Eating Sand

My girls are 23 months and we have a huge play set out back. Twin A, always is a monkey climbing everywhere and Twin B, goes straight for the sand box to play.

Problem is...yes she could sit there for hours and play and thats fine, but she sticks her face in the sand like a dog in a dog bowl and eats it! she will fill a bucket up and drink it! she takes mouth fulls and mouth fulls in, i try and tell her no, but she keeps doing it, i take her out of the sand box bu8t then after she goes back she does it again.

she undestands no but doesnt really listen to it....it is in her diaper when she poops. (sorry tmi)

help!?!? please!

 

Ha ha. I thought I was the only one whose kids (2 in 2 weeks!) ate sand more than once! I asked my pedi about it, worrying it was pica or something. She told me that sand was not going to kill the twin and that how I was reacting may actually be prolonging it. She said the twin may see that eating sand gets mommy's attention. So, I stopped making a big deal out of it. Now, when it happens, I simply say yucky (once), offer water or to wipe the twin's tongue if she sticks it out, ask if the twin wants a snack, and move on (while constantly looking over my shoulder and cringing). This approach has drastically reduced the sand eating. I think there's something to this for my girls because, despite the pedi's advice, DH still reacts and hauls the sandy twin over to the hose. I must admit, there is more sand eating when he's around.

It does, however, sounds like yours may be eating when your back is turned. If so, my approach may not be helpful. If you're concerned, ask your pedi, but I predict it's nothing to worry about. Just a fun toddler phase. Next thing we know, they'll be trying to eat the car. :laughing:

 

My duo ate a lot of sand and survived.

 

My 3yr old used to be horrible about eating non-food. I just made sure to buy non-toxic sand, crayons, markers, etc...

All of Crayola (including sand) is non toxic.