Pica Disorder

Many of you know that our daughter eats an interesting array of things. Mostly, dirt, mud, rocks, chalk, sand... I have a friend who has a son who has this Pica Disorder. So I started looking into it... It's very interesting..

Many young children put nonfood items in their mouths at one time or another. They're naturally curious about their environment, and they may, for instance, eat some dirt out of the sandbox. Kids with pica, however, go beyond this innocent exploration of their surroundings.

As many as 25% to 30% of kids (and 20% of those seen in mental health clinics) have an eating disorder called pica, which is characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings (lasting 1 month or longer) to eat nonfood items.

About Pica

The word pica comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite.

Pica is most common in people with developmental disabilities, including autism and mental retardation, and in children between the ages of 2 and 3. Although kids younger than 18 to 24 months can try to eat nonfood items, it isn't necessarily considered abnormal at that age.Pica is also a behavior that may surface in children who've had a brain injury affecting their development. It can also be a problem for some pregnant women, as well as people with epilepsy. 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, cigarette butts, ice, glue, hair, buttons, paper, sand, toothpaste, soap

I think that this might be what Maggie's issues are. I will talk to her pediatrician at her 2 year appointment... I just think it's also interesting that the name of the disorder is named after the bird Magpie. We have Magpies here - they are awful. But it is also one of Maggie's many nicknames... Just an interesting little point. So hopefully we will have some answers to why our little Magpie eats so many odd things...