When do they stop eating paint, sand etc?

[Summerdays2014]

Hi,

I have a 14 month old son and have just got a sand table out and started playing with 'my first crayola' pens and paints.

He loves playing with them, but still puts them in him mouth, obviously I watch and stop him, but sometimes he is too quick. He can play for 5 minutes or so and then it's like he remembers that he can try and eat them!

When is he likely to stop this? Should I put them away until he's older?

Thanks

[TeaBelle]

Meh, stop him swallowing anything dangerous or gross, but I have always let dd have a good gum. She stopped around 18 months

[ThatsWotSheSaid]

My 2.5 never did but my 6 year old still puts stuff in her mouth.

[Witchend]

Depends on the child unfortunately.
Dd1 never really did anything more than once, so had stopped before she was 18 months.
Dd2 has one hand, so uses her mouth (even now) as a spare hand sometimes, so it's hard to tell exactly. But I think she wouldn't have done it after 18months just to chew except paper which, for some reason she loved eating, but even that stopped by 2.5yo.
Ds mostly like dd1, but still chews my hair if he's feeling insecure.

Dn was still doing it at 6 or 7.

[RatOnnaStick]

Ds1 never did really. Ds2 (4) considers playdough a handy snack . He's the only child at nursery not allowed full and free access to the stuff anymore .

[Summerdays2014]

Thanks everyone. I'll let him keep playing but keep a very close eye on him... he loves his food (as long as it isn't green) and seems to think everything's fair game! He was 'helping' me bake for grandma this morning and thought that raw flour was delicious