Why is my kid always putting LEGOs in their mouth? And why do they keep eating dirt?
Although it’s developmentally appropriate for young kids to put random stuff in their mouths, eating inedible items such as dirt, LEGOs or even detergent may lead to gastrointestinal problems. We talked to Joseph Levy, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist at NYU Langone’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital. And today, we will go over three objects that your kids might want to try with their adventurous appetite.
Whether they are sucking their grimy thumbs after digging in the backyard or taking the whole “mud pie” thing too far, kids eat dirt. We get it. Eating dirt isn’t a great look. But the truth is that, unless the ground is covered in animal feces or chemicals, soil is safe to consume. However, kids who ingest things such as dirt, detergent, or hair on a regular basis may be diagnosed with a condition called pica, which is a pattern of craving unusual non-food materials with no nutritional value. Just something to keep in mind.
Do you remember that trend of teenagers eating Tide pods? According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 86 people have called poison control this year to report someone who has ingested a Tide pod. They also reported that 220 teens had ingested them last year, and 25 percent of them did so intentionally.
Though eating pods is no longer a trend, there were over 70,000 cases of children consuming hand sanitizer from 2011 to 2014, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When this happens, call the poison control center immediately.
It isn’t unusual for toddlers to nibble pet food, and thankfully it is not fatal. Most pet food is processed from leftover meat purchased from slaughterhouses. While it’s not dangerous in small quantities, it might give your kid diarrhea. If your kid is going through a phase where he or she is intrigued by new foods, take full advantage of it! Offer small portions of various healthy snacks, and she might just find a new “human food” favorite! (356 words)
Although it’s developmentally appropriate for young kids to put random stuff in their mouths, eating inedible items such as dirt, LEGOs or even detergent may lead to gastrointestinal problems. We talked to Joseph Levy, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist at NYU Langone’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital. And today, we will go over three objects that your kids might want to try with their adventurous appetite.
Whether they are sucking their grimy thumbs after digging in the backyard or taking the whole “mud pie” thing too far, kids eat dirt. We get it. Eating dirt isn’t a great look. But the truth is that, unless the ground is covered in animal feces or chemicals, soil is safe to consume. However, kids who ingest things such as dirt, detergent, or hair on a regular basis may be diagnosed with a condition called pica, which is a pattern of craving unusual non-food materials with no nutritional value. Just something to keep in mind.
Do you remember that trend of teenagers eating Tide pods? According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 86 people have called poison control this year to report someone who has ingested a Tide pod. They also reported that 220 teens had ingested them last year, and 25 percent of them did so intentionally.
Though eating pods is no longer a trend, there were over 70,000 cases of children consuming hand sanitizer from 2011 to 2014, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When this happens, call the poison control center immediately.
It isn’t unusual for toddlers to nibble pet food, and thankfully it is not fatal. Most pet food is processed from leftover meat purchased from slaughterhouses. While it’s not dangerous in small quantities, it might give your kid diarrhea. If your kid is going through a phase where he or she is intrigued by new foods, take full advantage of it! Offer small portions of various healthy snacks, and she might just find a new “human food” favorite! (356 words)
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