My daughter is 1.5 years old, and she's constantly trying to put everything in her mouth - dirt, sand, carpet fibers. It's a nightmare at the playground, she picks up anything. Of course I stop her, but I can't always catch her in time. Is this normal at this age or something to worry about? Could there be some kind of deficiency, or is it just an exploratory phase?
The oral stage of development is genuinely normal, but there's one thing worth keeping an eye on: if she's eating dirt and sand more actively than she's interested in toys, sometimes that can point to an iron deficiency or lack of other micronutrients. It's worth getting a blood test done just to rule it out.
And here's a practical tip - keep a small bucket of "clean" items right there at the playground: wooden spoons, silicone teethers, cloths with different textures. When you see her reaching for something from the ground, you immediately offer something from your stash! It works way better than just saying "no" - her attention shifts, and it's calmer for both of you!
At eighteen months, this is completely normal behavior - kids explore the world through their mouth, that's how they learn. The main thing is not to panic, but stay on your toes: offer her safe things to chew on (toys, teethers) to satisfy this instinct, and keep intercepting anything that's actually dangerous. A little bit of dirt and sand won't hurt - in fact, it helps build immunity, but of course you don't need to deliberately let her eat soil. If you notice your daughter is sluggish, gets sick often, or has stomach problems - then it makes sense to talk about it with her pediatrician, but in most cases it's just a phase of development.
This is completely normal behavior at eighteen months, though I understand your concern. At this age, a child's mouth is their primary tool for exploring the world, and sand in their palm is way more interesting to them than the most expensive toy. Of course, you shouldn't fight it directly - restrictions just fuel their curiosity. Better to keep their hands and mouth busy with something more appealing: teething toys, wooden toys, soft fabrics with different textures.
Parasites are trickier - that's the hidden pitfall that new parents usually don't talk about. If your little one frequently picks things up off the floor, especially if there are animals around, it's worth getting tested for worms every six months. It's just basic precaution, not panic. Actually, a child's immune system gets stronger through contact with germs and dirt - that's normal and even beneficial, but within reason.
You can't always keep up at the playground, so don't stress about it. The main thing is making sure there are no obvious hazards like broken glass or cigarette butts. Small bits of sand and regular street dirt - that's all normal. In a couple of years, when her curiosity shifts to her head and she gets more thoughtful, she'll stop doing it on her own. Just stay nearby, keep an eye on things, and don't obsess over cleanliness.
The main thing is not to panic or scold them for it, or they'll want to do it even more 😅
Yes, this is a completely normal stage of development. Toddlers at this age explore everything through their mouth - it's not a deficiency or a disorder, it's just how they're built. Sand, fur, dirt - these are textures, tastes, sensations for them. Their immune system gets stronger, their brain develops. Of course, you need to keep an eye out and remove obvious dangers (sharp things, small objects, toxic stuff), but licking sand or eating a bit of dirt is totally harmless.
I knew a girl who at one year and nine months was literally eating handfuls of sand at the beach. Her parents were going crazy, calling the pediatrician every time 😂 The doctor calmly said it would pass on its own once the kid got bored with it. And sure enough - by age three it was gone. Now the girl is six, a completely normal person.
Here's what actually helps: offer safe alternatives (teething cubes, teething toys, crackers), watch them as much as you can on the playground, but don't stress too much. And wash their hands before meals - that's usually enough.
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