Eating Toothpaste
I caught my 9 year-old eating toothpaste today as he was hiding in the bathroom. My husband has mentioned he had encountered this in the past but I just shrugged it off until I found my boy doing exactly what my husband had described. When I asked him, what are you doing? He said, "Oh, nothing!" as the bathroom reeked with AIM toothpaste. I then asked him, "Son, are you eating the toothpaste?" He said, "Yeah." I calmly said, "Please don't do that. It's not good for you." He says, "I'm sorry. Okay." I'm wondering if anyone else has ever encountered this and any reasons why this must be happening? It's not a usual occurence that I know of. This is the first time I've ever caught him doing this and I'm with him most of the time. Any advice or suggestions would be great. Thanks!dear redball2, I think it is very normal for children to hide things from mum and dad at this age. Ask yourself how bad can it be? Is he eating a tube a week? Is he never allowed to do things and therefore has a reason to hide? Talk to him and read all the ingredients to him at 9 he should understand the pro and cons. I am a little concerned that if this is a repetative problem something is not o.k.. My son of 10 never hid in the bathroom or in other places he gets up to mischief like all kids do but usually out in the open.....I can remember doing that - it is funny how many things parents on this forum come up with that I remember doing myself. My daughter does it too.
I would grab the toothpaste at bedtime, and by the way AIM was one of my fav's, and take it to bed with me and suck it out!!! ewwwww thinking about it now.
But because I did it I didnt find it so weird when my kid started doing it. Its gross tho when you find spit in the tube - eeeekkkk.
I dont think it will hurt him too bad. But yeah bit yuck for everyone else.
I keep the toothpaste in the kitchen now up high and they have to come to me and i put it on their brush 
i get the kids toothpaste for my boys..it seems to not be so toxic..it is ment for swallowing more than lets say colgate.
I would say boat loads of this would make sick but with toothpaste kill you??
Thanks Rae70 for your response. I definitely feel better knowing others have encountered this. If this issue were to come up again, I'll place it high in the kitchen. That's a great idea.
Joya, no, he doesn't eat a tube a week. I felt the tube after I caught him and it was just a little bit. Who knows maybe he was just curious. I don't know. That's the only reason why I could think he hid. I don't think he could fathom me being too pleased seeing him eat toothpaste. But anyway today is another day and I doubt he's even thinking about it. It's not a repetitive problem. But as far as hiding and doing mischievious things, I remember hiding and eating things in my room when I knew I shouldn't have but I guess that's what kids do sometimes.
dcarsen, yeah, he's not eating boat loads so I'm not going to worry about or make much out of nothing. Thanks!
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