How about being a bad parent?

kids go outside, and a small child can have dirt in hand, in mouth and down before anyone can react... and I think the other reason is PIKA, a disorder of eating/swallowing non-food things... You can be watching them like a hawk and they can pick up and eat things in an eye blink - unless you park a child inside in front of the TV all day, every day, they are going to have to get into dirt once in a while I've heard the saying that you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die... most of that is eaten before you are 5

I think we've all ate a little dirt! Depends on how much the child swallowed. Kids playing outside, decide to eat the dirt, that's definitely not being a bad parent, that is called kids being kids! I'm guessing you're not a parent. I don't know where you grew up, but I grew up in Indiana. We munched on grass, we ate wild grapes, mulberries, apples, crab apples. We even pulled twigs apart and ate the weird substance inside like gum. I don't recall ever scooping up some dirt and eating it, but I'm sure I've eaten a little bit! I do know that eating dirt can cause lead poisoning if the dirt contains lead and it can also contain worms or something. I wonder what the doctors' diagnosis was? I think eating dirt and craving ice are both signs of anemia, but not sure about the dirt part.

Are you kidding? It's impossible to keep your kid out of everything. I stuck a pearl up my nose once. It was because of my own childhood stupidity, not because my mom was not watching me. There is also a condition called PICA - and kids put everything in their mouth to eat, including dirt. I'm not a parent. But no way in the world can a parent keep their child out of everything. Not unless they tie the kid to their wrist. Even then I don't know. Kids are kids and they are going to do stupid things and get in stupid situations.

I diagnose.... Childhood. children put all sorts of things in their mouth, play in the garden. my cousin always had a habit of eating worms. eating dirt isn't so shocking. people are too obsessed with cleanliness. I'd rather eat dirt than bleach or cleaning products.

That is about the silliest thing I have ever heard of. Kids used to eat dirt and it was a common happening. Kids are curious. I don't think it has anything to do with dumb parents. I don't think I have known of a child that wasn't curious that did this sort of thing.

Sometimes children can play while putting dirty hands in your mouth. But I do not think this is a bad parent, yet we will not have eyes in the back. It happens but should not allow these things to occur. I think that a parent should not be bad but simply a man who teaches the children to respect and love to have his respect. Interesting discussion. Have a nice day ~

When my kids were little I would never have thought of taking my kids to the ER for eating dirt. We just figured it was part of growing up. They made mud pies and would at least tried them. I doubt that I would even take them to the ER even today if they ate dirt. I believe in keeping kids clean but I also believe you can go overboard with it. Letting kids get dirty helps their immune system. I believe that some parents are over protective. It's called helicopter parents. I think even the play grounds are become over safe.

I think it depends on the age of the child. You cannot watch them twenty four hours a day. It is correct that a desire to eat dirt can indicate a mineral deficiency. It can also just indicate a child exploring the world. Yes, you have to try to keep an eye on them, but my daughter liked to put rocks in her mouth, and I would be after her to get them out, quickly. She never swallowed them, but she did put them in her mouth til I could get them out.

Well they are almost wrong about it my old doc told me when my kid ate sand that something missing in diet and it wouldnt hurt her at all and it didnt she is now 45 years old never hurt her abit

I know that kids can be kids. And they could test their limits like playing with dirt, and maybe even tasting it. But you're right that it is also the parent's responsiblity to tell the kids that dirt is not for eating. And if it leads to this, then surely something's missing parent-wise.

the other thing was probably pica it is something that a lot children go through when they eat something strange. most out grow it. My child has eaten dirt, it happens. She however has not eaten so much that she had to go to the emergency room over it. That was one of the questions that I asked my doctor when my child was little and was just starting to crawl. what do i do if she eats dirt? The doctor said nothing unless you know that you just put pesticides or someother chemical on it. i do agree that if the child is eating enough dirt to warrant going to the doctor than someone is not supervising well enough.