What causes a three-year-old child to constantly chew on things?

Constantly biting objects in a three-year-old child may be caused by factors such as tension, anxiety, lack of trace elements, or pica. Depending on the underlying cause, different treatment approaches can be adopted when this occurs; if necessary, a medical evaluation at a hospital is recommended.

1. Tension and Anxiety

A three-year-old who frequently bites objects might be experiencing heightened stress or anxiety. In such cases, playing games and diverting the child's attention may help alleviate the biting behavior.

2. Lack of Trace Elements

Frequent object-biting in young children may result from deficiencies in essential trace elements, such as calcium or zinc. Increasing intake of nutrient-rich foods like carrots, pork rib soup, or fish soup in daily diet may help reduce this behavior.

3. Pica

Constant biting in a three-year-old could also be related to pica, a condition characterized by eating non-food items. Improving the child's unhealthy habits is essential to address this issue.

In addition, children with autism spectrum disorder often exhibit object-biting behaviors and may even have tendencies to bite others; this is considered a symptom of the condition.