Understanding Your Child with Pica, Non-Edibles: A Comprehensive Guide
Pica can feel confusing, scary, and overwhelming for parents. When your child is eating non-food items, like dirt, clay, paper, soap, or pebbles, you may find yourself wondering why it’s happening and how to help them stop.
As a pediatric dietitian, I work with families who face these same concerns, and the reassuring truth is that most children can overcome pica with the proper support. Understanding what is driving the behavior is the first step toward helping your child stay safe.
Pica is a real and treatable childhood eating disorder, but learning the root cause can guide families toward the most effective next steps. With a combination of behavioral support and nutritional care, many children gradually shift toward safer, healthier eating patterns.
My goal in this guide is to explain what pica is, why it happens, and the steps families and professionals can take to support your child.
What is Pica?
Pica is a childhood eating disorder defined by the repeated ingestion of non-nutritive, non-food substances for at least one month. Pica in toddlers can sometimes be missed because mouthing is developmentally typical, but persistent ingestion of non-edibles after age two is a signal for evaluation.
Children with pica often gravitate toward specific textures or materials. Many seek earthy items such as dirt or clay, while others prefer chalk, crayons, hair, ice, paper, stickers, or fabric fibers. In rare cases, children may ingest stones, soap, or feces.
This condition occurs across age groups, although it is most common in young children with developmental delays, autism, mental health conditions (such as obsessive compulsive disorder), malnourishment, or stress. Early recognition helps caregivers respond before pica symptoms in children lead to complications.
Causes of Pica in Children
Pica rarely stems from a single cause. Most children experience a combination of biological, developmental, environmental, and behavioral factors.
Some children have a genetic or developmental predisposition that increases the likelihood of pica. Sensory processing differences or delays can also influence how a child experiences textures, hunger cues, or stress.
Environmental contributors can include limited supervision, inconsistent routines, or exposure to unsafe items. Some children eat non-food items out of curiosity or as a sensory outlet.
Nutrient deficiencies, particularly low iron or zinc, are well-known contributors to pica. Food insecurity may also raise the risk when children try to satisfy hunger through unsafe means.
Why Is Pica Associated with Autism?
Pica is significantly more common in children with autism. For many autistic children, the behavior meets a strong sensory need or provides comfort.
Some children engage in pica because it fits within a repetitive or ritualized pattern. Others may struggle to distinguish between safe and unsafe materials due to developmental differences.
Understanding these underlying needs is essential when creating a support plan for autism and pica. Sensory tools, structured routines, and predictable environments often make a noticeable difference.
Symptoms of Pica in Children
Parents may observe their child chewing or swallowing non-food items, or they may notice small objects frequently disappearing. Unusual interest in gritty, chalky, soft, or crunchy textures can be an early sign.
Some children with pica show secretive eating behaviors or complain of stomach pain without explanation. These behaviors are important to bring to a healthcare provider to help determine the root cause.
Pica symptoms in children can vary depending on what is consumed. Risks include constipation, choking, intestinal blockages, dental damage, and exposure to toxins or chemicals found in soil or household products. In my private practice, I’ve treated a child with pica whose back molars were substantially damaged and ground down as a result of chewing on rocks.
Eating dirt or clay can also increase the risk of parasites, while paint chips or contaminated soil can lead to heavy metal poisoning. Because nutrient deficiencies can cause and worsen pica, testing for iron and zinc status is an important part of evaluation.
Co-occurring Childhood Eating Disorders
Pica may appear by itself, but it sometimes overlaps with other childhood eating disorders. ARFID, rumination disorder, and sensory-based feeding difficulties can share similar triggers.
A multidisciplinary team can help clarify whether pica is part of a broader pattern. Involving a pediatrician, feeding therapist, pediatric dietitian, and mental health specialist ensures the most comprehensive approach.
Pica Treatment Options
Effective treatment focuses on addressing both the behavior and the factors that contribute to it. Many children benefit from a combination of behavioral support, nutritional care, and consistent routines at home.
Behavioral Therapy for Pica
Behavioral therapy helps children learn safer, more appropriate ways to meet sensory or emotional needs through positive-reinforcement-based interventions, such as rewarding a child with a preferred toy or a safe chewing alternative.
Many therapists use Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a behavioral therapy that focuses on increasing helpful behaviors and decreasing harmful ones, specifically by identifying triggers and teaching replacement behaviors. It is especially beneficial for children diagnosed with autism and pica.
Families may also need to adjust the home environment, such as adding cabinet locks, to reduce access to unsafe items. Over time, children begin to rely on safe sensory tools and more predictable routines.
2. Nutritional Support
Nutrition is a core part of treating pica in children. A pediatric dietitian can look for nutrient deficiencies, assess eating patterns, and help children meet their needs through balanced meals and snacks.
For children with sensory-based aversions, slow exposure to different textures can gradually reduce the urge to seek unsafe items. When food insecurity is present, programs such as SNAP or WIC (link to SNAP post) can provide valuable support.
3. Family Support Strategies
Parents play a central role in helping children recover from pica. Consistent routines, close supervision, and clear expectations help children feel safe and reduce opportunities to access harmful objects.
Collaboration with teachers, therapists, and childcare providers ensures that strategies remain consistent across environments. Unified support leads to stronger progress!
When to Seek Professional Help
Parents should reach out to a pediatrician, pediatric dietitian, or behavior specialist if pica persists for more than one month. Medical evaluation is also important if the child chokes, has stomach pain, becomes constipated, or starts eating more dangerous items.
Children with autism or developmental delays may benefit from early intervention even when pica appears mild. Early support can prevent health complications and improve long-term outcomes.
Tips for Parents to Manage Pica
Progress often happens gradually. Many small changes over time can help your child feel more regulated and significantly reduce the urge to eat non-food items.
While every child is different, many families find improved success with a combination of the following interventions:
Provide close supervision during play and outdoor activities.
Offer safe sensory alternatives such as chewable jewelry or textured toys.
Limit access to unsafe items by organizing high-risk areas at home.
Use predictable routines with structured mealtimes and transitions.
Keep a log of when pica behaviors occur to identify patterns and triggers.
Final Thoughts…
Pica can be distressing for families, but it can be manageable with early recognition and a thoughtful, individualized plan. By supporting nutritional needs, strengthening behavioral patterns, and creating safe environments, many children successfully move away from pica and toward healthier habits.
And if you feel like you have tried it all and still have concerns, I can help. As a registered dietitian specializing in infant and child nutrition, I have experience treating pica and offer personalized nutrition support for babies and kids in my virtual practice.
Thanks for reading!