Blackwood toddler with rare pica eats walls and glass

Stacey A’Hearne, 25, must constantly monitor three-year-old Wynter to stop her munching on potentially dangerous items around the house.

The youngster was diagnosed with autism and suffers from unusual eating disorder pica - which sparks cravings for inedible objects.

Wynter suffers from unusual eating disorder pica - which sparks cravings for inedible objects (Image: SWNS)

Stacey has caught Wynter eating plaster off the walls, foam from inside the sofa, and gnawing on the side of a highchair.

Most terrifyingly, she has watched the toddler smash photo frames and attempt to eat the shards of glass.

The little girl has even started waking up in the night to chew on her cot and blanket she's sleeping in.

The mum-of-two must be on 'high alert' due to the severity of Wynter's condition and hoping to help other parents of children with pica.

Stacey, a full-time carer for Wynter, from Blackwood, Wales, said: “She is literally eating the whole house.

“I bought a brand-new sofa and she's taken chunks out of it.

“She's really fussy with normal food but she’ll sit and each a sponge.

“She's smashed about eight photo frames and tried to eat the glass.

“No matter what she finds a way to eat things that she shouldn’t.

"Luckily, she's never really hurt herself as I very closely monitor her.

“But it’s a full-time job watching her."

Stacey first noticed Wynter putting things in her mouth as a baby and didn't think it was anything serious.

Wynter was hitting the usual milestones - like talking and walking - until around 13 months old, when things changed "overnight".

She became non-verbal and her unusual eating habits began to escalate.

Stacey reached out to her health care visitor who made some referrals to the doctors who said her daughter had the eating disorder pica.

A couple of years later, in January 2024, after further tests, Wynter was also diagnosed with autism - a developmental disability.

Stacey said: "Babies always put things in their mouth, but when she was doing it a lot I started to think it wasn't normal.

"Pica can be more common in children who have autism - which Wynter has too.

"I think it's a sensory thing, and she craves the different textures.

"She has very severe autism which means she doesn't speak much and has some behavioural issue."

Stacey - who also has one-year-old Everly - was a full-time mum to her daughters before becoming Wynter's full-time carer.

The mum-of-two has caught the tot eating plaster off the walls, wool from the inside of her toys, plants and candle wax.

She said: "I put Wynter in the highchair with snacks, but she'll choose to eat the highchair.

"Her autism really affects her sleep, and she wakes up quite a lot.

"Her pica really comes out to play at night.

"She wakes up at 2am and I've found her eating the cot and the blankets.

"It is exhausting to have eyes on her 24/7 but I've got into a good routine, and I understand her needs."

Stacey has found that providing "sensory play time" has helped distract Wynter from her pica cravings.

Stacey raises her two daughters with her partner, their dad, Ryan, 30, who doesn't live with them.

She said: "Children with autism like sensory things they can touch or sounds.

"I've got a chewable necklace for her specifically designed for people with pica, that she can chew on with different textures.

“Also things like different shaped pasta is something she’ll eat – which she can touch or play with.

"The doctors said there's not much we can do.

"It's not good for her but it's not extremely dangerous - as long is it's not glass.

"I just have to keep a really close eye on her and hopefully, she eventually grows out of it."