Affan's Post

Pica is a condition where a child repeatedly eats non-food items. When the craving is specifically for soil or clay, it is called geophagy. When the child eats stones or pebbles, it is called lithophagy. This is most commonly seen between 1–6 years of age and is not a habit or mischief. In many children, it is the body’s way of signaling a nutritional gap, especially iron, zinc, or overall poor diet quality. Why it happens: • Low iron or trace minerals • Inadequate protein intake • Poor appetite cycles • Developmental curiosity (especially toddlers) • Lack of structured meals Why it should not be ignored: • Risk of worm infestation • Lead or chemical toxicity from soil • Recurrent tummy pain, constipation, or diarrhoea • Interference with normal nutrition Diet-first correction (most important part) Instead of jumping to supplements, fix the foundation: • Iron-rich foods: dates, jaggery, soaked raisins, spinach, beetroot, lentils • Protein daily: dal, curd, paneer, eggs (if taken) • Healthy fats: homemade ghee, groundnuts, seeds • Zinc sources: pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts • Vitamin C with meals: lemon, amla, orange — helps iron absorption • Regular meal timings: no constant snacking Practical parenting tips: • Keep the child’s hands clean and nails trimmed • Offer safe chew alternatives (carrot sticks, apple slices) • Do not scold — pica worsens with stress • Outdoor play + sunlight improves appetite regulation If pica persists beyond a few weeks despite diet correction, blood tests for iron and zinc may be needed, and the cause should be addressed — not just suppressed. #pica #geophagy #lithophagy #childnutrition #parentingawareness

• #pica
• #parentingawareness
• #childnutrition
• #lithophagy
• #geophagy

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This post was published on 22nd December, 2025 by Affan on his Instagram handle "@_momify (Momify - A complete guide from pregnancy to baby care)". Affan has total 38.0K followers on Instagram and has a total of 353 post.This post has received 30 Likes which are lower than the average likes that Affan gets. Affan receives an average engagement rate of 4.29% per post on Instagram. This post has received 3 comments which are lower than the average comments that Affan gets. Overall the engagement rate for this post was lower than the average for the profile. #pica #parentingawareness #childnutrition #lithophagy #geophagy has been used frequently in this Post.