers.

Answer 1

She may have PICA. I have worked with 2 children who had PICA, both have autism (there is sometime a connection). Please go see your doctor about this.


Does My Child Have Pica?

Look for these warning signs that your child may have pica:

* repetitive consumption of a nonfood item, despite efforts to restrict it, for a period of at least 1 month or longer
* the behavior is considered inappropriate for your child's age or developmental stage (older than 18 to 24 months)
* the behavior is not part of a cultural, ethnic, or religious practice

People with pica frequently crave and consume nonfood items such as:

* dirt
* clay
* paint chips
* plaster
* chalk
* cornstarch
* laundry starch
* baking soda
* coffee grounds
* cigarette ashes
* burnt match heads
* cigarette butts
* feces
* ice
* glue
* hair
* buttons
* paper
* sand
* toothpaste
* soap

Although consumption of some items may be harmless, pica is considered to be a serious eating disorder that can sometimes result in serious health problems such as lead poisoning and iron-deficiency anemia.

Answer 2

Definitely get her in to see the neurologist... pica is an eating disorder as well as a developmental one (and with the family history, this really isn't that unexpected). Pica can result from an iron deficiency, but it is more than that... the child cannot discern non-edibles from edibles. A developmental delay would definitely be the root of this. Obviously, since you have other children with special needs, you know about the IEP process, etc., so if your 4 year old does not yet have services, get some. I would also work on using picture cards in the home. Make up one that has a stop sign on it, and another that shows a person eating. Put the stop sign on all items she may not eat, and the person eating on the ones she can. This can help her to visually see what is and is not okay to eat. This will take some time for her to be able to discerne what to eat and what is not okay to eat, but keep working on it. In the meantime- lock up all dangerous injestibles such as cleaning fluids, etc and help her to find appropriate snacks. Definitely get her checked out for pica with the special education team in your area.

Answer 3

Check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder)

I've read about this before, and I've also read that it can usually be traced to an iron deficiency. Does your child drink too much milk? When I was on WIC, my toddler drank too much milk (we were getting 9 gallons a month for my toddler and me!). Anyway, all that calcium blocked the iron she was taking in and filled her up so she didn't want enough meat or green veggies.

I've changed our diet drastically (the WIC diet isn't very healthy) and she is no longer anemic. I make sure that when I serve meat, I include some vitamin C to help with iron absorption. For example: Spaghetti with meat and tomato sauce. There is iron in the meat and pasta and vitamin C in the tomato sauce. We also like tofu stir-fry with broccoli and pineapple for dessert, sandwiches with fruit on the side and I sneak spinach into everything I can get away with (pizza and lasagna are easy). You can use multi-vitamins, but it's still important to change her diet if she's anemic because iron in food is absorbed better than iron in chewables.

Dark shadows under her eyes could be from allergies. Have you considered dairy allergy or another allergy?

Answer 4

It definitely sounds strange for a 4 year old. I would expect this from a one year old, who is still exploring the world with her mouth... but not from a child old enough for school. She may have some kind of vitamin or mineral deficiency. Definitely talk to her doctor about it!

Answer 5

You should definitely talk to your pediatrician. There are some disorders/syndromes that have these types of symptoms. Get her checked out soon. Seek the advice of a pedicatric psychiatrist. At 4, she should be easily redirected not to do these behaviors and sounds as if she is not.

Answer 6

I would speak with your Dr. she is demonstrating a condition called pica - where non-food items are ingested. This can be serious and require GI surgery to remove items, intestinal perforations, infections, etc. She is not the only kiddo to do this, so hang in there Mom :) Good luck!

Answer 7

This is very strange behavior. It could indicate deficiencies in her diet, or some psychological disorder. You should take her to her pediatrician, and ask for a referral to good child psychiatrist. Good luck.

Answer 8

Yes i think you should get her to a doctor. I have 4 kids and has never went threw anything like that before.

Answer 9

Yes, it's def. strange but could it be coming form the fact that you have 3 other childen to take care of? maybe she does these things for attention. Perhaps try to take a day at least 2 times a month or so and go hang with just her.
Take her to thre dr. and let them run tests..perhaps it's just ADD???

Answer 10

Dont pass on my own along with her anywhr and take a inspect to flee if she is composed of ur domicile,she is doing very incorrect.u would desire to shop ur cut back ,dont ever do such issues watever sh says like bra hooks ,,sleeping,,,she is way less costly as i've got faith so..why dont u tell her rapidly that u r nt liking the thngs wat she says..u r nt a toddler .u can face as much as her ,,,why did u close her bra hooks,,,in no way do it purely say take help of girls i dont choose for to do and purely walk out angrily from room,show ur anger she would desire to comprehend it...