5 year old licking boots (and other items)...help!

[Valmae]

My daughter (who recently turned 5) has taken to licking various items--more specifically..the bottom of her boots & shoes! There have been times when she'll do it when she knows I'm looking and other times I have caught her doing so when she is unaware anyone is looking. She has always been into sucking--first using binki and now ***** her thumb (only at home with us) since my son was born 16 mos ago (a habit we are trying to break her of).

I am less concerned with the thumb sucking (she says it gives her comfort) but am very concerned with the licking...especially licking her shoes! She just seems to always be putting things in her mouth that she shouldn't. I'm not sure what to make of this and am not sure is this is something I should discuss with her dr. She has always been a fairly smart/confident child, with the usual general anxieties, but nothing too extreme or that would prevent her from doing what she wants. I can't make sense of this!

Any ideas?

[Valmae]

Thanks for the info...I'm not entirely sure that it is Pica, she seems to have stopped for the time being. But if that behavior continues, I will certainly tell her PCP. The thumb sucking does worry me also, bc she does it almost every moment that she is not occupying her hands. Unfortunately anxiety runs pretty deep in my family genes, so I'm not too surprised. But of course I still feel the need to stop this behavior...even though it really isn't harming her, necessarily.

[specialmom]

Look up Pica.  This is a disorder that involves craving quite unusual things such as dirt, ashes, dust, etc.  She would need to see a doctor if you think it fits at all.  It is typically psychiatric in nature although some will tell you that it involves a vitamin deficiency.  Either way, you would need a doctor's supervision to rectify it.  

And yes, a desire to s uck is often related to self soothing.  Do you think your daughter has a bit of anxiety?