My Ds puts it all in his mouth and may keep it there for a while, and then he will finally spit it out. I just have to be super careful about what is left out. The coffee bean was kinda funny though
No seriously, he would put anything he can find in his mouth, he has just stopped chewing on shirt collars, zippers etc. We are having a sensory eval done on him at the moment, perhaps this is a sensory issue for your girl as well?
There is something called PICA I think, it referrs to this thing..putting everything in the mouth, maybe you would like to look up on that. :)
Cheers!
Mary
oh he likes to eat playdough if he can, black pepper, salt, soya sauce, garlic, ginger (strong flavors, can't have enough seasonings). Its definitely sensory for us.
From Wikipedia
Pica is an appetite for non-nutritive substances (e.g., coal, soil, chalk, paper etc.) or an abnormal appetite for some things that may be considered foods, such as food ingredients (e.g., flour, raw potato, starch). In order for these actions to be considered pica, they must persist for more than one month, at an age where eating such objects is considered developmentally inappropriate. The condition's name comes from the Latin word for the magpie, a bird which is reputed to eat almost anything. Pica is seen in all ages, particularly in pregnant women and small children, especially among children who are developmentally disabled, where it is the most common eating disorder
Mary
This is a sign of under-sensitivity to oral stimulation. More symptoms for that and other sensory processing issues can be found here:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
Tips for oral hyposensitivity here:
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/oral-sensitivitie s.html
And finally, here are some more tips, from a general autism perspective rather than a sensory processing disorder perspective. Good luck with everything.
What do you do about the child who puts lots of things that are not edible in his
mouth?
Autism SA Information Sheet 19 Eating difficulties December 2004
Remember that mouthing is a normal developmental stage that most children go through
at a young age. Your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder may do this later than other
children, so don't panic. Just accept it as a normal developmental stage that will pass. Some children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder eat grass and other plants. Make sure
there are no dangerous plants in your garden. Any nursery or the Department of
Agriculture should be able to advise you if you have any doubts. Offer substitutes if you see
your child eating plants, for example a piece of fruit (but not chips, chocolate). Generally
eating garden plants does not appear to have any ill effects on a child, though it does not
do much for the garden.
Try ignoring the behaviour. It may be that your over-the-top reaction to a child mouthing
his sleeves is enough to keep him doing it, just to check how you'll react.
If your child is chewing collars and cuffs of clothing to the point where clothes are
becoming very frayed, or are constantly soggy, you can try painting the collar or cuffs with
a solution that is used to stop people biting their fingernails (available from chemists). It
tastes very bitter, and may be enough to remind the child of what he is doing. Chewing
may have become a habit he is not even aware of, very much like some people who chew
their nails.
Try to avoid the situation and break the habit. For example put your child in shirts or
jumpers that do not have a collar.
The chewing may come and go, and be a sign that something is not right. It could be a
result of stress, which is a problem for most children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder,
so look at what may be causing the situation and try to change that. The chewing may just
mean that your child is getting more teeth
Source: http://www.autismsa.org.au/pdf/strategies/IS19_Eating_diffic ulties.pdf