UK Girl Diagnosed With Rare Disorder, Cannot Stop 'Eating The House'

A woman from the United Kingdom opened up about her daughter's rare condition where she cannot stop eating household items. "She is literally eating the whole house," says Stacey A'hearne from Blackwood, Wales, describing that 3-year-old Wynter eats everything inedible like plaster off the walls, foam from the sofa, or the side of a chair. The 25-year-old mother-of-two told news outlet Metro, "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 eat a sponge. She's smashed about eight photo frames and tried to eat the glass."

A'hearne said that Wynter suffers from a rare condition called pica, which is a dangerous eating disorder that makes people eat inedible items. As per Metro, Wynter also became non-verbal and her unusual eating habits began to escalate, which was later diagnosed as autism.

3-Year-Old Eats Household Items

Wynter was diagnosed with autism and pica in January 2024 after her concerned mother took her to the doctor because she was non-verbal and ate inedible items. Speaking to Metro, her mother, Stacey A'hearne said, "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."

According to A'hearne, Wynter started chewing on household things as a baby, but the family never thought much of it. However, over a year later, things changed suddenly, and she began eating dangerous objects more often. "Pica can be more common in children who have autism - which Wynter has too. She has very severe autism which means she doesn't speak much and has some behavioural issues," A'hearne said.

A'hearne said that she has to be extra cautious while looking after Wynter, as the little girl has often tried eating harmful objects like glass and wood. "It's a full-time job watching her. Her pica comes out to play at night. She wakes up at 2 a.m. 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," she added.

A'hearne also talked about how she is slowly making peace with her daughter's condition. "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," she said. The mom-of-two asserted the need for patience and sensitivity in raising children with such conditions.