Above: These chewed-up toys are the handiwork of Melanie's son, who has pica.

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As a baby, my son chewed constantly: windowsills, toys, sticks, pinecones, even caterpillars and bird poo. The scariest moment came when I pulled a live bumblebee from his mouth after hearing screams of pain. We thought that sting might stop him. It didn’t.

Our GP reassured us at first, saying chewing cardboard and sticks was harmless and will even help his immune system – and to be fair, his immune resilience is impressive. He rarely gets sick. But when he spent nights vomiting up cardboard at around just under two years old, we knew it wasn’t something to brush off.

It was then that a paediatrician confirmed pica and, at the same time, diagnosed autism. While not all autistic people have pica, the two can overlap.

What is pica?

Pica (some say pee-ka, others pie-ka) is an eating disorder where a person feels compelled to eat non-food items. Common favourites include dirt, wood, chalk, paper, ice, charcoal, and fabric. For my son, the list has also stretched to lichen, plastic figurines, and even spider webs.

Diagnosis in hand, the first thing we did was get some help from a naturopath who specialises in this field. We did some intense work with our son with specific nutrients, particularly folate and vitamin B12. We saw a huge reduction in pica symptoms, but his behaviour became so erratic that we stopped.

We decided instead to work on verbal cues and, when necessary, physically intercepting the item from going to his mouth. We also allow him to chew on sticks for a few chews then say “that is enough for today” which often works.

Trying different strategies

Now, at he’s nearly eight, and vigilance is still our reality. He needs eyes on him at all times because he doesn’t comprehend why it is a problem. At school, his teacher aides must stay close, especially when he’s around dirt, his absolute favourite! To help, we’ve worked out strategies, like keeping small pieces of bier stick on hand as a safe swap when the pull of mud becomes too strong.

At home, we rely heavily on ice. It’s safe, satisfying, and he loves it. We make trays of ice in different shapes and sizes every day to give him an outlet. We’ve tried chew necklaces and sensory bands, but he rejects anything that feels “on purpose.” For now, ice and bier sticks are our most workable options, and we are hopeful that in the future he will become more aware of his pica and be able to self-manage.

Advice for other parents

Living with pica is relentless. It’s one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced as a parent, and it’s difficult for others to grasp the constant pressure. But over time, we’ve learned to find a middle ground. For us, that means offering safe alternatives rather than trying to stop the behaviour altogether.

If you’re navigating this too, I see you. It’s exhausting, stressful, and often misunderstood. My advice is to experiment until you find something safe that your child accepts, then run with it. For us, that’s ice. Every family’s “middle ground” will look different, but it can make the difference between daily battles and small moments of relief.